Psychopathology: Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Statistical Infrequency

A
  • we define many aspects of what is normal by referring to typical values
  • if we can define what is most common or normal with statistics then we also have an idea of what is not common
  • abnormality identified as any value thats two standard deviation points away from mean on a normal distribution
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2
Q

Deviation From Social Norms

A
  • in any society there are standards of acceptable behaviour
  • anyone who deviates from these sociallly created norms is classed as abnormal
  • some are implicit and some are policed by laws
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3
Q

Failure to Function Adequately

A
  • judged in terms of not being able to cope with everyday living
  • not functioning adequately causes distress and suffering for the individual and/or others
  • if it doesn’t cause distress to self or others then a judgement of abnormailty is innappropriate
  • the abnormal behvaiour being shown is often maladaptive, irrational or dangerous
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4
Q

Deviation From Ideal Mental Health

A
  • Marie Jahoda suggested we should look for absence signs of mental health like we do for physical illnesses
  • she identified six categories/characteristics that enable an individual to feel happy (free of distress) and behave competently
  • absence of these criteria indicates abnormality
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5
Q

Phobias

A
  • a group of mental disorders characterised by high levels of irrational fearful anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli
  • the anxiety interferes with normal living
  • the irrational fear produces a conscious avoidance of the stimulus
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6
Q

Unipolar Depression

A

also known as major depression, characterised by clinical symptoms usually in cycles, up to 25% of women will suffer and 12% of men

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7
Q

Bipolar Depression

A

also known as manic depression, characterised by mixed episodes of mania and depression, up to 2% will suffer

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8
Q

The Two Process Model (Mowrer, 1947)

A
  • suggests that all phobias are learnt from environment
  • classical and operant conditioning are able to explain existence of phobias
  • classical explains aquisition of phobia
  • operant explains maintenance of phobia
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9
Q

Systematic Desensitisation

A

counterconditioning:
- patient is taught a new association that runs counter to the original association
- taught through classical conditioning to associate phobic stimulus with new response
relaxation:
- achieved by patient focusing on their breathing and taking slow, deep breaths
- being mindful of here and now
- progressive muscle relaxation is also used where one muscle at a time is relaxed
- relaxation inhibtion: relxation inhibits the anxiety as you can’t be both scared and relaxed at the same time
Desensitisation hierachy:
- gradually introducing person to feared situation one step at a time
- at each stage patient practises relaxation so anxiety diminishes as it becomes more familiar + less overwhelming
- each stage is practiced until fear is extinguished

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10
Q

Flooding

A
  • immediate exposure to feared stimulus
  • patients are prevented from avoiding the phobic stimulus
  • relaxation techniques are practised and new stimulus
  • anxiety eventually subsides as adrenaline levels naturally start to decrease (1-3 hours)
  • this is practiced until the fear is extinguished as the patient will remain calm around the phobic stimulus
  • this can be done in vivo (real life) or in vitro ( virtual reality)
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11
Q

Effectiveness

A

a treatment is effective if it alleviayes the symptoms of the diorder it is trying to treat

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12
Q

Appropriateness

A

a treatment is appropriate if it is effective, efficient, and ethical; and if the xpected benefits outweigh the expected costs

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13
Q

Beck’s Negatuve Triad

A
  • 3 negative self schemas acquired during childhood: negative view of self, future and world
  • depression is caused by faulty informational processing and irrational thinking
  • these negative schemas are activated whenever a new situation is encountered
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14
Q

Ellis’ ABC Model

A
  • proposed that depression is due to irrational thinking and that the source of this is mustabatory thinking: the thinking that certain ideas or beliefs must be true in order to be happy
  • A: activating event, B: beliefs, C: consequences
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15
Q

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

A
  • general aim is to change negative schemas and irrational thoughts
  • cognitive and behavioural element
  • reality testing of beliefs encourages reflection on patient behaviour so they can recognise their own faulty cognitions
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16
Q

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

A
  • identify automatic thoughts about the three negative schemas
  • ‘patient as scientist’ - generate hypotheses to test validity of irrational thought which will be challenged directly with the therapist
  • reality testing is done for homework allowing them to question the negativ beliefs and prove them incorrect
17
Q

Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) (Ellis, 1962)

A
  • type of CBT based on ABC model extended to ABCDEF
  • most important is D: disputing and challenging irrational beliefs
  • 3 types of disputing: logical (does this make sense?), empirical (where is the proof?), pragmatic (is this useful?)
18
Q

The COMT Gene

A
  • regulates production of dopamine in synapse
  • involved in reward, motivation + motor control
  • form that is common with OCD is low level activity which results in higher levels of dopamine
19
Q

The SERT Gene

A
  • regulates transport of serotonin in synapse
  • involved in feelings of well being and happiness
  • form of gene that is common with OCD is high level activity which results in lower levels of serotonin because reuptake mechanism works too hard
20
Q

The Worry Circuit: The Frontal Lobe

A
  • people with OCD tend to have high levels of activity in orbital frontal cortex (OFC)
  • OFC sends ‘worry’ signals to thalamus which is alerted and confirms ‘worry’ back to OFC
  • in neurotypical brain ‘worry’ signal is suppressed by the caudate nucleus however in atypical brain cuadate nuleus is impaired allowing neural activity
  • caudate nucleus’ inability to filter small worries results in worry circuit being overreactive
21
Q

Role of Serotonin on Neuroanatomy

A
  • plays key role in operation of OFC and caudate nucleus
  • abnormally low levels of serotonin might cause this area to malfunction
22
Q

Role of Dopamine on Neuroanatomy

A
  • main neurotransmitter of basal ganglia
  • high levels of dapamine leads to overactivity in this region
  • this is associated with OCD
23
Q

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A
  • Antidepressant drugs increase serotonin levels at synapses in the ‘worry circuit’ to help with reducing the anxiety associated with the obsessions in OCD.
  • SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic membrane, increasing serotonin concentration at receptor sites on the postsynaptic membrane.
24
Q

Tricyclic Antidepressants

A
  • These were the first antidepressants used for OCD and now they are used more for OCD than depression.
  • Tricyclics block the transporter mechanism that re-absorbs both serotonin and noradrenaline into the presynaptic cell after it has fired. As a result, more of the neurotransmitters are left in the synapse and their activity is prolonged.
25
Q

Benzodiazepine Anxiolytics

A
  • These drugs are known as anxiolytics, in that they reduce anxiety.
  • These work by slowing down the activity of the CNS by enhancing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA (which regulates excitement and has a general quieting effect on many neurons in the brain).
26
Q

Phobias Behavioural Characteristics

A
  • panic behaviour
  • avoidance
  • endurance
27
Q

Phobias Emotional Characteristics

A
  • anxiety
  • fear
28
Q

Phobias Cognitive Characteristics

A
  • irrational thinking
  • selective attentional bias
29
Q

Depression Behavioural Characteristics

A
  • neglecting personal hygiene
  • self harm
  • sleep pattern disturbance
  • social impairment
  • loss of energy
  • weight changes
30
Q

Depression Emotional Characteristics

A
  • anger
  • worthlessness
  • constant depressed mood
  • loss of enthuisiasm
31
Q

Depression Cognitive Characteristics

A
  • negative thoughts
  • delusions
  • poor memory
  • reduced concentration
  • suicidal ideation
32
Q

OCD Behavioural Characteristics

A
  • compulsions are repetitive
  • hinder everyday functioning
  • compulsions reduce anxiety
33
Q

OCD Emotional Characteristics

A
  • guilt + disgust
  • distress
  • co morbid with depression
  • extreme anxiety
34
Q

OCD Cognitive Characteristics

A
  • realisation of inappropraiteness
  • persistent + intrusive absessions
  • hypervigilance