Psychopathology Flashcards
define deviation from social norms
when a person isn’t behaving how we would expect them to behave and they refuse to accept social norms, they are deviating from social norms.
define failure to function
failure to function adequately is when a person is struggling or cannot cope with the demands of everyday life, for example, going to work, showering etc.
define statistical infrequency
when a behaviour that someone is displaying is statistically rare, doesn’t happen often
define deviation from ideal mental health
when someone’s behaviours aren’t considered mentally healthy, way to identify abnormalities
who came up with the criteria for ideal mental health
Marie Jahoda 1958
define a phobia
an extreme or irrational fear of an object place or situation
name the 3 types of phobias
specific phobia, social anxiety phobia, agoraphobia
define specific phobia
phobia of an object or a situation
define social anxiety phobia
phobia of a social situation
define agoraphobia
phobia of being outside or ina public place
name 3 different groups of characteristics for phobias
behavioural, emotional, cognitive
list of symptoms for behavioural characteristics for phobias
panic, avoidance, endurance
list of symptoms for emotional characteristics for phobias
anxiety
list of symptoms for cognitive characteristics for phobias
irrational beliefs, cognitive distortion and selective attention
what behaviouralist theory is used to explain phobias
learning theory
describe learning theory
2 process model, made up of classical conditioning and operant conditioning
operant conditioning is
learning through reinforcement
classical conditioning is
learning through association
2 treatments used when treating phobias
flooding and systematic desensitisation
brief summary of flooding
- can be ethically problematic
- involves immediate exposure to phobia
- often causes extreme anxiety
- encourages a fight or flight response
- intention is to result in the extinction of phobia
brief summary of systematic desensitisation
- not ethically problematic
- involves gradual exposure to phobia
- includes relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety
- includes and anxiety hierarchy to determine which phobia to be exposed to first
- and exposure
- learning to be calm in the presence of the phobic stimulus
define extinction
overtime, the association between fears and triggers will die out - the fear will go away
study for classical conditioning
little Albert carried out in the 1920’s by Watson
define generalisation
where people start associating similar qualities of objects to ones that they’re scared of and then becoming scared of more objects (example in little Albert study notes)
what is reciprocal inhibition
makes it impossible to feel relaxed and anxious at the same time
list the 4 categories of depressive disorders
major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder , and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
list the behavioural characteristics of depression
activity levels, disruption to sleep and eating behaviour, and aggression and self-harm
what is the name of the condition of when people may have an excessive amount of energy during depressive episodes
psychomotor agitation
talk about activity levels regarding depression
depression can affect activity levels in reducing or increasing energy levels, often making people feel lethargic and unmotivated. this then has a knock-on effect on their work life, education (FFA)
talk about disruption to eating and sleeping behaviour regarding depression
people suffering from depression may suffer with insomnia or hypersomnia, and also issues with overeating or undereating which leads to significant weight gain or weight loss.
talk about aggression and self-harm regarding depression
people suffering with depression are often irritable, verbally aggressive or physically aggressive. this physical aggression can be directed towards others or themselves which can result in self harm in forms of cutting or suicide attempts.
talk about aggression and self-harm regarding depression
people suffering with depression are often irritable, verbally aggressive or physically aggressive. this physical aggression can be directed towards others or themselves which can result in self-harm in forms of cutting or suicide attempts.
what could knock-on effects of aggression and self-harm be
significant negative impact on physical health, negative effect on relationships, ability function adequately in work or school environment.
list the emotional characteristics of depression
lowered mood, anger, lowered self-esteem
outline lowered mood regarding depression
feeling sad - clinical depression is much more severe snd extreme than this, patients often describe themselves as feeling “worthless and empty”
outline anger regarding depression
sufferers tend to experience and acknowledge negative emotions and fewer positive ones
outline anger regarding depression
sufferers tend to experience and acknowledge negative emotions and fewer positive ones during episodes of depression, anger can often result in the display of behavioural characteristic aggression and self-harm
outline lowered self-esteem regarding depression
people suffering from depression have low self-esteem and don’t like themselves, this can be quite extreme and often turn into people hating themselves.
list the cognitive characteristics of depression
poor concentration, attending to and dwelling on the negative and absolutist thinking
outline poor concentration
depression is associated with poor levels of concentration, the sufferer may feel like they’re unable to stick with a task. poor decision making could also be a side affect of depression also (FFA)
outline attending to and dwelling on the negative
when people are going through a depressive episode they tend to focus completely on the negative aspects of life and completely ignore the positive
outline absolutist thinking
when a sufferer thinks in very black and white (extreme) terms around a situation,
systematic desensitisation includes 3 processes:
relaxation techniques, anxiety hierarchy and gradual exposure
define relaxation techniques used within systematic desensitisation
relaxation techniques would include breathing exercises etc to help calm a patient in a stressful situation, this helps keep them calm and decrease their flight or fight response by calming their neurophysiological responses
define anxiety hierarchy used within systematic desensitisation
this takes place between a patient and a therapist, this is when the patient imagines different scenarios involving their phobia and they rank them from least to most approachable and gradually start approaching those situations
define gradual exposure used within systematic desensitisation
gradual exposure is a technique used to help people overcome their fears by only having to deal with their fears in small doses and build it up- this technique reduces anxiety and has proved to be significantly less stressful for all patients, as well as proven to be longlasting
define counterbalancing
new response to phobic stimulus, being calm and relaxed in presence is known as counterbalancing
brief summary of beck’s cognitive approach
- approach explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others
- peoples cognitions create this vulnerability, their thinking is bias towards focussing on negativity
- lack a perceived sense of control
- emphasis on automatic thought
psychologist and date behind becks negative triad
Aaron Beck 1967
summarise the negative triad
the idea that a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of negative thinking that occur automatically - negative view of self, negative view of future, negative view of the world.
outline negative self-schemas
we interpret all information and ideas about ourselves negatively
what is Ellis’s ABC model based around
the idea that good mental health is the result of rational thinking, and depression and anxiety is caused by irrational thoughts
what is Ellis’s model used to explain
how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional state.
what does (A) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (healthy)
A=activating agent
what does (B) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (healthy
B=rational belief
what does (C) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (healthy)
C= healthy emotion
what does (A) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (unhealthy)
A= activating agent
what does (B) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (unhealthy)
B= irrational belief
what does (C) mean in Ellis’s ABC model (unhealthy)
C= unhealthy emotion
what is musterbation
centred on certain ideas or assumptions that must be true for an individual to be happy if they fail then this will seem very extreme to them as they hold an irrational belief regarding that failure (high standards that lead to disappointment)
what is trichotillomania
compulsive hair pulling
define a hoarding disorder
the compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything regardless of its value
define excoriation disorder
compulsive skin picking
what is the behavioural component of OCD
compulsive behaviour
What are the two elements to compulsive behaviours
compulsions are repetitive and compulsions to reduce anxiety
define compulsions are repetitive
when sufferers of OCD feel compelled to repeat behaviour multiple times
define compulsions to reduce anxiety
behaviour carried out to reduce the anxiety surrounding an irrational fear
define avoidance
sufferers of OCD may also be characterised by their avoidance as they attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from situations that trigger it
List emotional characteristics of OCD
anxiety and distress, accompanying depression, guilt and disgust.
List of cognitive characteristics of OCD
obsessive thoughts cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions and insight into excessive anxiety
define cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions
cognitive strategies make it easier for people to respond by adopting cognitive coping strategies, for example, a religious person tormented by excessive guilt may respond by praying on meditating
define insight into excessive anxiety
sufferers of OCD are completely aware of how irrational their fears and anxieties are
what is cognitive behavioural therapy
cognitive therapy is the application of becks negative triad within anxiety and depression the idea of high-quality therapy is to identify negative thoughts of the world the self and the future this is negative triad was identified these thoughts can be challenged
what is our REBT
REBT extends the ABC model is with a ABCDE model the D stands for dispute and E for effect
what 2 areas of the brain may play a role in biological approach to explaining OCD
the frontal lobe and parahoppocampal gyrus
talk and decision making systems regarding OCD
in some cases of OCD in particular a hoarding disorders seems to be associated with impaired decision-making this may be associated with abnormal functioning of the frontal lobe of the brain
talk about the role of serotonin regarding the biological approach to explaining OCD
The role of the neurotransmitter serotonin is believed to help regulate mood, neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to the other.
Low serotonin = low mood
how are genes involved in OCD
genes that you develop may make you more vulnerable to developing OCD
supporting evidence for genetic explanations regarding OCD
Lewis 1936 observed that of his OCD patients 37% her parents with OCD and 21% had siblings with OCD this suggests that OCD runs in families
what is a candidate gene
The candidate gene is a gene which creates vulnerability for OCD
what is the SERT gene
the SERT gene affect the transport of serotonin creating lower levels of the neurotransmitter
supporting research evidence for the SERT gene
ozaki found a mutation of this gene in 2 unrelated families where 6 of seven family members had OCD carried out by ozaki et al.2003
what does polygenic mean regarding OCD
OCD is not caused by one single gene but that several genes are involved this means that OCD is polygenic
supporting evidence for OCD being polygenic
Taylor 2013 has analysed findings of previous studies and found evidence up to 230 different genes may be involved in OCD, Some of these genes include dopamine as well as serotonin both neurotransmitters believed to have a role in regulating mood
what does aetiologically heterogeneous mean regarding OCD
this means that the origin of OCD has different causes
what is the diathesis stress model
diathesis= genetic element
stress = environmental trigger
according to the diathesis-stress model certain genes mean that some people are more likely to suffer a mental disorder but is not certain, environmental stress experience is necessary to trigger the condition
what did Nestadt et al. 2010
they reviewed previous twin studies and found that 68% of identical twins shared OCD as opposed to 31% of non-identical twins
this means if it was purely genetic it should be 100%
what is a monozygotic twins
identical
what is dizygotic twins
non identical
what neurotransmitter is supposed to help with schizophrenia
dopamine
what is the aim of drug therapy with mental disorders
aim to increase or decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or to increase/decrease the patient’s anxiety
what is the name of the standard medical treatment used involving a particular type of antidepressant drug
SSRI
what does SSRI stand for
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
key components involved in the usage of SSRI
- presynaptic neuron
- postsynaptic neuron
- synaptic cleft
- synaptic vesicle
- receptor cells
what is the GABA
A neurotransmitter that when released has a general quieting effect on many of the neurons in the brain
what are tricyclics
an older type of antidepressant
pros and cons to drug therapy
- cost-effective compared to CBT
- easier for the NHS to manage
- easier access for patients instead of spending hours at CBT
cons to BZ’s
highly addictive and only effective in the short term
cons to tricylics
bad side affects, heart palpitations tachycardia
