Psychopathology Flashcards
What is OCD?
-Persistent thoughts, obsession
-Repetitive behav, compulsions
Disrupts daily life
What is phobia?
An irrational fear of an object/situation/activity
Fear that is disproportionate to the actual danger
OCD is inherited 45-65%, what does these results show about influences on development of OCD?
- Shows the development of OCD is partially genetic, as results shows high heritability of 45-65%
- Means must be other explanations as heritability isn’t 100%. So other factors like environment may also partly account for the development of OCD.
Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.
(2)
Emphasising internal vs external distinction: obsessions are internal components because they are thoughts, and compulsions are external components because they are behaviours.
Briefly outline how flooding might be used to treat a phobia.
- immediate/direct/full exposure
- prevention of avoidance
- until they are calm/anxiety has receded/fear is extinguished
Briefly outline how systematic desensitisation might be used to treat a phobia.
- relaxation training
- anxiety hierarchy
- gradual exposure to the anxiety hierarchy.
Briefly discuss one reason why systematic desensitisation might be a more successful treatment for phobias than flooding.
- systematic desensitisation (SD) might be more successful as it allows people to make progress in small steps/in their own time scale rather than that required by the therapist – client in control
- SD generally has low attrition rates/high completion rates because the gradual process of the therapy allows respite – the relaxation is pleasant.
- SD may be more successful for certain individuals, e.g. children, people with certain health conditions
- SD may be less traumatic leading to more people completing the treatment, and suitable for a wider range of clients
Explain what is meant by ‘obsessions’ and ‘compulsions’
- compulsions are repetitive behaviours/acts
- obsessions are intrusive/recurring/unwanted thoughts
Explain how findings of psychological research into the treatment of depression could have implications for the economy.
- psychological research findings into psychopathology may lead to improvements in psychological health/treatment programmes which may mean that people manage their health better and take less time off work. This would reduce costs to the economy
- psychological research findings may lead to better ways of managing people who are prone to mental health issues whilst they are at work which could improve their individual productivity, again boosting the economy overall
- ‘cutting-edge’ scientific research findings into treatments for mental health issues carried out in UK may encourage investment from overseas companies into this country which could boost the economy
- providing effective treatments might be a significant financial burden to an NHS service already under huge financial strain
- discovering that new treatments may be more effective than older therapies and that these may be more expensive so could increase the financial burden to the economy.
The degree to which OCD is inherited is between 45% and 65%.
What do the results seem to show about possible influences on the development of OCD?
- results indicate development of OCD is at least partly genetic
- the findings suggest that heritability is high (between 45% and 65%)
- this means that there must also be other explanations (inherited influence is not 100%)
- so other factors (eg environment or other bio factors) may also partly account for OCD.
Explain why systematic desensitisation might be more ethical than using flooding to treat Tommy’s (is 6) phobia.
- SD is gradual so the anxiety produced in the treatment is limited whereas in flooding the most feared situation is presented immediately which would be too traumatic for a small child.
- Tommy may not fully understand that consent to flooding would mean immediate exposure to his most feared situation so his consent to systematic desensitisation increases his protection from harm.
Outline cognitive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression
- general rationale of therapy – to challenge negative thought/negative triad
- identification of negative thoughts – ‘thought catching’
- hypothesis testing; patient as ‘scientist’
- data gathering through ‘homework’, eg diary keeping
- reinforcement of positive thoughts; cognitive restructuring
- rational confrontation as in Ellis’s REBT.
