Psychopathology Ao1

Question 1

Give two examples of statistical infrequency

Answer 1

-IQ
-intellectual disability

Question 2

Detailed IQ statistics

Answer 2

-Average IQ is 100
-Normal distribution (68%)
-Average range 85-115
-Only 2% have a score below 70
-These are statistically infrequent and could be diagnosed with intellectual disability disorder.

Question 2

A way to measure an infrequency vs the normal

Answer 2

To compare to normal distribution

Question 3

How is a social norm created?

Answer 3

A group of people choose to define a behavior as abnormal on the basis that it offends their sense of what is acceptable. We as a society make a collective judgement about what is right.

Question 4

How are norms specific to the culture we live in?

Answer 4

They could be different to different generations and cultures, there are very few behaviors that would be considered universally abnormal eg homosexuality is still viewed as abnormal in some countries

Question 5

Example of a deviation of social norms

Answer 5

A person with antisocial personality disorder is impulsive, aggressive and irresponsible. One important symptom od antisocial personality disorder is prosocial internal standards which means they are abnormal as they don’t conform to societies moral standards.

Question 6

When is someone failing to function adequately?

Answer 6

David Rosenhan and Martin Seligman (1989) have proposed signs that can be used to determine if a person is not coping
- When a person no longer conforms to standard interpersonal rules eg maintaining eye contact and resecting personal space
-When a person experiences severe personal distress
-When a person’s behavior becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 7

Example of failure to function adequately

Answer 7

Intellectual disability disorder- a criteria for diagnosis is low IQ (statistical infrequency) however the person would have to be failing tp function adequately in order to be diagnosed.

Question 8

Describe deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 8

We have a picture of ‘normal’ being ideal meant health, abnormal is when a person deviated from being psychologically healthy.

Question 9

What is ideal mental health?

Answer 9

Marie Jahoda (1958) suggested, good mental health can be shown by this criteria
-no symptoms of distress
-rationalize and perceive ourselves accurately
-self actualize (reach full potential)
-cope with stress
-have a realistic view of the world
-good self esteem and lack guilt
-independent of other people
-can successfully work, love and enjoy leisure.

Question 10

What are the categorises relating to phobia that DSM-5 recognise?

Answer 10

-Specific phobia - phobia of an animal, body part or situation
-Social anxiety - phobia of a social situation such as public speaking
-agoraphobia - phobia of being outside or in a public place

Question 11

What are the behavioural characteristics of a phobia?

Answer 11

Panic- person may panic in the presence of their phobic stimulus. Panic can include crying, screaming, or running away. Children may react slightly differently eg freezing, clinging or having a tantrum.

Avoidance- A person avoiding contact with their phobic stimulus can make it hard to go bout their daily life.

Endurance- Person chooses to stay within the presence of their phobic stimulus.

Question 12

DSM-5 categories of depression

Answer 12

-major depressive disorder - severe but often short term depression
-persistent depressive disorder - long term or recurring depression (used to be called dysthymia)
-disruptive mood dysregulation disorder - childhood temper tantrums
- premenstrual dysphoric disorder - disruption of mood before/ during menstruation.

Question 13

Behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 13

Activity level - reduced activity and energy makes them lethargic. This has a knock on effect of withdrawing from work, education or social life. In extreme cases patients may not be able to get out of bed. Depression can also have the opposite effect psychomotor agitation where patients may pace up and down a room.

Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - depression is associated with changes to sleep patterns, this could be insomnia or hypersomnia (increased need foe sleep). Appetite could also increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss.

Aggression or self harm- people with depression can be irritable and become physically aggressive. This aggression can be directed at yourself, this includes self harm or suicide attempts.

Question 14

DSM-5 categories of OCD

Answer 14

-OCD- characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions, most people diagnosed suffer from both.
- Trichotillomania - compulsive hair pulling
-Hoarding disorder - the compulsive gathering o possessions and inability to part wit things regardless of their value.
-Excoriation disorder - compulsive skin picking

Question 15

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

Answer 15

Compulsions are repetitive - People with OCD typically feel compelled to repeat behaviour eg handwashing

Compulsions reduce anxiety- around 10% of people with OCD suffer compulsions alone (they have no obsessions, just general irritational anxiety). On the most part compulsions are used to reduce anxiety produced by obsessions. eg compulsive hand washing and obsessive fear of germs.

Avoidance- Their attempt to reduce anxiety by keeping away from triggers that cause it. eg people with hand washing compulsions may try to avoid germs. However this can lead people to avoid everyday tasks which can interfere with normal life.

Question 16

Emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 16

Anxiety- experiences a high state of anxiety with is an unpleasant state of high arousal and prevent a person from relaxing and make it difficult for them to experience any positive emotion. Anxiety can be long term

Fear- the immediate and unpleasant response we experience when we think about or encounter our phobic stimulus. This is usually more intense but experienced in shorter busts then anxiety.

Emotional response is unreasonable- Fear and anxiety is much greater then normal and is totally disproportionate to the threat.

Question 17

Emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 17

Lowered mood- In normal life low mood is characterised as feeling sad but clinical depression is much more pronounced than a regular daily experience. People with depression often describe themselves as worthless or empty.

Anger- Experience of negative emotion is not limited to sadness. People with depression also experience anger. sometimes extreme anger. This can be directed at themselves or others. This can lead to aggressive and harming behaviour

Lowered self esteem- Self esteem is the emotional experience of how much we like our self. People with depression like themselves less than usual so have lowered self esteem. This can be extreme, with people describing a sense of self loathing .