psychopathology lessons 8-13 Flashcards
behavioural characteristics of depression
shift in energy levels
weight changes
poor personal hygiene
sleep pattern disturbance
emotional characteristics of depression
loss of enthusiasm
constant depressed mood
worthlessness
anger
cognitive characteristics of depression
delusions
reduced concentration
thoughts of death
poor memory
negative thinking
what is the cognitive triad by beck
the idea that people become depressed because of their negative outlook on life and so they develop negative schemas. this is usually developed from childhood where parents were overly critical of them.
examples of negative schemas
self blame - feel responsible for misfortunes
ineptness - expecting to fail at everything
steps of cognitive triad
negative thoughts about self: feeling worthless
negative thoughts about world: negative thinking continues on larger scale
negative thoughts about future: causes low self esteem and can lead to suicidal thinking
evaluation of cognitive approach by beck
advantages:
Research support from terry who assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability to negative thinking and depression before and after giving birth. He found that women with high cognitive vulnerability to negative thinking were more likely to suffer post natal depression.
disadvantages:
Cause and effect is not clear as does negative thinking cause depression or does depression cause the patient to think in a negative way.
Becks theory doesn’t explain how other symptoms are formed such as hallucinations and anger.
what is ellis ABC model
Ellis created this model to explain how irrational and negative beliefs are formed
activating event: an event that triggers irrational thinking
beliefs: patients record their thoughts associated with the events
consequences: patients record their emotional response to their beliefs such as feeling upset.
ellis identified mustabatory thinking can cause irrational and negative thinking that can be emotionally damaging: i must be loved or i’m worthless.
evaluation of ellis’s ABC model
advantages:
Research support from bates who found that depressed patients who were given irrational thought statements became more and more depressed.
By knowing irrational thinking contributes to depression, it can help provide effective treatments to cure depression.
disadvantages:
Cause and effect not established.
The biological approach criticises the cognitive approach as neurotransmitters and genes may affect depression as well.
Psychologist found there is a gene that makes it ten time more likely to develop depression.
what is CBT by beck
therapy that restructures negative ways of thinking so they become more positive and rational. used on individuals or in small groups. therapist is highly trained. helps patient think in a more positive way. thought catching which is patients identifying irrational thoughts. weekly sessions
evaluation of CBT
advantages:
Very effective to use when client has mild depression as it stops it from getting worse.
Widely respected and supported in the use by the nhs.
It also is very economical and cost effective.
Also identifies root cause of depression unlike medication.
disadvantages:
More effective when paired with drugs and drugs require less effort.
Not as effective with severe depression as patient may be unwilling so drugs may be better for that.
what is REBT by ellis
practises rational thinking by reinforcing the abc model in a more logical way.
Clients also given homework assignments between sessions to test irrational beliefs.
DEF MODEL:
Disputing irrational thoughts: done through logical and empirical disputing. which is questioning if it is logical and if there’s proof
Effect: reducing irrational thoughts can lead to better consequences
Feelings: thinking more positively makes you feel better.
evaluation of REBT
advantages:
REBT is seen to be more effective than drugs as it finds the root cause of the depression as shown by a psychologist who tested long term treatment of REBT on 170 depressed patients using drugs and REBT, after 6 months he found that rebt was more effective than drugs
disadvantages:
REBT is dependant on patients being articulated and being able to talk coherently, therefore it won’t work on people who are uncomfortable or unable to do so. As a result this could limit the number of patients this could be effective for
what are the behavioural characteristics of OCD
compulsive behaviour: repetitive unconcealed acts that they believe they have to do
hinder everyday functioning: having obsessive ideas that create anxiety
social impairment: obsessions and compulsions may hinder the ability to have personal relationships
repetitive: repeat behaviours.
avoidance: avoiding situations that may trigger anxiety.
what are the emotional characteristics of OCD
anxiety and distress: sufferers aware of their obsessions have feelings of shame and embarrassment
accompanying depression: anxiety might be accompanied by low mood
guilt and disgust: irrational guilt over minor issues or disgust which may directed towards self
what are the cognitive characteristics of OCD
obsessions: recurrent intrusive thoughts or actions that are perceived as inappropriate
recognised as self generated: sufferers understand their obsessions, and images are self invented
realisation of inappropriateness: sufferers understand compulsive behaviours are innappropriate
attention bias: focussed on anxiety generated stimuli and they tend to be hyper vigilant.
what are SSRI drugs
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that prevents the reuptake of serotonin and prolongs activity in synapse so the person feels less anxious. helps the orbital frontal cortex function at normal levels. prescribed for 12-16 weeks
SSRI evaluation
advantages: psychologist reviewed 17 studies that compared SSRI drugs to placebos to treat OCD and found that in all studies SSRI drugs were more effective than placebos especially when combined w CBT. 70% of patients noticed a decline in symptoms so it is quite effective.
disadvantages: the remaining 30% found it not very effective so tend to opt for a combination with other treatments. A psychologist found that the drugs are not effective in the long term but only in the short term. They also have terrible side effects such as indigestion and blurred vision
what are benzodiazepines
BZ drugs reduce anxiety and aim to control neurotransmitters. e.g xanax. BZ reduces blood pressure and heart rate. aims to increase GABA. BZ binds to GABA to slow down neurone activity.
BZ evaluation
advantages:
Very effective at reducing anxiety and OCD symptoms.
Works on a global basis.
Works very quickly and in a short period.
When used short term they don’t have much side effects
disadvantages:
If used long term then it has side effects such as drowsiness and depression.
When BZ used long term can become very dependent and have withdrawal.
what is dopamine
neurotransmitter that affects mood and might be cause of ocd
OCD sufferers have high levels
what is serotonin
neurotransmitter that affects mood
frontal lobes have been linked to serotonin activity
OCD sufferers have low serotonin and this causes depressive symptoms and obsessive thoughts
evaluation of dopamine and serotonin
strengths:
Anti depressants increase serotonin which has reduced OCD symptoms therefore low serotonin can lead to OCD.
Psychologist found giving patients low doses of risperidone lowered dopamine levels and lessened OCD symptoms.
weaknesses:
Neurotransmitter levels may not cause OCD but neurotransmitter levels may be the effect.
Not clear whether low serotonin causes depression, OCD or both.
Not enough research for dopamine as high levels can also lead to schizophrenia.
what is the COMT gene
COMT gene regulates the production of dopamine where high levels are associated with OCD. More common in OCD patients
what is the SERT gene
affects transportation of serotonin which results in low levels of serotonin and so lowers mood
evaluation of COMT AND SERT gene
advantages: Psychologist found that people who had first degree relative who already had OCD were five times more likely to get OCD which shows it is genetically transmitted.
disadvantages: concordance rate is not 100% so is not entirely caused by genetic factors.
