PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Flashcards
(10 cards)
Definitions of abnormality
Deviation from social norms
When someone violates rules or expected behaviour of a group or society
evaluation:
-norms are culturally relative.We label others according to our standards.E.G hearing voices is normal in africa
+useful in different contexts
-definition could lead to human rights abuse.Used to control minority groups
Definitions of abnormality
statistical infrequency
Numerically uncommon,defining something as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ depending on how far away it is from the mean, median or average
Evaluation:
+ real life application.Can be used to diagnosed disorders
- unusual characteristics can be positive
deviation from abnormality
failure to function adequately
-inability to cope with the demands of everyday life
Rosenhan criteria:
personal distress:person is upset/depressed
violation of moral standards:breaking laws/unwritten social rules
observer discomfort:behaviour which makes other people feel uncomfortable
evaluation:
+considers patients perspective
-involves subjective judgment
definitions of abnormality
deviation from ideal mental health
a criteria needed to be reached for a psychological well-being.The less people meet this, the more abnormal
Jahodas criteria:
personal autonomy:independent of others
positive attitude towards the self:having high self esteem
self actualisation:growth and realisation of one’s potential.Best version of yourself
evaluation
-sets up unrealistically high expectations for mental health
-bias towards individualistic cultures
+covers broad range of criteria
behavioural explanation for phobias
Two process model (Mowrer)
-phobias are learnt through classical conditioning
NS is paired with UCS which causes fear UCR.After a while becomes CS leading to fear CR.Generalisation of fear to other stimuli
Phobias are maintained through operant conditioning
-negative reinforcement.Avoiding phobia causes relief of anxiety
LITTLE ALBERT STUDY
procedure:association of white rats (NS) with loud noise(UCS) lead to unpleasant response (UCR)
findings:white rats became CS leading to fear (CR)
generalised to similar stimuli (white furry objects)
evaluation:
+application to therapy
-doesn’t explain development of all phobias
-phobias don’t always follow trauma.Dinardo et al found that not everyone bitten by dogs develops a phobia of dogs.
-ignores cognitive aspects
behavioural approach to treating phobias
Systematic desensitisation
-based on classical conditioning
-gradual exposure to stimuli
counter conditioning:learning new association
Reciprocal inhibition:two conflicting emtims csnt co-exist.Relaxed and anxious
1.relaxation techniques
2.anxiety hierarchy
3.desensitisation
EVALUATION:
+Evidence:Gilroy et al followed patients who had SD for spider phobia with 3, 45 min sessions.At 3 and 33 months SD group were less fearful
+can work do a diverse range of patients.EG-people with learning difficulties will find this easier than flood etc.Not as traumatic
-time and cost.Takes a long time and people might not have the time/money to do this
behavioural treatments for phobias
Flooding
-immediate exposure to stimulus
-occurs over 1/2 sessions long hours
extinction:phobia goes away as they realise that the phobic stimuli is harmless
EVALUATION:
+cost effective:cheap and quick
-less effective for some types of phobias.social phobias involve cognitive aspects so CBT may be better suited
-treatment isn’t that ethical.Can be really traumatic for some patients
Biological explanation for OCD
Genetic
GENETIC
-candidate genes:specific genes are linked to OCD.EG-Gene 9
-polygenic:development of OCD is not 1 but a few
-Aetiologically heterogeneous:one group of genes may cause it one person but another group of genes cause it in another
Evaluation:
+supporting evidence:Nestadt et al:reviewed twin studies+found 68% of MZ twins shared OCD compared to 31% of DZ twins
-too many candidate genes been identified:Taylor identified 230 candidate genes.Less predictive value:likelihood of getting OCD,even if they have a few might not get OCD
-doesn’t account for environmental factors:Cromer et al found that over half of patients with OCD had experienced trauma+OCD was worse in those with multiple traumas.Also supported diathesis stress model (vulnerability)
Biological explanation for OCD
NEURAL
-neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying info from one neuron to another
-low levels of serotonin, mood relevant info doesn’t take place.results in mood being effected
-high levels of dopamine
-brain scans have enabled people to compare normal brain patterns with abnormal brain patterns.EG-malfunctioning of temporal lobes:involved with decision making
EVALUATION:
+evidence:Soomro et al found that SSRIs work in reducing symptoms of OCD
-correlation not causation.Just because we issues with certain areas of the brain doesn’t mean it causes OCD
- Co-morbidity:two conditions together.people with OCD usually have depression.Which involves disruption of serotonin levels-may be caused by depression not OCD
Biological approach to treating OCD
drug therapy
Drug therapies:SSRIS
aim to increase the levels of serotonin in the synapse
-antidepressant drug,20-60mg 3-4 weeks
-combining SSRIs with CBT is most effective treatment
Evaluation:
+drug therapies are effective:Soomro et al:reviewed 17 studies of comparing SSRIs to Placebos and found that patients had improved when using SSRIs
+drugs are cheap and not disruptive.Compared to other treatments this is cheaper and not time consuming->benefits some patients
-Drugs have side effects->side effects may be worse than actual disorder
-evidence may be bias:Goldacre believes evidence found for drug therapies is bias as it’s funded by the drug companies
