Psychopathology

Question 1

Abnormalities: AO1.

Answer 1

Statistical infrequency: deviation from average population.
Deviation from social norms: going against accepted behaviour.
Failure to function adequately: cannot maintain relationships or hold down a job.
Deviation from ideal mental health: does not meet all criteria for healthy functioning.

Jahoda: self-attitude, self-actualisation, integration, autonomy, accurate perception of reality, master of environment.

Question 2

Abnormalities: AO3.

Answer 2

Some abnormal behaviour is desirable. Defining what is abnormal is subjective. Related to context. Distinguishes between desirable and undesirable behaviour. Cultural bias. Some behaviour may be functional. Unrealistic criteria. Suggests physical and mental health are the same.

Question 3

Behavioural Approach to Phobias: AO1.

Answer 3

Classical conditioning: initiation: association between a neutral stimulus and a fear stimulus leads to a fear response.
Operant conditioning: maintenance: avoidance is reinforcing.

Watson: Little Albert, white rat.

Systematic desensitisation: relaxation, hierarchy, gradual exposure.
Flooding.

Question 4

Behavioural Approach to Phobias: AO3.

Answer 4

Different phobias may be the result of different processes.
Diathesis-stress model.
Phobias do not always develop after traumatic events.
Ignores cognitive factors.
Effective. Not appropriate for all phobias. Individual differences. Flooding may worsen.

Question 5

Cognitive Approach to Depression: AO1.

Answer 5

Ellis: activating event, irrational belief, consequence. Musturbatory thinking.
Beck: negative schema. Negative triad: the self, the world, the future.
CBT: disputing irrational thoughts, effects of disputing, feelings, homework, behaviour, unconditional positive regard.

Question 6

Cognitive Approach to Depression: AO3.

Answer 6

Supports existence of irrational thinking. Blames client rather than situational factors. Practical applications. Irrational beliefs may be realistic.
90% success rate for rational emotional behavioural therapy.
Individual differences: rigid/resistant to change.
Recovery rates: Kevlar et al: drugs 55%, CBT 52%, combination 85%. Requires active involvement. Non-invasive. Slow procedure. Can lead to dependency.

Question 7

Biological Approach to OCD: AO1.

Answer 7

COMT regulates dopamine. One form more common with OCD.
SERT affects levels of serotonin due to disrupted transport.
Diathesis-stress model.
High dopamine, low serotonin.
Caudate nucleus is damaged, fails to suppress worry signals, thalamus and orbitofrontal cortex alerted. Hypersensitive basal ganglia.
SSRIs. Tricyclics block transporter absorbing serotonin and noradrenaline. Benzodiazepines slow SNS, enhances GABA, harder to stimulate Cl- neurons.
Thalamus: motivation to clean. OFC: increased anxiety.

Question 8

Biological Approach to OCD: AO3.

Answer 8

Nestadt et al: 80 patients with OCD, 343 first degree relatives.
Control group, first degree relative with OCD, 5x greater risk.
Concordance rates are never 100%.
Real world application.
Drug treatment relatively effective, side effects preferred. Not a lasting cure.
Publication bias.

Question 9

Phobias:

Answer 9

Persistant, excessive, unreasonable. Fear, anxiety, panic. Avoidance, freeze, flight, faint. Irrational, unreasonable.

Question 10

Depression:

Answer 10

Sadness, loss of interest. Reduced activity, sleep or appetite. Negative cognition.

Question 11

OCD:

Answer 11

Anxiety, distress, excessive, shame. Obsessions intrusive, excessive. Compulsions repetitive, reduce anxiety.

Question 12

Define reciprocal inhibition.

Answer 12

Where an emotion that cannot be felt at the same time as anxiety (anger/relaxation) is encouraged at the same time as stimuli encouraging anxiety.