Psychopathology Flashcards
Define psychopatholgy
Study of the nature, development, and treatment of psychological disorders
What 5 things can be used to define psychopathology?
- Deviation from statistical norm
- Deviation from social norm
- Maladaptive behaviour
- Distress and Impairment
- Wakefield’s dysfunction
What problems exist with deviations from the statistical norm?
- Do not necessarily imply dysfunction
- Terminology labels individuals as ‘abnormal’
What is the problems with deviations from the social nerve?
- Different cultures have different perceptions of what is socially acceptable
- Behaving in non-socially acceptable way does not mean psychopathology
- Stigmatise individuals not conforming to social norms
How did the Soviet Union misuse diagnosis?
Included symptoms such as “reform delusions” as indicators of schizophrenia
What is ataque de nervios?
- Disorder prevalent in Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico
- Syntoms of: trembling, crying, screaming, panic attacks and verbal/physical aggression
- Predominantly women over the age of 45
How is distress modified by culture?
Expression of a disorder is formed by the social
and cultural norms within that cultural group
What is the maladaptive behaviour definition of psychopathology?
Whether behaviour renders someone incapable of living their daily life
What is Wakefields dysfunction?
- a disorder exists when evolutionary formed mental functions are impaired
- dysfunction impacts negatively on the well being of the individual, social counterpart, or society
- combines scientific study with cultural factors
What are the 4 characteristics of a mental disorder?
- emotional distress
- disability
- violation of social norms
- wakefield’s dysfunction
What is statistical rarity in psychopathology?
From any given set of symptoms that could constitute a diagnosis, most people should have very few, and a few people should have very many
What does DSM stand for?
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual
What does the DSM-5 provide?
- Essential Features of the Disorder
- Associated Features
- Diagnostic Criteria
- Information on Differential Diagnosis
What does the DSM-5 give as diagnostic criteria for psychopathology?
- clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual
- coupled with: present distress or increased risk of suffering from death, pain or disability
What are the problems with psychopathology diagnosis?
- not classified according to cause
- labelling can be stigmatising/harmful
- defines disorders as discrete entities when they are rarely so (comorbidity)
What is the demonology cause of psychopathology?
Idea that fallen angels/demons can possess individuals
What are the criteria for possession?
- loss/lack of appetite
- cutting/scratching of skin
- unnatural body positions
- frenzy/rage/violent reactions to religious objects
What is general paresis?
- Psychological decline associated with syphilis
- Treatment of syphilis with penicillin treats psychological symptoms
- biological approach
What are the problems with the medical definition of psychopathology?
- Not all disorders have a physical cause
- Physical changes can be brought about by psychological effects of stress (cortisol is neurotoxic)
What are the 3 main biological treatments?
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Prefrontal lobotomy
- Medication
What are the effects of neuroleptic antipsychotica?
- Relaxing
- Gives emotional stability but also indifference
- Psychomotor slowing
What are the basic assumptions of psychoanalysis?
- 3 psychological forces (id, ego and superego)
- Defense mechanisms
- Contributions of unconscious and childhood experience
What are behavioural models of psychoanalysis?
- Idea that psychopathology is often learnt through
reactions to life experiences - Based on principles of conditioning
Who developed operant conditioning?
Thorndike
What are laws of operant conditioning?
responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again, while responses that produce a discomforting effect are less likely to be repeated
What are the problems with punishment?
- behaviour is not unlearnt, only suppressed, and returns when punishment is not present
- results in increased aggression
- does not guide towards desired behaviour
What is the cognitive model?
Developed by Albert Ellis, where all serious emotional problems result from:
- Irrational beliefs
- Dysfunctional thinking
- Information processing bias
What does rational emotive therapy focus on?
Correcting dysfunctional cognitions, self-instructions and self/others evaluations
What is the philosophical background of RET?
- Responsible hedonism (prioritising long term pleasure)
- Humanism acts and performances, not worth, should be criticised
- Rationality and goal-directed behaviour
What is the ABC schema?
- Activating event
- Belief system
- Consequences
What should RET result in?
- unconditional self-acceptance
- unconditional other-acceptance
- unconditional life-acceptance
What are humanistic/existential approaches?
(Carl Rogers) Resolve through:
- Insight
- Personal development
- Self-actualisation
What is incongruence?
feelings of depression and unhappiness caused by not living the life we are capable and destined by nature to live
What does the actualisation tendency include?
- authenticity
- autonomy
- internal locus of evaluation
What are the humanistic and existential approaches?
- unconditional positive self-regard
- process of living
- relatedness
- openess to inner and outer experience
- therapist should show empathy and unconditional positive regard
