Psychopathology Ao1

Question 1

What are the definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

1) Statistical Infrequency
2) Deviation from social norms
3) Failure to function adequately
4) Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

What is statistical infrequency?

Answer 2

• Abnormality in terms of statistics.
• Rarely seen behaviour/characteristics are abnormal.
  e.g IQ below 70 or above 130

Question 3

What is deviation from social norms?

Answer 3

• Behaving differently than expected based on societal context.
• Relatively few behaviours are universally abnormal.
  e.g Anti-Social Personality Disorder

Question 4

What is Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 4

• What makes us normal
• A list of 8 qualities from Jahoda

Question 5

List the 8 qualities from Jahoda

Answer 5

1) No symptoms of distress.
2) Rational
3) Self-actualise
4) Cope with stress
5) Realistic view of the world
6) Good self-esteem
7) Independent
8) Successfully work

Question 6

What is Failure to Function adequately?

Answer 6

Inability to cope with everyday living

Question 7

Criteria for Failure to Function adequately

Answer 7

• No longer conform to interpersonal rules.
• Experience personal distress.
• Irrational or dangerous behaviour.

Question 8

Give 2 behavioural characteristics of Phobias
(PAFUSI)

Answer 8

1) Panic
2) Avoidance or Endurance

Question 9

Give 2 emotional characteristics of Phobias
(PAFUSI)

Answer 9

1) Fear to Anxiety - one leads to the other.
2) Unreasonable responses - e.g. crying to tiny spider

Question 10

Give 2 cognitive characteristic of Phobias
(PAFUSI)

Answer 10

1) Selective attention.
2) Irrational beliefs.

Question 11

Give 2 behavioural characteristic of depression
(ADALPA)

Answer 11

1) Activity levels
2) Disruption to sleep and eating

Question 12

Give 2 emotional characteristic of depression
(ADALPA)

Answer 12

1) Anger
2) Low mood

Question 13

Give 2 cognitive characteristic of depression
(ADALPA)

Answer 13

1) Poor concentration
2) Absolutist thinking

Question 14

Give 2 behavioural characteristic of OCD
(CAAGOI)

Answer 14

1) Compulsions
2) Avoidance

Question 15

Give 2 emotional characteristic of OCD
(CAAGOI)

Answer 15

1) Anxiety and distress
2) Guilt or disgust

Question 16

Give 2 cognitive characteristic of OCD
(CAAGOI)

Answer 16

1) Obsessive thoughts
2) Insight into excessive anxiety

Question 17

Outline the behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Answer 17

Two-process model:
- Learned via Classical
-Maintained via Operant

Little Albert Case study

Negative reinforcement maintains phobia.
- Avoiding the phobic stimulus creates relief, conditioned to avoid stimulus.
- e.g Phobia of clowns, avoids circuses.

Question 18

Explain the process of acquiring a phobia (little Albert)

Answer 18

1) UCS (loud noise) –> UCR (fear)
2) NS (white bunny) –> No response
3) UCS (loud noise) + NS (white bunny) –> UCR (fear)
4) CS (white bunny) –> CR (fear)

Question 19

Describe SD

Answer 19

Systematic Desensitisation
-Counter-conditioning; phobia (CS) paired with relaxation (becomes new CR).
- Reciprocal inhibition theory.

Formation of anxiety hierarchy.

Relaxation practiced at each level of hierarchy.

Question 20

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Answer 20

The inability to feel two emotions at the same time.

Question 21

What is flooding?

Answer 21

• Immediate exposure.
• Extinction: fear is exhausted without option of avoidance removing phobia.
  -Ethical safeguards.

Question 22

What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Answer 22

• Faulty information processing. Absolutist thinking.
• Depressed people have negative self-schemas. All information about themselves interpreted negatively.
• Negative view of:
  1) Self
  2) Future
  3) World

Question 23

Describe Ellis’ ABC model

Answer 23

A - activating event

B- beliefs (irrational): if you believe you must always succeed, failure is catastrophic.

C - consequences: emotional and behavioural.

Question 24

Explain CBT

Answer 24

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, most common form of psychological treatment. Example of cognitive approach applied.

Cognitive: challenge negative or irrational thoughts.
Behaviour: change behaviour so it is more effective.

• Challenge negative thoughts about the self, world and future.
• “Client as scientist” tests reality of beliefs through homework.

Question 25

Explain REBT

Answer 25

Rational Emotional Behaviour Therapy
ABCDE model.
D - dispute irrational beliefs.
E - effect.

Challenge irrational thoughts.

Behavioural activation.

Question 26

Therapist’s goal of BA?

Answer 26

Behavioural activation: therapist encourages/ rewards effort e.g exercise or going outside is rewarded.

Question 27

How would Ellis challenge irrational beliefs?

Answer 27

1) Empirical argument: is there evidence to support irrational belief?
2) Logical argument: does the negative thought follow from fact?

Question 28

Outline the Genetic explanation for OCD?

Answer 28

• Candidate genes:
  1. Serotonin genes
  2. Dopamine genes
• OCD is polygenic: Multiple genes involved
• Aetiologically heterogenous: Different combos cause OCD.

Question 29

Outline the Neural explanation of OCD

Answer 29

• Low levels of serotonin lowers mood because lower levels means transmission of mood-related info does not take place.
• Decision making in frontal lobes (logical thinking) impaired.
• Dysfunctional left Parahippocampal gyrus (processes unpleasant emotions).

Question 30

Outline the biological approach to treating OCD

Answer 30

• Changing levels of neurotransmitters, low levels of serotonin associated with OCD.
• SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)
• Typical dosage (20 mg), 3-4 months to impact symptoms.
• SSRIs + CBT. Drugs reduce emotional symptoms, patient can engage better with CBT.
• Tricyclics (older antidepressants with more severe side-effects) and SNRIs (second line of defence, increases levels of S and noradrenaline).