Psychopathology Flashcards
Limitation of the deviation of social norms and deviation from ideal mental health definition
Culturally relative
What is considered abnormal or is valued (such as personal growth) varies across cultures
Cultural bias- ethnocentric
For example- Africans 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia
Supporting research for explanation of OCD through genes/neurochemistry
COMT GENE- TUKEL ET AL
100 with OCD and 100 control healthy patients
Lower activity of gene in OCD group so higher levels of dopamine
SERT GENE- OZAKI ET AL
mutated sert gene found in two different families
6/7 family members had OCD
Caused lower levels of serotonin
Supporting research for genetic explanation of OCD via twin studies
NESTADT ET AL
Found around 70% concordance rate for OCD in monozygotic twins and around a 30% concordance rate for dizygotic
HOWEVER not 100% so environment????
Strength of biological explanation for OCD
Practical application- development of SSRIs
Proof diathesis stress model for OCD may be a better explanation
CROMER ET AL
Found over 50% of OCD patients had a traumatic event in past, may have triggered
Weakness of biological explanation for OCD
Deterministic
No free will for patients implies impulsive thoughts are inevitable and they cannot change
Could add onto anxiety
Lack of choice to manage it
Research support for treatment of OCD
SOOMRO ET AL
found reduced symptoms 6-13 week after starting SSRI drug treatment and not in placebo
Strength of drug treatment
Work quickly than therapy
So not as demanding for patient to engage in treatment
Limitation of drug treatment
Treat symptoms rather than cause
So patient reliant on drug
CROMER- traumatic past
So drugs don’t deal with cause as most likely trigger in environment
Side affects
Nausea, headaches and insomnia
So CBT may be more positive experience
Strength of statistical infrequency definition
Objective
Reply on clear numerical cut off points rather than personal opinion
Standardised measurements
Limitation for statistical infrequency
Desirable behaviour may be seen as abnormal such as intelligence
Strength of deviation from social norms
Flexible
Adapts to societal standards rather than rigid numerical cut offs
Excludes desirable trails such as high IQ being classified as abnormal
Weakness of deviation from social norms definition
Strength of failure to function adequately definition
Consider subjective experience
Rather than limiting people to numbers like statistical infrequency
Failure to function adequately weakness
Misses some abnormal behaviour
Fails to identify abnormal behaviours that do not cause distress such as psychopathic behaviour
Definitions of abnormality strength
Comprehensive
Outlined range of criteria that help identify mental health issues, set treatment goals and provide support for individuals
Support for two process model of explaining phobias
WATSON AND RAYNOR- little Albert
White rat paired with loud bang so developed a fear of rats
Show acquired through classical conditioning
Strengths of all the explanations
Practical application- talk about their treatments
Limitation of explanation of phobias
Does explain phobias that are not learned
SELIGMANS biological preparedness suggests we may be predisposed to develop certain phobias due to genetic factors
Limitation of phobias treatment
Flooding cause psychological distress so may cause more harm
Combined approach using medication and behavioural therapy may be more effective as
biological treatments although come with side affects and do not target root cause,
provide short term relive by reducing bodies physiological fear responses
Pros of phobia treatment
Systematic desensitisation doesn’t cause psychology distress like flooding
Allows them to feel in control
More accessible for a wide range of people
Supporting evidence of depression explanation
TAGHAVI ET AL
found clinically depressed individuals scores higher in irrational beliefs than non depressed controls
Study also carried out in Iraq and was a replication of western research so shows ability to apply across cultures
Limitation of explanation for depression
Blames patients thoughts rather than considering external factors/ the situation
Overlooks important situational causes that require practical solutions rather than changing thinking patterns
Supporting evidence of CBT as a treatment for depression
MARCH ET AL
Found that long term CBT was just as affective as drug treatment at 36 weeks
But most affective when a combination used
HOWEVER
CBT doesn’t have side affects and more empowering than drug treatments as patient challenge and change thoughts rather than relying on drugs
