Pyschopathology Flashcards

1
Q

Define statistical infrequency as a definition of abnormality

A

Numerically uncommon
Find something of normal on the number of times it happens or how far away it is from the main median or mode

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2
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of statistical infrequency

A

+Real life application
-unusual characteristics can be positive
-Not everyone benefits from label

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3
Q

Define deviations of social norms as a definition of abnormality

A

When a person violates the rules or expected behaviour
of a particular group or society

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4
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of deviations from social norms

A

+ real world application-antisocial personality disorder
-cultural relativism
-Temporal validity

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5
Q

Define failure to function in adequately as a definition of abnormality

A

Inability to keep with the demands of every day living

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6
Q

What is the criteria to help identify the failure to function adequately?

A

-rosenhan and seligsman

-maladaptive behaviour
-Observer discomfort
-personal distress

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7
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of failure to function adequately?

A

+ considers patient’s perspective
-Very similar to deviation from social norms-some of the things I cannot having a job could be a choice
-involve subjective judgements

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8
Q

Define deviation for mental health as a definition for abnormality

A

A criteria needed for psychological well-being , the less someone meets them more abnormal they are

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9
Q

What is some of the criteria needed to have good psychological well-being?

A

-jahoda

-Self attitude
-Perspective of reality
-Environmental mastery
-Autonomy
-Resistance to stress
-self actualisation

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10
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of deviation from ideal mental health

A

+covered abroad range of criteria
-Biased towards individualist cultures
-unrealistically high expectations

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11
Q

What’s a phobia

A

An anxiety disorder characterised by excessive out of proportion fear of an object or thing

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12
Q

What is depression?

A

A mental disorder characterise by low mood and low energy levels

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13
Q

What is OCD?

A

A condition characterised by reoccurring and intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety and repetitive, rigid actions that temporarily reduce anxiety.

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14
Q

What is a behavioural characteristic?

A

The way people act

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15
Q

What is an emotional characteristic?

A

The way people feel

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16
Q

What’s a cognitive characteristic?

A

The way people think

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17
Q

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

A

Panic
Avoidance

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18
Q

Behavioural characteristics of depression

A

-Aggression to self and others
-Changes in sleep
-Changes in eating patterns
-changes in energy levels

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19
Q

Behavioural characteristics of OCD

A
  • avoidance of triggers
    -Compulsions
20
Q

Emotional characteristics of phobias

A

-fear
-anxiety

21
Q

Emotional characteristics of depression

A

-low mood
-anger

22
Q

Emotional characteristics of OCD

A

-anxiety and distress
-guilt and disgust of self, others and triggers eg. Germs

23
Q

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

A

-irrational beliefs
-selective attention to phobia stimulus

24
Q

Cognitive characteristics of depression

A

-poor concentration
-difficulty making decisions
-irrational beliefs

25
Q

Cognitive characteristics of ocd

A

-excessive anxiety
-obsessive intrusive thoughts that are reoccurring

26
Q

Behavioural explanations for phobias

A

Mowrer two step process:
-phobias learnt by classical conditioning and maintain through operant conditioning

-Classical conditioning – NS is paired with UCS which causes fear (UCR). Leads to the creation of CS leading to fear (CR). Generalisation of fear to other stimuli.
-E.g. Bitten (UCS) by dog (NS) leading to fear (creates CR)

-Operant conditioning – avoiding phobia causes relief of anxiety (negative reinforcement).
e.g. fear of spiders is reinforced by relief from running away

27
Q

Little Albert key study for behavioursit’s explanation of phobias

A

-Watson and Rayner

Procedure – Association of white rats (NS) with loud bang (UCS)
Findings - White rats became a CS leading to fear (CR). Generalised to similar stimuli, e.g. white furry objects

28
Q

Strengths and weaknesses for the behavioural explanation of phobias

A

+application to treatments- therapy- helping prevent avoidance
+people can often remember traumatic events
-not all bad experiences lead to phobias
-sometimes phobias don’t follow trauma- could be biological aspects

29
Q

Behavioural treatments for phobias: SD

A

Systematic desensitisation
Based on counter conditioning (learning new association) and reciprocal inhibition (two conflicting
emotions can’t co-exist).
Anxiety hierarchy –with therapist list feared stimulifrom least to most frightening.
Relaxation techniques learned e.g. progressive muscle relaxation. Practise these at each level (gradual exposure) until relaxed at top of hierarchy.

30
Q

Behavioural treatments for phobias: F

A

Flooding
Immediate exposure to phobic stimulus.
Fear response is exhausted, phobias become extinct as avoidance is prevented.
Patients have given fully informed consent.
One long session lasting a few hours.

31
Q

Strengths and weaknesses for SD

A

+more acceptable-less traumatic than flooding
+effective for specific phobias- gilroy et al- 42 patients, 3 45 minute sessions when examined at 3 and then 33 months patients were less fearful
-time and cost

32
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of f

A

+cost effective and quick
-less effective for social phobias
-more traumatic than SD

33
Q

Biological explanation for OCD: G

A

-genetic- ocd is partly inherited by genes
-Two genes that have been linked to OCD are the COMT gene and SERT gene
-aetiologically heterogeneous – i.e. a number of different combinations of genes can lead to the illness- polygenic

34
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of the biological explanation for OCD: G

A

-supporting evidence for the role of genes- twin studies
-environmental risk is important-ocd often follows trauma
-There are too many candidate genes implicated in OCD to have predictive value

35
Q

Biological explanations for OCD: N E

A

neutral explanations (brain)
-Neurochemistry - Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters implicated in OCD
-Brain structure - Scans show abnormal functioning in certain areas of the brain correlate with OCD

abnormal functioning of the lateral frontal lobes (responsible for logical thinking and making decisions) is correlated with hoarding.

36
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of biological explanations: N E

A

Application. Explanation has led to effective treatments. Antidepressants reduce OCD by increasing serotonin levels
Serotonin OCD link may just be because patients are depressed
Correlation doesn’t mean causation

37
Q

Biological treatments for OCD

A

Drug therapy
- Increase level of neurotransmitter serotonin in the synapse to normalise transmission
- SSRIs prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain to the presynaptic nerves
-takes 3-4 weeks to have an effect
-

38
Q

Strengths and weaknesses for biological treatments for ocd

A

-research support- proved to work over placebos
-drugs are cheaper and non disruptive
-drugs have side effects
-research often favours drug companies- some researchers are funded by drug companies
-OCD often follows trauma- doesn’t take into account environmental factors

39
Q

Cognitive explanation for depression: B

A

Beck’s negative triad – faulty thoughts and negative schema lead to depression
- Depressives have faulty information processing- irrational beliefs- blow things out of proportion
-Negative self-schema – interpret information about themselves in a negative way- use their experience to perceive the world
-Negative triad – patients have negative views about the world, of the future and the self

40
Q

Cognitive explanation of depression: E

A

Ellis’ ABC model – irrational beliefs lead to depression

A- ACTIVATING EVENT-We get depressed after we experience negative events. That trigger irrational beliefs

B-BELIEFS – Range of irrational beliefs (unhelpful beliefs) e.g. musterbation (I must do/be…) utopianism (thinking life should be fair)

C-CONSEQUENCES- Cycle of depression, e.g. consequences are emotional (feel sad) and behavioural (not going out).

41
Q

Cognitive explanations for depression: E

A

Ellis’ ABC model – irrational beliefs lead to depression

A- ACTIVATING EVENT-We get depressed after we experience negative events. That trigger irrational beliefs

B- BELIEFS-Range of irrational beliefs (unhelpful beliefs) e.g. musterbation (I must do/be…) utopianism (thinking life should be fair)

C-CONSEQUENCES-Cycle of depression, e.g. consequences are emotional (feel sad) and behavioural (not going out)

42
Q

Strengths and weaknesses for cognitive explanation of depression: B

A

-Good supporting evidence for the role of cognitions
- real world application-Forms the basis of CBT (talking therapy)

43
Q

Strengths and weaknesses for cognitive explanations for depression: E

A
  • real world application- Led to successful type of CBT called REBT(Rational emotive behavioural therapy)
  • Explains reactive depression but depression doesn’t always follow an event
  • Ignores other explanations. E.g. Biological
44
Q

Cognitive treatments for explanations of depression: B

A

Cognitive behavioural therapy

help the patient to identify negative thoughts in relation to themselves, their world and their future, using Beck’s negative triad.
The patient and therapist will then work together to challenge these irrational thoughts, by discussing evidence for and against them.
The patient will be encourage to test the validity of their negative thoughts and may be set homework, to challenge and test their negative thoughts

45
Q

Cognitive treatments for depression: E

A

-Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy
-Ellis developed his ABC model to include D (dispute) and E (effect or effective)
-Challenge irrational thoughts through vigorous argument to replace irrational beliefs with effective ones
-Empirical dispute – therapists seeks evidence for person’s thoughts
-Logical dispute – therapist questions logic of a person’s thoughts

46
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of cognitive treatments for depression

A

-research support
-Other treatments may have advantages over CBT. SSRIs require less commitment. Ellis required 27 sessions of REBT.
-CBT appears to be less effective for people who have high levels of irrational beliefs
-Behavioural activation support