Psychopathology Flashcards
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality ?
-statistical infrequency
-deviation form social norms
-deviation from ideal mental health
-failure to function
What is the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality ?
This is where a behaviour is uncommon, it is found in either the top or bottom 2% of the normal distribution
What is a real life application of the statistical infrequency definition of abnormality ?
Intellectual disability disorder, when a person the p scores less than 75 in an IQ etst they are seen to have significant limitation in their intellectual functioning
Why is it a positive that statistical infrequency is objective ?
The definition is not subjective for whether someone is abnormal or not, it reduces the influence of bias and labelling
Why is it a positive that statistical infrequence can be used to predict development in children ?
This allows abnormal behaviour to be found and treated appropriately, there are many practical applications
Why is it a positive that statistical infrequency uses previously established tests ?
This means that there is a standardised procedure which increases the validity and scientific credability
Why is it a disadvantage that statistical infrequency doesn’t take cultural differences into account ?
This means that cultural differences about social norms are ignored, this means that complex social behaviours are being over-simplified
What is deviation from social norms as an explanation of abnormality?
People who deviate from expected behaviour (social norms) are said to be abnormal.
What are some examples of deviation from social norms?
Delinquency
Persistent lying
Illegal behaviours
Theft
Vandalism
What are some things to consider about deviating from social norms?
Time-Social norms change over time
Context-Dependent on the situation your in
Culture-Social norms change depending on culture
What is a strength of the deviation from social norms explanation?
It is felxible dependent on situation and age
What are weaknesses of the deviation from social norms explanation?
Relied on the context of the behaviour-only considered abnormal in certain situations
Can be culturally specific-not valid across all cultures
What is failure to function explanation of abnormality?
A person cannot ‘function’ in everyday life
What are some of the criteria of failure to function?
Personal Distress
Maladaptive behaviour-prevent them from obtaining life goals
Unpredictability
Irrationality
Observer discomfort
Violation of moral standards
What are some strengths of the failure to function explanation?
Practical applications-diagnose people with illnesses
A holistic way of viewing behaviour
Works across cultures to a certain extent
What are some weaknesses of the failure to function explanation?
It can be normal to fail to function-job loss can cause stress
Possibility to misdiagnose-some people with mental illness are still able to function
What is the deviation from ideal mental health explanation of abnormality?
A criteria that a person has to meet to be classed as mentally healthy
What is the criteria for the ideal mental health?
No personal distress
We are rational and perceive the world accurately
Can cope with stress
We self-actualise
We have high self-esteem
We are independent
What are the advantages of the deviation from mental health explanation?
Holistic-understands all factors, more valid
Focuses on how to be well rather than identifying signs your unwell
What are the disadvantages of the deviation from mental health explanation?
Criteria may be unrealistic
The explanation may not be able to go across multiple cultures, impacted by cultural norms.
What is an unconditioned stimulus?
Produces an UCR
What is a conditioned response?
Response programmed to happen to a certain stimulus
What is a neutral stimulus?
Something associated so it becomes a CS
What is extinction?
When the CR stops over time
What is positive reinforcement?
You are encouraged to repeat something by reward
What is negative reinforcement?
You are encouraged to repat something by removing the stimulus
What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?
Panic
Avoidance
Endurance if they cannot get away
What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?
Irrational thought processes
Person knows that their fear is excessive
Cognitive distortions
Selective attention
What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?
Anxiety/fear out of proportion
Unpleasant state of high arousal
Prevents sufferer from relaxing
What is the two process model of phobias?
Phobias are developed due to classical conditioning but is maintained through operant conditioning
What is step one of the two process model?
Phobia is initially learned via classical conditioning
What is step two of the two process model?
Phobia is maintained via operant conditioning
What is a supporting study of the two process model?
Watson and Rayner-Little Albert
Gains the fear of rats via CC but is maintained via OC, given cuddles when cries (Positive reinforcement)
What are the advantages of the two process model?
Practical application, flooding and sytematic desensitisation
Has face validity
Supporting study-Little Albert
What are the disadvantages of the two process model?
Theory has poor explanatory power, ignores the role of cognition
Biological approach would disagree
Bounton - Some phobias aren’t learned but innate e.g. spiders
What is the behavioural approach to treating phobias?
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
What are the 3 steps to systematic desensitisation?
- Anxiety hierarchy, phobic stimulus in order of most anxiety inducing
- Patients are taught to relax
- Patient is exposed to the bottom of the hierarchy an moves up
Who supports systematic desensitisation?
Gilroy - followed 42 patients, they had 3 45 minute sessions of systematic desensitisation. Spider phobia was assed by a questionnaire. A control group was treated by relaxation without exposure. Experimental group were less fearful then the control.
What are the advantages of systematic desensitisation?
Supporting evidence-Gilroy
Empowering for patient-control of the hierarchy
Deal with the cause of the phobia rather than just medicating
What are the disadvantages of systematic desensitisation?
Require 1-1 sessions with a trained specialist therapist
All of these factor lead to a greater waiting time
What is flooding?
Immediate exposure to the phobic stimulus
Longer but fewer sessions
What are the advantages of flooding?
Deals with the cause
Wolpe-Flooded a girls car phobia successfully by driving her around for hours
What are the disadvantages of flooding?
Difficult to access
Wolpe-Found stress from flooding can put you in hospital
Flooding isn’t suitable for vulnerable people
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety related condition
Have obsessional thoughts, repetitive compulsions
What is the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
Repetitive behaviours to reduce anxiety
What is the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
Obsessive, irrational thought
Awareness that thoughts are irrational
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
Unpleasant emotions
Depression
Irrational guilt
How does statistical infrequency explain OCD?
Top/bottom 2% is considered abnormal
How does deviation from social norms explain OCD?
Its not normal to do some of these compulsions so falls into deviation
How does failure to function explain OCD?
Cannot preform daily task due to the compulsions and irrational thoughts
How does deviation from ideal mental health explain OCD?
Low self-esteem can stop individuals from meeting ideal mental health
What is the biological explanation of OCD?
Genes are involved in individuals vulnerability to OCD, OCD is quite common in families
How do genes cause OCD?
Mutated receptor cells leads to inefficient serotonin transmission
Is OCD just down to one gene?
No, OCD is polygenic - this means that several candidate genes contribute to the development of the condition
What study supports OCD being polygenic?
Taylor
How did Taylor support OCD being polygenic?
In a meta-analysis Taylor found that up to 230 genes may be involved in developing OCD
What is a supporting study of OCD being genetic?
Lewis, 37% of parents of participants had OCD but also 21% had siblings with OCD
Suggests OCD runs in families
How does Nestadt support genetic explanation of OCD?
Twin study
68% concordance rate with MZ twins
31% concordance rate with DZ twins
What are the strengths of a genetic explanation of OCD?
Practical applications - SSRIS increase serotonin uptake
Lewis supporting
Nestadt supporting
What are the weaknesses of a genetic explanation of OCD?
Evidence from twin studies don’t show 100% concordance
SLT - OCD may develop due to modelling, explain family patterns
Humanism - we have free will and OCD patients can simply change their behaviour
What is the neural explanations of OCD?
Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters - dopamine
Abnormal brain structure
How can damage to lateral frontal lobes cause OCD?
Can lead to irrational decisions
What are the advantages of the neural explanations of OCD?
SSRIS - Increase serotonin levels
OCD patients and their families had structural abnormalities
What are the disadvantages of the neural explanations of OCD?
Poor explanatory power - Whether OCD causes brain damage vies versa
SLT - OCD may be learnt via modelling
How does drug therapy treat OCD?
Aim to increase levels of serotonin
Blocks re-uptake receptors
Serotonin continues to be active for longer
What are the advantages of drug therapy on OCD?
Soomro - Found SSRIs are significantly more effective than placebos
Prescription fee is cheaper than a psychologist
People are not on a long waiting list for treatment
What are the disadvantages of drug therapy on OCD?
Leads to other health problems - insomnia etc
Treats symptoms rather than dealing with the cause of OCD
Tolerance increases may need to up the dosage
How does psychosurgery treat OCD symptoms?
Destroys links between brain structures
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
Shift in activity level
Change in appetite
Aggression
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
Delusions
Irrational thoughts
Biased recall
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
Sadness
Loss of interest
Sense of worthlessness
Who explains is in the cognitive explanation of depression?
Beck
Ellis
What was Becks cognitive theory of depression?
They have faulty information processing
Negative thinking that occurs due to the negative triad
What is the negative triad?
Negative view of the world
Negative view of the future
Negative view of yourself
What is Ellis’s ABC model of dperession?
Depression is a result of irrational thought
A - Activating event
B - Beliefs
C - Consequences
What are the advantages of the cognitive explanation of Depression?
Practical applications - CBT and REBT
Supporting Studies - O’Hara & March & Boury
What did O’Hara claim?
Meta analysis of risk factors for post-partum depression
Cognitive vulnerability were predictors of depressive symptoms
What did March find?
Different treatments of depression
CBT - 81% effective
Anti-depressants - 81% effective
Mixed group - 86% effective
What did Boury find?
Found that patients with depression are more likely to interpret things negatively
What are the disadvantages of the cognitive explanation of depression?
Cognitive is only correlational, don’t know is depression causes negative thoughts or vice versa
Ellis - Not everyone experiences an active event
Biological - faulty genetics etc
What are the strengths of CBT?
March
Can be used to on a range of patients
Can be used in different ways - group, online, one-to-one
What are the weaknesses of CBT?
May not work on severe patients - lack of motivation
Rosenzweig - relationship between patient and therapist is more important than techniques
Ignores social circumstances - domestic violence
