psychopatology Flashcards
what are the definitions of abnormality
deviating from the average social norm , failure to function or deviation from ideal mental health
what are the limitations of the definition of abnormality
> cultural relativism- judgments about labelling human behaviour can only be made within a given time or culture
Time- 1973 homosexuality was defined as abnormal
failure to function - GAF
deviation from social norms does not indicate psychological abnormality e.g. eccentric
context
cannot classify everyone- Rosenham 1973
deviation from rule can be used as excuse/ abuse- Cohen
what are social norms
set of rules based on a moral standards that can be explicit (law) or implicit (unspoken codes)
cohen 1988
claims that Japans drive for industrial success and need to establish strong work ethic; insanity is used as a deterrent and create compliance
what is GAF
global assessment functioning scale- measures psychological, occupational and social functioning on hypothetical continuum of mental health.
positives of GAF
> humane as it is left to person or others close to address problem
negatives of GAF-
> comer ‘not whole picture’
exception to rules e.g. people shoplift to survive
direction of causality- Howell- women’s experience of society in GB predisposes women to depression
neglects RL social issues that might make a failure to function completely understandable
Rosenhan
8 normal people tried to be admitted to 12 psy hospitals saying they heard voices, 7 diagnosed with schizophrenia, all 8 admitted- then claimed they lied (seen as symptom)
>Rosenham told psy hospitals ‘pseudopatients’ would try to get admitted, none tried but 41 genuine patients were diagnosed by staff.
>staff could not distinguish between ill and not ill
what are Marie Jahoda’s 6 criteria
1) positive self-attitude
2) self actualisation
3) resistance to stress
4) personal autonomy
5) accurate perception of reality
6) adaption to environment
limitations of jahoda
> difficult to self actualize
reflects western culture
stress can be positive
demanding
what is the biological approach
medical or somatic model
> explains problems through genetic factors looking for external treatment
> brain damage, infection, biochemistry, genes
biological model- brain damage
physical structure and functioning
accidents, alcohol + drugs e.g. korsakoff’s syndrome
Biological model- infection
Brown linked flu in early pregnancy to schizophrenia
biological model- biochemistry
neurotransmitters out of balance
>schizophrenia too much dopamine
> depression too low serotonin / high cortisol
Mann showed this with PET scans
biological model- genes
genetic disposition
>1 st degree relative with schizophrenia has 10% chance of passing on to child
Gottesman and Heston
treatments of biological model
> drugs- physical cure
psychosurgery- eg frontal lobotomy (not cure but relieves symptoms) ,irreversible, used if suicidal
ECT- 225V shock can lead to memory loss, can come back
positives of biological model
no blame reduces stigma scientific basis Gottesman Heston
weaknesses to biological model
relinquish responsibiltity
ethics- addiction to drugs
reductionist
Gottesman
meta-analysis of TWINS- schizophrenia
>48% chance of developing if identical twin had
>17% if non-identical twin had
Heston
Nature vs nurture
47 adopted children whos mothers had schizophrenia
CG- 50 whos mum didn’t
5/47 developed it and another 4 borderline, compared to 0 in CG