Lecture 11 Flashcards
(29 cards)
Define Psychopathology
Psychological disorder or mental disorder. Defined as patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour that result in personal distress or a significant impairment in a person’s social or occupational functioning.
What is considered abnormal in the the context of psychopathology
Deviance: Statistical infrequency (against social norms) - oppression of those with minority views.
Distress: Personal suffering
Dysfunction: Impaired functioning, difficulty fulfilling appropriate and expected roles in family, social and work related situations.
Define Mental health
A state of emotional and social wellbeing
Define mental health problems
The wide range of emotional and behavioural abnormalities that affect people throughout their lives.
Define mental disorder:
A clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours which usually need treatment to be alleviated (a serious departure from normal functioning).
What did the NSMW survey in 2007 indicate about the amount of people with mental disorders 12 months prior?
20 percent of the people aged between 16-65 years, had a mental disorder 12 months prior - though the actual prevalence may be higher.
List the contemporary perspective on psychopathology
Biological medical approach: biopsychosocial model, diasthesis stress model
Psychological approach: psychodynamic approach, behavioural perspective, cognitive behavioural perspective
Evolutionary perspective
What does the biopsychosocial/neurobiological model entail?
Medical model - disorders stem (biologically) primarily from an underlying illness which can be diagnosed, treated and cured.
Psychological processes: wants, needs, emotions, attachments, history etc.
Sociocultural contexts: gender, age, cultural values and traditions. These influence what is normal.
What does the diathesis stress model entail?
Biological, psychological and sociocultural factors can predispose us towards a disorder, via exposure to the stressors over a certain amount of time..
The strength of the diathesis creates vulnerability. People with strong diathesis may succumb to mild stress while those with weak diathesis, may not show signs of diaorder until stress exacerbates or is explicit for extensive periods of time.
What does the psychological model entail?
Sees mental disorders arising from psychological factors, wants, needs, emotions, learning experiences, attachment histories and ways of looking at the world.
What does the evolutionary perspective entail?
Provides insight into psychopathology rather than a comprehensive system of understanding and treatment.
What are the cultural influences on psychopathology?
gender, age, cultural values, traditions - these influence what is normal.
Some psych disorders are cultural general like depression but there are disorders that are culture specific like ataques de nervios (puerto rico) - heart palpitations, shaking, shouting, nervousness, depression and sometime fainting or seizures.
What is a descriptive diagnosis?
No bias towards any perspective in pscyhopathology. Defines mental disorders in terms of a set of clinical syndromes (symptoms that occur together) that can occur together. Based on the medical model.
What are the reasons for the classifications of mental disorders?
Determine nature of the problem, choose appropriate method of treatment, study the causes of mental disorders.
What are the main classification systems?
- The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5)
- International classification of diseases (ICD-11)
- International classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps (ICIDI1-2)
How good is the diagnostic system? (Interrelatability, validity, problems?)
Interraterellatability: High for some disorders (anxiety disorders), low for others (personality disorders).
Validity: Stronger for some diagnoses (e.g schitzophrenia) than others.
Problems: Same symptoms seen in different disorders, possibility of bias in diagnosis, insufficient attention to sociocultural variables, labels can be dehumanising.
What are the anxiety disorders in DSM
Phobia: speicifc phbias, social phobia, agoraphobia
Generalised anxiety disorder: Excessive, long-lasting unfocused ‘free floating’ anxiety.
Panic Disorder: Recurrent panic attacks without warning or obvious cause
Obsessive compulsive disorder: Obsessions vs compulsions.
Theories of aeitology of anxiety disorders
Biological - Genetic factors” Supported by twin studies and family studies. Neurotransmitter system abnormalities.
Cognitive behavioural theories: maladaptive schemas about self, other and the world - how we see and react. Reinforcing cycles of behaviour, thoughts and feelings.
Learning: Developing anxiety disorder increased by abuse or other traumatic childhood experiences.
What are the symptoms of depressive disorder?
Sad, overwhelmed , losing interest in activities and relationships, inability to take pleasures in anything, eating habit changes, sleep disturbances/excessive sleeping, exaggerated feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, hopelessness, delusions.
What is persistent depressive disorder?
Less severe pattern of depression - person shows sad mood, lack of interest, and loss of pleasure less intensely and for long duration (2 years +) basically high functioning.
What is bipolar I disorder?
Intense mania (emotional state characterised by optimism, impulsivity, irritability etc) with alternates of deep depression
What is bipolar II disorder?
Hypomania (less sever than mania) with alternates of deep depression.
What is Cyclothymic personality disorder?
Less severe version of bipolar disorder - less extreme mania and less sever depressive moods.
Theories of aetiology of mood disorders?
Biological: Genetics, malfunctions of brain regions associated with mood, neurotransmitter imbalance, endocrine system imbalance, disruption of biological rhythms.
Psychological/social: Environmental stressors, how one thinks about the stressors, thinking style can subsequently affect depression.
