Psychopathology: Key Terms Flashcards
Statistical Infrequency
- 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
Deviation From Social Norms
- 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
Failure to Function Adequately
- 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
Deviation From Ideal Mental Health
- 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
Phobias
- 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
Unipolar Depression
also known as major depression, characterised by clinical symptoms usually in cycles, up to 25% of women will suffer and 12% of men
Bipolar Depression
also known as manic depression, characterised by mixed episodes of mania and depression, up to 2% will suffer
The Two Process Model (Mowrer, 1947)
- 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
Systematic Desensitisation
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
Flooding
- 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)
Effectiveness
a treatment is effective if it alleviayes the symptoms of the diorder it is trying to treat
Appropriateness
a treatment is appropriate if it is effective, efficient, and ethical; and if the xpected benefits outweigh the expected costs
Beck’s Negatuve Triad
- 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
Ellis’ ABC Model
- 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
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- 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