Topic 7: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

What is psychopathology?

Answer 1

problematic patterns of thoughts, feeling, behaviour = disrupts WB and social/occupational functioning origin of mental disorders varies between/within cultures (disorders/characterisation)

Question 2

What is the notion of abnormality?

Answer 2

presumption that we can define what is an is not abnormal

Question 3

What is labelling theory?

Answer 3

argues AGAINST assigning diagnoses/labels to abnormal behaviour = stigmatisation

Question 4

What is the Rosenhan study?

Answer 4

‘psuedo’ patients claimed to hear voices and were admitted to hospital - none were detected as facts

Question 5

What is abnormal - optimal MH

Answer 5

individual/group + environmental factors working together effectively = WB, development, use of mental abilities, goals achieved

Question 6

What is abnormal - minimal MH

Answer 6

individual/group + environmental factors in conflict = distress, impairment, underdevelopment, failure to achieve goals, destructive behaviours

Question 7

What is stigma?

Answer 7

stigma = neg reaction because of some assumed inferiority

Question 8

What are the causes of stigma in MI?

Answer 8

stereotyped group (discrimination/prejudice), lack of knowledge, fear, lack of time, culture

Question 9

Define mental/psychological disorder

Answer 9

clinically recognisable set of symptoms/behaviours which usually need treatment = serious departure from mental functioning

Question 10

What is the aetiology of psychopathology?

Answer 10

cause, set of causes or manner of causation - different perspectives offer different views

Question 11

Psychodynamic perspective

Answer 11

3 causes of psychopathology

1. neuroses - issues in living (anxiety, interpersonal conflict)
2. personality disorders - disturbances, maladaptive patterns, interpersonal/occupation affected, stem from environment/biological
3. psychoses - loss of touch with reality (biological)

Question 12

Cognitive behavioural perspective

Answer 12

cognitive - disorders reflect dysfunctional attitudes, beliefs, cognitive processes behavioural - disorders explained in terms of learning (reward/punishment ratio = depression, CC = phobia)

Question 13

Biological perspective

Answer 13

mental to physiological root of psychopathology in brain malfunction = biochemical neurotransmitter, neural pathway dysfunction) abnormal behaviour in brain/structure

Question 14

What is diathesis and the stress model?

Answer 14

theory that attempts to explain a disorder or its trajectory as the result of predispositional vulnerability and a stress caused by life experience

Question 15

Systems approach perspective

Answer 15

abnormality in context of social group group functions as a system and system parts are interdependent = influence each other symptoms viewed as symptoms of dysfunction

Question 16

Descriptive diagnosis (approach)

Answer 16

Attempts to be atheoretical (not based on theory)

each mental disorder shows distinct symptoms

DSM of mental disorders - we can distinguish between normal/abnormal

Question 17

What is DSM-5?

Answer 17

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

of mental health disorders - distinguish between normal/abnormal, each disorder = distinct symptoms

Question 18

What are the different sections of DSM-5?

Answer 18

Section I: instructions for use

Section II: classification for disorders (PTSD, schizophrenia)

Section III: disorders for which there is prelim/insufficient evidence to warrant diagnosis

Question 19

Define syndrome

Answer 19

symptoms consistently occur together

Eg: depressive syndrome - loss of interest, insomnia, lack of apetite, concentration

Question 20

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Answer 20

deviation from normal development - infancy, childhood, adolescence

Eg: intellectual impairment, ASD, ADHD

Question 21

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Answer 21

inattention not consistent with their level of development (5%)

hereditary

signs of hyperactivity impulsivity - squirming, fidgeting, excessive talking

Question 22

Schizophrenic disorders

Answer 22

loss of contact with reality, abnormal motor behaviour, disturbances od thought/perception

delusions = false/irrational beliefs

hallucinations = false perception

flat effect = blunted emotional response

Question 23

Schizophrenic disorders

schizophrenic disorder

Answer 23

breakdown of personability, functioning, withdrawal from reality, emotional distortions, disturbed thought

causes: diathesis-stress hypothesis (genetic + environmental factors)
environmental stressor - abuse, dysfunctional family
biochemical-dopamine hypothesis (amphetamine)

Question 24

Mood disorders

causes

Answer 24

Biological - biochemical (dec serotonin), heritability

Behavioural - environmental, changes in # of rewards/punishments

Psychodynamic - conflict in early childhood, self-reproach

Cognitive - Beck’s cognitive triad, neg views of self, ongoing experiences

Question 25

Mood disorders - examples

Answer 25

Major depressive episode - presence of at least 5 symptoms

Dysthmic disorder (persistent depressive disorder) - 2+ years, chronic low-level depression, intervals of normal mood

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - lack of sunlight

Bipolar disorder - depression/mania
Bipolar I: manic episode, may/not major depressive episode
Bipolar II: hypomania (mildly manic), major depressive episode

Question 26

Anxiety disorders

Answer 26

intense, frequent, continuous feelings of worry/anxiousness

prevlance 14%

Question 27

Anxiety disorders - examples

Answer 27

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) - 6+ months, anxious most of the time WITHOUT specific threat

Panic disorder - panic attacks, not justified by situation, ‘fear of fear’

Phobias - irrational fear of object, acitivity, situation

Agoraphobia - fear of public places where escape/help is difficult

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - obsessions = recurrent thoughts, images, impulses
compulsions = repetitive purposeful acts, rules/rituals

Question 28

Anxiety disorders

causes

Answer 28

Biological - hereditability (15%), dysfunction/al neurotransmitters

Psychodynamic - psychic conflicts/fears

Cognitive - irrational assumptions, anxiety sensitivity, misinterpretations

Socio-cultural - GAD most likely developed by those faced with dangerous societal conditions

Question 29

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Answer 29

re-experiencing of traumatic event (nightmares/flashbacks), psychological numbness, hypervigilance, startle response ^

asylum seekers, migrants, detainees

Question 30

Personality disorders

Answer 30

long standing maladaptive pattern of perceiving, thinking, behaving

affects ability to function in social/work settings

DSM-5 identified 10 disorders, diagnosis controversial

Question 31

Personality disorders

Borderline personality disorder

Answer 31

instability/intensity in personal relationships - controlling anger

fear of seperation/abandonment

all good or all bad

self-mutilation to relieve suffering

Question 32

Personality disorders

Anitsocial personality disorder

Answer 32

lying, vandalism, stealing, impulsivity, recklessness

longstanding patter of behaviour that violates social norms

lack of empathy/remorse

Question 33

Personality disorders

Disassociative identity disorder

Answer 33

at least 2 personabilities within same person

take control of individual’s behaviour

ongoing gaps in memory about everyday events

response to overwhelming psychological pain

Question 34

Somatoform disorders - examples

Answer 34

Somatic symptom disorder - unexplained physical complaints

Conversion disorder - loss of motor/sensory function that cannot be explained

Hypochondriasis - preoccupation with acquiring physical illness, despite reassurances

Question 35

Disassociative disorders - examples

Answer 35

Disassociative amnesia - inability to remember personal experiences

Disassociative identity disorder - transition between personalities caused by stress

Question 36

Eating disorders - examples

Answer 36

Anorexia nervosa - disordered perception of self/body, starving, excessive exercise

Bulimia (nervosa) - binge and purge syndrome