Psychopathology Flashcards
Outline an abnormality as a statistical infrequency
This occurs when an individual has a less common characteristic compared to the general population; their behaviour lies as an outlier across a normal distribution.
Evaluate statistical infrequencies as a definition for an abnormality
+ an objective way of measuring which helps to address what is meant by normal in a statistical context. It helps us make cut–off points in terms of diagnosis and can be used within clinical assessments.
- fails to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviour.
- issue of labelling can cause more distress than good.
Outline an abnormality as a deviation from social norms
Behaviour which is different from the unwritten accepted standards of behaviour in a society.
Evaluate an abnormality as a deviation from social norms
+ could have real life application when diagnosing personality disorders.
Self-help and identification: if healthy behaviour is accepted as the societal norm, a person with a mental disorder or their close friends will be able to recognise that they are behaving abnormally and seek help.
- There is no universal agreement of what is a social norm. Norms differ between cultures and change over time.
-Context-dependent: behaviour considered normal in some contexts is considered abnormal in others, meaning that this definition of abnormality is not stable.
Outline an abnormality as a failure to function adequately
This occurs when someone is unable to cope with the ordinary demands of day to day life.
Rosenhan and Seligman proposed traits which can indicate a failure to function adequately, such as: not maintaining eye contact, severe personal distress, irrational/dangerous behaviour.
The Global Assessment of Functioning Scale ( GAF) is a method of measuring how well individuals function in everyday life and it considers Rosenhan and Seligman’s sections plus occupational functioning.
Evaluate an abnormality as a failure to function adequately
+ Consideration of how the individual feels: It attempts to be more holistic by including the subjective experience of the individual. However this makes it more difficult to objectively measure.
Measurable: The GAF (Global assessment of functioning scale) is a scale and allows for the extent of the failure to function to be measured. This means that the decision of whether a behaviour is abnormal or not can be made in a relatively objective way.
Behaviour is observable: Failure to function adequately can be seen by others around the individual because they may not get out of bed on a morning, or be able to hold a job down. This means that problems can be picked up by others and if the individual is incapable of making a decision or helping themselves others can intervene.
- Abnormality does not always stop the person functioning: People may appear fine to others as they fit into society and have jobs and homes, but they may have distorted thinking which is causing them inner distress that they hide.
- Dysfunction is not always observable: for instance, psychopaths can cause great harm and are mentally ill but can appear completely normal.
Outline Deviation from Ideal Mental Health as a definition of Abnormality
Uses Jahoda’s criteria of what ideal mental health should consist of. An individual would be considered abnormal if they deviate from these characteristics.
- ability to self actualise
- ability to integrate and manage stress
- rational view of the world
- environmental mastery
- positive view of the self
- autonomy
Evaluate Deviation from Ideal Mental Health as a definition of Abnormality
+ Puts the individual first: this definition prioritises the individual’s needs and health.
- Unrealistic: Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health set the bar too high. Strictly applied, so few people actually meet all of these criteria that everyone ends up classed as abnormal and so the concept becomes meaningless.
- Culture bound: Jahoda’s criteria prioritises an individuals well-being which may be seen as selfish in collectivist cultures which focuses on the greater good for the wider community.
Outline Depression and its characteristics.
A mood disorder DSM-5 classifies under major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.
Behavioural: social withdrawal, change in activity levels, hyper/insomnia, aggressive behaviour towards the self or others.
Cognitive: poor concentration, pessimistic thinking, absolutist thinking.
Emotional: persistent sadness, emptiness, anger, lowered self-esteem.
Outline Beck’s cognitive explanation for depression.
Beck outlines certain cognitions can make an individual more vulnerable to developing depression.
Faulty information processing: black and white thinking, overgeneralisations and exaggerations, pessimistic thinking.
Negative self-schemas: a depressed individual will interpret all of the information about or around themselves negatively
Negative triad: negative views of the world, self and future. This negative process of thinking happens automatically, regardless of the reality of a situation resulting in an individual having a dysfunctional way of thinking.
Evaluate Beck’s cognitive explanation for depression.
+ Real life application: CBT aims to challenge a patients irrational thought processes. Its success in alleviating the symptoms of depression, supports
and validates Beck’s theory that faulty information processing,
negative self-schema and the negative triad cause depression.
+ Research support:
Bates et al gave depressed patients negative automatic thought statements to read and found that their symptoms of depression were worse. These findings provide support for Beck’s theory and the involvement of automatic negative thinking within depression.
- Alternative biological explanation suggests depression is caused by a chemical imbalances too much dopamine/ too little serotonin is
thought to lead to depression. This theory is supported by the effective use of drug therapy. This shows that we shouldn’t solely rely on Beck’s theory and that other factors can be involved, thus a stress-diathesis model may be advisable. - Beck’s theory cannot account for all symptoms of depression such as anger. Similarly cotard’s syndrome, a rare disorder typically stemming from severe cases of depression, cannot be accounted for using Beck’s explanation.
Outline Ellis’ theory of depression
Ellis suggests good mental health is a result of rational information processing, therefore depression can result from irrational thinking which can interfere with someone being happy.
Poor mental health result from irrational thinking
(interfere with being happy and free from pain)
This can be outlined using Ellis’s ABC model.
A - activating event
B - belief
C - consequence
When an event triggers irrational beliefs, there is a negative emotional consequence, such as depression.
Evaluate Ellis’ theory of depression
+ Application in therapies: REBT aims to treat depression by unpicking particular events and encourages more rational thoughts surrounding these events in order to prevent negative consequences. Its success in alleviating depressive symptoms increases the validity in Ellis’s theory that irrational thought processes are implicated in depression.
+ Gives a patient autonomy over their own mental health by giving them the power to change the way things are.
+ Research support: Lipsky found that depression can be reduced by challenging irrational thoughts adding practical application.
- The cognitive explanation does not take into account other factors which can attribute to someone’s depression such as a current victim of domestic violence or a mother suffering with the recent loss of a child. Depression stemming from these scenarios could not be treated through cognitive means as it is not irrational beliefs.
Outline cognitive treatments for depression
CBT - applies Beck’s theory to challenge irrational thoughts and investigate the reality of the client’s negative beliefs. Clients are often set ‘homework’ to record positive events, which can be used in the sessions to help them challenge irrational thoughts
REBT - extends Ellis’s ABC model to include D and E. Disputing and effect. The therapist’s role is to break the link between negative life effects and depression by changing the clients irrational belief through vigorous argument. This can be through logical or empirical arguments.
Behavioural activation: Depressed individuals tend to increasingly avoid difficult situations, which prolong their feelings of isolation and can worsen their symptoms. The goal of BA is to encourage the depressed patient to be more active in engaging in positive and enjoyable activities.
Evaluate cognitive treatments for depression
+ Research support: March et al. (2007) compared CBT to antidepressants and combination therapy when treating 327 depressed adolescents. They found that after 36 weeks, 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressant group and 86% of the combination group were all significantly improved, showing CBT is as effective as antidepressants and even more so when used in combination with them.
- The success of other treatments for depression suggests cognitive treatments are not solely applicable to all forms of depression such as those with biological causes.
- CBT may not be suitable for all clients. CBT requires engagement and commitment and this may not be possible in the most complex cases.
- The cognitive approach implies depression stems from irrational thought processes, which in turn suggests individuals have autonomy over their depression by simply changing the way they think. Depression which is not the result of irrational thoughts can therefore not be helped by challenging cognitions.
-The focus on cognition may overshadow important circumstantial factors such as poverty, abuse etc.
