Psychopathology

Question 1

4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

1) Failure to function adequately
2) deviation from social norms
3) deviation from ideal mental health
4) statistical infrequency

Question 2

What’s statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

Someone is abnormal if they have behaviours/traits that aren’t statistical common.

Question 3

What’s failure to function adequately?

Answer 3

Someone is considered abnormal when they’re unable to cope with demands of everyday life.

Question 4

What’s deviation from social norms?

Answer 4

Someone is abnormal if they go against the expectations of society.

Question 5

What’s deviation from ideal mental health?

Answer 5

Someone is considered abnormal if they don’t meet the ideal mental health criteria proposed by Jahoda.
Criteria includes Self-actualisation, ability to cope with stress, independence, seeking leisure.

Question 6

Outline the behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 6

Repetitive compulsions in order to reduce anxiety

Question 7

Outline the emotional characteristics of OCD

Answer 7

Anxiety and distress
Guilt and disgust

Question 8

Outline the cognitive characteristics of OCD

Answer 8

Obsessive thoughts
Aware of irrationality

Question 9

Outline the 2 biological explanations of OCD

Answer 9

Genetic explanations:
COMT gene produces higher dopamine level
SERT gene reduces serotonin levels
Diathesis-stress

Neural explanations:
High dopamine and low serotonin levels associated with OCD
OCD associated with impaired decision making
Abnormal functioning of frontal lobe

Question 10

Briefly evaluate the biological explanations of OCD

Answer 10

+ research support — twins studies

• environmental factors/ other disorders

Question 11

Outline the biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 11

SSRIs: increases serotonin concentration at receptor sites
Used alongside CBT in increase engagement

Alternatives to SSRIs: Tricyclics

Question 12

Evaluate the biological treatment to OCD

Answer 12

+Cost effective
+Evidence of effectiveness- educe symptoms
- side effects (eg. Heart problems)

Question 13

Outline the behavioural characteristics of Depression

Answer 13

Disruption to sleep & eating behaviour
Aggressive self harm

Question 14

Outline emotional characteristics of Depression

Answer 14

Lowered mood
Anger
Low self esteem

Question 15

Outline the cognitive characteristics of Depression

Answer 15

Poor concentration
Irrational negative thinking

Question 16

Outline two cognitive explanations of cognitive explanation of Depression

Answer 16

Ellis ABC Model : Depression symptoms are due to irrational beliefs
A- Activating events
B- Beliefs (irrational)
C- Consequences (Unhealthy negative emotion)

Beck’s Negative Triad : Negative self schema
1- the world
2- the self
3- the future

Question 17

Outline two cognitive explanations of cognitive explanation of Depression

Answer 17

Ellis ABC Model : Depression symptoms are due to irrational beliefs
A- Activating events
B- Beliefs (irrational)
C- Consequences (Unhealthy negative emotion)

Beck’s Negative Triad : Negative self schema
1- the world
2- the self
3- the future

Question 18

Evaluate the cognitive explanations of Depression

Answer 18

+ Application to treatments - CBT (Beck) & REBT (Ellis)
- Partial explanation of irrational thinking

Question 19

Outline 2 cognitive treatments for depression

Answer 19

Beck’s CBT: Challenges negative thoughts, HW given to provide evidence against these thoughts

Ellis’s REBT : Encourages client to become more positive
D- Disputing
E- Effects

Question 20

Evaluate the cognitive treatments of Depression

Answer 20

+ CBT is as effective as drugs or together
- High relapse rates

Question 21

Emotional characteristics of Phobias

Answer 21

Unseasonable emotional responses
Anxiety

Question 22

Behavioural characteristics of Phobias

Answer 22

Avoidance of phobic stimulus
Panic

Question 23

Cognitive characteristics of Phobias

Answer 23

Irrational beliefs
Selective attention

Question 24

Outline the behavioral explanations of Phobias

Answer 24

Two precess model — Mowrer
Phobias created by CC, maintained through OC
CC — Little Alert
OC — Negative & Positive reinforcement

Question 25

Evaluate the behavioural explanations of phobias

Answer 25

+ development of treatments
- Not all avoidance is linked to reducing anxiety
- incomplete explanations

Question 26

What’s the biological treatments for Phobias?

Answer 26

Systemantic desensitisation:
Anxiety hierarchy - relaxation - exposure

Flooding:
Immediate exposure for extended period of time until anxiety is gone

Question 27

Evaluate Behavioural treatment to Phobias

Answer 27

SD - Time consuming
+ Effective
+ safe

Flooding + Cost effective
- Ethics (traumatic) Psychological harm
- Less effective for complex phobias

Question 28

Evaluate Behavioural treatment to Phobias

Answer 28

SD - Time consuming
+ Effective
+ safe

Flooding + Cost effective
- Ethics (traumatic) Psychological harm
- Less effective for complex phobias

Question 29

Evaluate the definitions of abnormality

Answer 29

SI: - Defines desirable traits as abnormal - Majority with same problems
DFSN: - Cultures differ in stats - Judgement on context
FTF: - Who decides you functioning - Culture bias
DFIMH: - Unrealistic criteria - Culture bias