Module 3: Psychological Problems Flashcards
1
Q
Name symptoms of unipolar depression
A
- Lowering of mood, tiredness unrelieved by rest, lack of motivation
- Poor sleep, poor/increased appetite, lack of enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities, low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts
2
Q
What is required for a unipolar depression diagnosis?
A
- One main symptom present most time/days for two weeks
- One other symptom present at some point
3
Q
How are the different severities of unipolar depression identitified/classified?
A
- Mild: 4 symptoms
- Moderate: 5-6 symptoms
- Severe: 7+ symptoms and general feelings of worthlessness
4
Q
Why is depression more commonly diagnosed now than in the past?
A
- Reduction of stigma
- Increasing knowledge of mental health
- Modern life more stressful and so more likely to cause depression
5
Q
What are the effects of depression on an individual?
A
Increased risk of suicide (suggested 10-15% of people with severe depression commit suicide)
6
Q
What are the effects of depression on society?
A
- Time missed from work: behind on work –> guilt –> worsens depression, company must cover workload
- Cost of treatment: antidepressants expensive, not enough trained therapists
7
Q
What studies give evidence for the genetic explanation of depression?
A
- Craig Hyde et al. (2016), 17 gene variations linked to depression, more likely to develop if family member has it
- Peter McGuffin et al. (1996), identical twins more likely to be depressed if the other one is than non-identical twins
8
Q
What is the diathesis-stress model of depression?
A
Some are genetically predisposed to develop depression but only develop it if exposed to stress that activates the gene
9
Q
What are the strengths of the genetic explanation of depression?
A
- Lessens stigma (cannot be blamed for depression)
- Research evidence
10
Q
What are the weaknesses of the genetic explanation of depression?
A
- Deterministic (assumes people have no free will over being depressed)
- May be reductionist (fails to take life events into account)
11
Q
Describe Aaron Beck’s cognitive explanation of depression
A
Cognitive triad: negative view of world –> negative view of self –> negative view of future –> (repeat)
- Example of cognitive bias (negative self-schema)
- Leads to magnification (negative exaggeration)
12
Q
Describe Albert Ellis’ cognitive explanation of depression
A
ABC Model: Activating event (stress) –> Beliefs (either rational or irrational) –> Consequences (rational belief (true) –> no depression, irrational belief (untrue) –> depression)
13
Q
What are the strengths of the cognitive explanation of depression?
A
- Acknowledges life events, takes nature/nurture into account
- Practical applications (CBT)
14
Q
What are the weaknesses of the cognitive explanation of depression?
A
- Can’t tell if negative thoughts a cause or symptom
- Post-natal depression more likely caused by hormones (unclear event)
15
Q
What are the aims of cognitive behavioural therapy?
A
- Help change the way the patient thinks
- Help change the way they act to improve symptoms
16
Q
What is the process of cognitive behavioural therapy?
A
- Patient discusses symptoms (thoughts, feelings, behaviours)
- ‘Homework’, change ways of thinking & write down feelings
17
Q
What are the strengths of cognitive behavioural therapy?
A
- Evidence: Beltman et al. (2010), CBT patients improved more than non-CBT
- Longer lasting treatment (skills permanent, drugs temporary)
- Gives patients self-determination
18
Q
What are the weaknesses of cognitive behavioural therapy?
A
- Relies on patients recognising symptoms and wanting to change (lack of motivation a main symptom)
- Ethical issue: patient told their ways of thinking are ‘wrong’, therapist may abuse power
19
Q
What are the four types of antidepressants?
A
- SSRI, block re-uptake of serotonin, make is available for longer
- SNRI, block re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline
- MAOI, prevent enzyme monoamine oxidase from breaking down serotonin and noradrenaline
- TCA, prevent reabsorption of serotonin and noradrenaline
20
Q
What are the strengths of drug therapy as a treatment for depression?
A
- Improves symptoms so allows patients to access other treatments (CBT)
- Evidence: Royal College of Psychiatrists study
21
Q
What are the weakenesses of drug therapy as a treatment for depression?
A
- Side effects (diabetes, insomnia, suicidal feelings)
- Helps symptoms, not cause (relapse upon treatment stopping)
22
Q
What are the symptoms of addiction (dependence disorder)?
A
- Feeling of needing to take the substance
- Stopping very difficult
- Physical withdrawal symptoms (shaking, sweating, vomiting)
- Tolerance to substance
23
Q
What is required for an addiction diagnosis?
A
At least three symptoms present for a month OR for repeated occasions over a year
24
Q
Describe features of addiction
A
- Evidence that the substance is harmful is ignored
- Friends, family and previously enjoyed activities ignored in favour of substance
- More tolerance –> more of the substance must be used for the same effect
25
Describe the incidence of addiction
- Difficult to measure: definition changes (internet/video games now included), relationship changes (past medical drugs now illegal)
- Addiction is rising: alcohol/drugs now cheaper, increase in reported drug use
26
What are the effect of addiction on individuals?
- Neglect people and previously enjoyed activities
- Spend money on addiction
- Substance may be harmful
27
What are the effects of addiction on society?
- Time away from work, workload must be covered
- Costs government money to treat
- Criminal behaviour to fund addiction, cost government money to manage
28
Give evidence for the genetic explanation of addiction
- Dorit Carmelli et al. (1992) - identical twins more likely than non-identical
- Donald Goodwin et al. (1973) - adopted children with addicted bio parent more likely
29
What gene has been linked to addiction?
DDR2 gene - dopamine receptor
30
What are the strengths of the genetic explanation of addiction?
- Evidence (twin and adoption studies)
- Explains why some are more prone to addiction than others
31
What are the weaknesses of the genetic explanation of addiction?
- Reductionist, doesn't take social factors into account (twins studies - same home life)
- No single gene found, DDR2 also linked to autism
32
Explain the conditioning theory as a learning explanation for addiction
Classical conditioning:
- Learned through association, associate substance with positive feelings
- Want to feel goods --> substance
Operant conditioning:
- Behaviour --> positive outcome --> behaviour repeated (positive reinforcement)
- Withdrawal --> negative outcome (negative reinforcement)
33
Explain social learning theory as a learning explanation for addiction
- Behaviour learned from role models
- More likely to try a familiar substance
34
What are the strengths of learning theory as an explanation of addiction?
- Treatment, assumes a behaviour can be unlearned
- Classical conditioning explains relapse
35
What are the weaknesses of learning theory as an explanation of addiction?
- Ignores biological factors (though operant conditioning does consider dopamine)
- Doesn't explain why some are more prone to addiction than others
36
Explain the process of CBT as a treatment for addiction
- Functional analysis: understand triggers
- Skills training: how to cope with cravings, assertiveness training (peer pressure), improving motivation, homework (diary of when/where patient feels tempted)
37
What are the strengths of CBT as a treatment for addiction?
- Builds up skills, patient has self-determination
- Evidence: Young's 2007 study found CBT effective for internet addictions
38
What are the weaknesses of CBT as a treatment for addiction?
- Patient must be motivated (in contradiction with symptoms)
- Skills gained doesn't guarantee behaviour will stop (evidence: Morgenstern and Longabaugh's 2000 study on alcoholics)
39
What are the uses of drug therapy as a treatment for addiction?
- Reduce withdrawal symptoms
- Reduce cravings
- Certain drugs can also help behavioural addictions (gambling and sexual activity)
40
What are the strengths of drug therapy as a treatment for addiction?
- Evidence: Suck Won Kim et al. (2001) gamblers helped more by naltrexone than placebo
- Helps patients access CBT by reducing symptoms
41
What are the weaknesses of drug therapy as a treatment for addiction?
- Mixed evidence: John Krystal et al. (2001) alcoholics, no difference between naltrexone and placebo after 12 months
- Patients may become addicted to treatment drug
42
What was the procedure of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- 847 participants in three groups: 2 copies of short 5-HTT gene (controls serotonin levels), one short & one long, and two long copies
- Answered questionnaire on life events from 21st to 26th birthday and depression symptoms
43
What were the results of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- Depressed participants more likely to have two short genes and have experienced a stressful life event
- Interaction of nature and nurture
44
What are the strengths of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- Large sample size, generalising more accurate
- Useful for doctors (know to look for both short 5-HTT gene and stressful life event)
45
What are the weaknesses of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- Short gene may make people more prone to stressful life events
- Questionnaire self-report, may be unreliable
46
What were the aims of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- Why stressful life events lead to depression in some and not others
- Does a variation of the 5-HTT gene make a stressful life event more likely to lead to depression
47
What were the conclusions of Caspi et al. (2003) Influence of Life Stress on Depression?
- Interaction between genetic factors and stressful life event in causing depression
- Interaction of nature/nurture
48
What were the aims of Young (2007) CBT with Internet Addicts?
- Investigate effect of CBT as a treatment for internet addictions
- See how behaviours improve during and after treatment
49
What was the procedure of Young (2007) CBT with Internet Addicts?
- 114 participants with no other mental health problems
- Had weekly online CBT for 12 weeks
- Filled in a Likert-type scale (1-5) questionnaire on symptoms on weeks 3, 6, 12 and 6 months after
50
What were the results of Young (2007) CBT with Internet Addicts?
- Symptoms improved over 12 weeks
- Symptoms still better than before CBT after 6 months
51
What are the strengths of Young (2007) CBT with Internet Addicts?
- Shows online CBT is effective
- Same questions and rating scale (standardised procedure)
52
What are the weaknesses of Young (2007) CBT with Internet Addicts?
- Self-report may be unreliable
- Different types of internet addiction identified but not distinguished, results average
53
Describe nature and how it relates to mental health problems
- Biological factors (genes)
- Explains why some develop addictions/depression and others don't
- Explains why some relapse and others don't
- Caspi et al. (2003) 5-HTT gene
54
Describe nurture and how it relates to mental health problems
- Environmental factors, assumes babies are blank slates and that experienced influence behaviour
- Basis for treatment, learned behaviours can be unlearned
- Cognitive explanation of depression & learning theory for addiction
- CBT works for both suggesting nurture influence
55
Describe interactions between nature and nurture in mental health problems
- Caspi et al. (2003) combination of 5-HTT gene and stressful life event
- Gene makes people prone, triggered by stressful life event
