Psychopathology Revision

Question 1

1. Provide a definition of Psychopathology (150 words)

Answer 1

The study of mental illnesses, including symptoms, causes, and treatments. Different theoretical perspectives influence how abnormal behaviour is defined.
Timothy Davis’s paper of the 4 D’s of Psychopathology (Deviance - Distress - Dysfunction – Danger)
Deviance – Behaviour that significantly deviates from societal norms. Distress – Psychological suffering, such as anxiety or depression. Dysfunction – Impairment in daily activities (work, relationships, self-care). Danger – Behaviour that poses a risk to oneself or others.
* Approaches to Psychopathology
Medical Model – Views mental disorders as biological illnesses. Cognitive-Behavioural Perspective – Focuses on maladaptive thoughts and behaviours. Cultural & Contextual Influences – What is considered “abnormal” varies across societies.
- Holistic Understanding of Psychopathology
Requires integrating multiple perspectives for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Question 2

2. Analyse conflicting theories/opinions/arguments relevant to Psychopathology - (A) (500 words)

(start by remembering the titles)

Answer 2

Phobias - Learning Theory vs. Biological Explaining Learning Theory (Behaviourism) and Phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and operant conditioning. An Example of Watson & Rayner’s “Little Albert” (1920) experimented learning through classical conditioning. Avoidance of feared stimuli reinforces phobias through operant conditioning.
Treatment to Phobia’s: Systematic desensitisation & exposure therapy are used. Flooding on the other hand is the fastest way to unlearn a fear.

• Biological Explanation.
  Phobias stem from genetic predisposition & brain function. An overactive Amygdala also contributes to heightened fear responses. Low neurotransmitter imbalances such as gamma/amino/butyric/acid (GABA) may increase anxiety.
  Treatments: Medications (beta-blockers, antidepressants, selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors).
• Depression: Cognitive vs. Biological Perspectives
  Cognitive Approach via Aaron Beck. Depression results from negative thinking patterns. Cognitive Triad is a core concept in Beck’s Cognitive Theory of Depression. It describes how negative thoughts about three key areas - perspective of oneself, the world, and the future - contribute to depression if these are not in alignment.
  Treatment: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) reconstructs maladaptive thoughts.
• Biological Approach
  Depression is linked to neurochemical imbalances (low serotonin, dopamine, noro/pin/ephrine). Twin studies also suggests a genetic component (40-50% of being hereditary).
  Treatment: Antidepressants such as selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) helps increase serotonin levels.v

Question 3

2. Analyse conflicting theories/opinions/arguments relevant to Psychopathology (B) (500 words)

(start by remembering the titles)

Answer 3

• Comparison of Biological & Cognitive Approaches
  CBT is as effective as medication for mild to moderate depression. Severe cases often require medication for symptom relief.
• CBT has fewer side effects, while medications may cause dependency & withdrawal.
  Treatment Duration of medication provides faster relief, but therapy has longer-lasting benefits. This conclusion provides valuable insights into psychopathology.
  Understanding Psychopathology involves studying, diagnosing, and treating mental illnesses through various theoretical perspectives. Conflicting approaches (e.g., biological vs. cognitive) highlight the need to integrate multiple frameworks for effective treatment.
• Biological vs. Cognitive Approaches
  Biological explanations focus on genetic and neurochemical factors influencing mental illnesses. Cognitive and behavioural approaches emphasise learned behaviours and maladaptive thought patterns. An example of phobias and depression can be seen as both learned responses through classical conditioning and neurobiological issues through neurochemical imbalances.
• The Little Albert Experiment (Watson & Rayner, 1920).
  Evidence for Behavioural Explanation of Phobias, demonstrated how fear can be conditioned through classical conditioning, reinforcing the idea that irrational fears can be learned and also unlearned.
• Bio/psycho/social Approach.
  Modern research highlights the role of neuro/biology in mental illnesses, emphasising the need for a bio/psycho/social approach - of biological, psychological, and cognitive social factors.
• Integrated Treatment Approach.
  The most effective treatment strategy involves combining medication (for symptom management) and CBT therapy consisting of cognitive behavioural therapy (for cognitive restructuring).
  An integrative approach (medication + therapy) is often the most effective treatment strategy.

Question 4

3. Describe a piece of research evidence relevant to Psychopathology (350 words)

Answer 4

Watson and Rayner - The Little Albert Experiment (1920).

Aim

Investigate whether an emotional response (fear in this case) could be classically conditioned in a human infant.
Test whether a child could develop a phobia of a previously neutral stimulus.

Method

Experiment was Conducted on 9-month-old Albert, who initially had no fear of a white rat.
Pre-conditioning: Researchers exposed Albert to various stimuli (white rat, rabbit, monkey) to ensure there were no pre-existing fears.
During conditioning:
White rat was paired with a loud noise behind Little Albert (steel bar struck with a hammer).
The fright of the loud noise naturally triggered a fear response.
Pairing repeated multiple times.
After conditioning:
White rat was presented alone to test for a learned fear response.

Results

Initially before conditioning Albert showed no fear of the rat.
After conditioning, Albert displayed distress at the sight of the rat without the noise,
crying and attempting to get away.
Fear became generalised to familiar stimuli (rabbit, dog, fur coat).

Conclusion

Phobias can be learned through classical conditioning supporting the behaviourist perspective - phobias are acquired through associative learning reinforcing phobias which can be learned and unlearned. Findings influenced behavioural treatments for phobias (e.g., systematic desensitisation, exposure therapy).

Ethical Considerations

Experiment was criticised for ethical concerns as this caused distress to a child. No unlearned conditioning treatment for Little Albert’s experiment was conducted. Experiment not permitted under modern ethical standards. A child cannot provide legal consent to experiments.

As research advances, ethical considerations and individualised treatment approaches will continue to evolve in mental health care, as illustrated in the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th ed (DSM V), Including the International Classification of Disease 11th revision (ICD 11).

Significance

Despite ethical issues, the study remains fundamental in understanding phobia development. Supports learning-based approaches to treating irrational fears. Behaviour school for treatments of phobia is “that if something can be learnt, it can also be unlearned”.