Psychopathology (Paper 1) Flashcards
What is psychopathology
The study of abnormal thoughts, behaviours and feelings
Deviation of social norms
Society sets unwritten rules (social norms) i.e. behaviour which goes against/contravenes unwritten rules/expectations in a given society/culture is sign of psychopathology.
-E.g. talking to self when walking down street
Statistical infrequency
-A person’s trait, thinking or behaviour is classified as abnormal if it is rare or statistically unusual
-E.g. IQ average is 100. If IQ is below 70 then it would be classed as statistically infrequent and abnormal
Deviation from ideal mental health
- Personal growth (Self Actualisation: should
reach your potential) - Reality perception (should know what’s real)
- Autonomy (should be independent)
- Integration (should ‘fit in’ with society and be able to cope with stressful situations)
- Self-attitudes (should be positive: high self esteem)
- Environmental mastery (should cope in your environment
-Jahoda believed that if just one of the list was missing we have an abnormality
Failure to function adequately
-Abnormality judged as inability to deal with the demands of everyday living
-Behaviour is maladaptive, irrational or dangerous
-Behaviour causes personal distress and distress to others
What is OCD
OCD is an anxiety disorder where sufferers experience persistent and intrusive thoughts occurring as obsessions, compulsions or a combination of the two
Obsession
A persistent thought, idea, impulse or image that experienced repeatedly, feels intrusive and causes anxiety
Compulsion
A repetitive and rigid behaviour or mental act that a person feels driven to perform in order to prevent or reduce anxiety
Behavioural characteristics
Repetitive actions, avoidance of situations that trigger
Emotional characteristics
Anxiety and distress, depression as compulsions bring temporary relief, guilt and disgust
Cognitive characteristics
Obsessive thoughts, intrusive and persistent thoughts, irrational thinking
Genetic explanation
Inherited from parents through genes, if you inherit certain genes you may be more likely to adapt OCD
Twin study Billett et al (1998)
Meta-analysis (a study combining the results of lots of studies) of 14 twin studies
– On average Monozygotic (identical) twins 2 x more likely to develop the disorder than DiZygotic (non-identical) twins. This is because they share 100% of same genes.
Family study Nestadt et al (2000)
80 patients with OCD & 343 of their near relatives compared with control group without mental illness
& their relatives.
Strong link with near family 5x greater risk if had first degree relative.
COMT gene
This gene is associated with the production of an enzyme that regulates the function of dopamine and helps to reduce it’s action. The variation in the COMT gene decreases the amount of COMT available and therefore dopamine is not controlled and there is probably too much dopamine (associated with OCD)..
• This gene variation is more common in patients with OCD, in comparison to people without OCD.
• It appears that this gene is also mutated in individuals with OCD
SERT gene
This gene affects the transport of serotonin, creating lower levels of it. Low levels of serotonin have been implicated with OCD.
• The SERT gene appears to be mutated in individuals with OCD.
• The mutation causes an increase in transporter proteins at a neuron’s membrane.
Neural explanation
Neural mechanisms refer to regions of the brain, structures and the neurotransmitters involved in sending messages through the nervous system.
Frontal Lobes
The lateral (side) bits of the frontal lobes are the part of your brain responsible for decision making and logical reasoning (executive functioning).
• Abnormal functioning or damage of this region is linked to OCD, especially conditions like hoarding disorder, whereby patients cannot stop collecting more junk
Abnormal brain circuits
The Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) circuit.
• The OFC sends ‘worry’ signals.
• These signals are normally suppressed by the caudate nucleus.
• In OCD the caudate nucleus is thought to be damaged so it cannot suppress the signals which become increasingly excited – increasing compulsive behaviour and anxiety.
• Impulses arising in the OFC are passed to the caudate nuclei, which acts as a filter screening out irrelevant or unimportant impulses. The most powerful ones are passed onto the thalamus. Then the individual is driven to think more about them and to take action
Neurotransmitters
Abnormalities, or an imbalance in the neurotransmitter serotonin, could also be related to OCD. Reduced serotonin and excessive dopamine may cause OCD.
Drug therapy
Drug therapy assumes that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain
This can be corrected by drugs, which either increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters at the synapse
SSRI’S
SSRI’S prolong reabsorption of serotonin in the synapse making them more likely to eventually bind to receiving neuron increasing serotonin levels.
SNRI’S
These drugs block transporter mechanism that absorbs serotonin and
noradrenaline back into the pre-synaptic neuron after it has fired.
Therefore leaving more of these neurotransmitters in the synapse,
prolonging their activity
PROS AND CONS OF DRUG THERAPY
Pros:Proven to have a positive effect on increasing serotonin. In turn this will make the person feel better and cheaper than therapy
Cons: Side effects, some drugs don’t work for everybody and by the time it’s taken to figure this out the case could get worse
