Psychopathology

Question 1

What is a phobia

Answer 1

An anxeity disorder which impacts ones everyday life

Question 2

What is a social phobia

Answer 2

Fear of humiliation in a public place - eating in restaurants etc

They try to avoid social activities and situations as they are afraid someone will see them expressing their fear

Question 3

What is agoraphobia

Answer 3

Fear of public places - shopping malls or travelling on public transport

Panic attacks thinking they will get hurt

Question 4

What is the difference between social phobias and agoraphobia

Answer 4

Social phobias are usually fear of others watching them whereas agoraphobia is a fear for themselves and their safety

Question 5

Systematic Desensitisation (AO1)

Answer 5

Anxiety hierachy - Client ranks scenarios from most feared to least feared

Relaxation - breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, mental imagery - going to your happy place

Reciprocal Inhibition - exposing patient to their phobia which can be
in vitro - they imagine the exposure
in vivo - they are actually exposed

Question 6

Mcgrath et al

Answer 6

Used in vivo techniques and found that 75% of patients were successfully treated suggesting it is more effective than in vitro

Question 7

Gilroy et al

Answer 7

Examined 42 parients with arachnophobia and each patient was treated using 3 45 minute SD sessions

They were then examined 33 months later and found that they were less fearful than a control group

Supports SD as a long term method of treating phobias

Question 8

Systematic desensitisation (AO3)

Answer 8

Not as effective as treating evolutionary phobias as people are biologically inclined to be afraid of some things

More ethical than flooding as the client is under less distress- reflected in higher number of patients who persist with SD showing lower attrition rates. Therefore more suitable for those with severe anxiety disorders

Question 9

Systematic desensitisation (AO3)

Answer 9

Not as effective as treating evolutionary phobias as people are biologically inclined to be afraid of some things

More ethical than flooding as the client is under less distress- reflected in higher number of patients who persist with SD showing lower attrition rates. Therefore more suitable for those with severe anxiety disorders

Question 10

Flooding (AO1)

Answer 10

The client is exposed to the anxiety inducing stimulus right away.
They are unable to negatively reinforce their phobia and through continual exposure their anxiety will eventually decrease.

Question 11

Flooding (AO3)

Answer 11

Cost effective
equally effective compared to SD but takes less time in achieving positive results
healthcare providers do not have to fund longer programmes

Highly traumatic- wolpe recalled a case where a patient became so intensely anxious she required hospitalisation

Therefore flooding can sometimes be a waste of time and money if patients do not fully engage or complete the treatment

Question 12

What is depression

Answer 12

Mood disorder consisting of prolonged and fundamental disturbance of mood and emotion, affecting 20% of adults in the UK

Question 13

Symptoms of depression

Answer 13

Poor appetite, weight loss
Poor personal hygeine
Loss of energy, tiredness
Suicidal ideation
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities

Question 14

Behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 14

Behavioural:
Insomnia, hypersomnia

Cognitive:
Irritational thoughts
Lack of concentration/attention
suicidal ideation

Emotional:
Low mood
anger or frustration

Question 15

Beck’s negative cognitive triad

Answer 15

Negative views about yourself, the future and the world

Question 16

Beck - Negative schemas

Answer 16

Ineptness schema - Feel like you will fail at things/expecting failure

Self blame schema - everything is their fault

Negative self evaluation schema - Low self worth

Question 17

Beck - Cognitive biases

Answer 17

Magnification and minimisation

Overgeneralisation

Arbitrary inference

Question 18

Ellis’ ABC Model

Answer 18

Activating event

Belief

Consequence

Question 19

Research evidence for the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 19

Boury Et al

Patients with depression are more likely to misinterpret information negatively - negative triad and cognitive biases

Bates et al

Gave depressed patients negative thoughts to read and this worsened their symptoms, supports the idea that negative thinking is involved in depression

Question 20

What is the aim of CBT?

Answer 20

To help patients identify their negative thoughts and replace them with healthier ways of thinking to better their relationships with themselves

Question 21

CBT - monitoring/assessment

Answer 21

The client is assessed to discover the severity of their condition, therapist then establishes a baseline prior to treatment which they can then use to monitor improvement

Question 22

CBT - Identify negative thoughts

Answer 22

This is done using the negative triad

Question 23

CBT - challenge

Answer 23

Reality Testing - Irrational thoughts are challenged and replaced

Cognitive restructuring - Irrational ideas can be replaced with more optimistic and balanced beliefs

Question 24

CBT - homework

Answer 24

Diary - client writes down their negative thoughts and attempts to write more logical explanations

They may be set tasks which are difficult for them, so going for a walk or meeting a friend for coffee

Question 25

Ellis’ REBT - Aim

Answer 25

The ABC model now includes D (dispute) and E (effect)

Like beck, the main idea is to challenge irrational thoughts however this is achieved through dispute (argument)

Question 26

3 types of dispute

Answer 26

Logical - Does it make sense to think this way?

Empirical - Is there evidence for this thought/belief?

Pragmatic - Is this thinking useful/helpful to life?

Question 27

Summarise two studies investigating the effectiveness of CBT

Answer 27

March et al examined 327 adolescents with a depression diagnosis

After 36 weeks 81% of both the group who had CBT treatment and the group who took antidepressants has significantly improved

CBT is as effective as antidepressants in treating depression

Keller looked at recovery rates from depression with drugs along, CBT alone or both

Results:
-55% drugs alone
-52% CBT alone
-85% when used together

CBT is more effective when used with drugs

Question 28

Evaluation of CBT as a treatment for depression

Answer 28

1) Requires motivation - those with severe depression may not be able to attend sessions therefore it will be ineffective for them, antidepressants do not require the same level motivation and thus CBT cannot be used as the main or solo treatment for severely depressed patients

2) Overemphasis on cognition - someone in a domestic abusive relationship does not need to change irrational or negative beliefs, they need a change of circumstance. Therefore CBT would be inadequate until that has changed

3) Success of CBT - may not be due to beck or ellis’ techniques

Rosenzweig argued that the relationship between the client and therapist is most important, having someone to talk to is he most crucial component in positive outcomes

This viewpoint is evidence when studies by Luborsky show that there is little difference between CBT and methods of psychotherapy