psychopathology Flashcards
definitions of abnormality: deviation from social norms A01 + A03
unwritten rules of behaviour based on culture time and context anything outside of this is seen as abnormal
- respects that cultures are different
- norms change all the time a definition of abnormality should be consistent
definitions of abnormality: failure to function adequately A01 + A03
individuals with the inability to cope with everyday struggles like maintaining personal hygiene they often develop maladaptive behaviours
- not all maladaptive behaviours are an example of mental illness eg poor diet and smoking.
- subjective as what one person may see as coping the other may not
definitions of abnormality: statistical infrequency A01 + A03
abnormal behaviour is very rare. a measure of how common a behaviour is compared to a population so statistically unusual behaviours are classified as abnormal
- not necessarily bad eg high iq is abnormal but good
- many mental illnesses aren’t rare eg depression
definitions of abnormality: deviation from ideal mental health A01 + A03
deviation from jahodas 6 features e.g self actualisation, accurate perception of reality, resisting stress is abnormal
- very few people achieve all of these so they are abnormal?
- culturally biased focussed on oneself when in other cultures its more for the whole group
behavioural approach to explaining phobias: A01
Classical conditioning: NS to a CS via association with UCS and a fear response
operant conditioning: negative reinforcement- staying away from phobic stimulus avoids anxiety
behavioural approach to explaining phobias: A03
- therapies such as SD and flooding have led to effective treatment
x clarke 1993- only 2% of kids could recall why they have a fear of water
x similarities across phobias like heights snakes spiders suggest an evolutionary adaption to having a phobia - little Albert CC’d to have a phobia of a rat- X ethics surrounding that
behavioural approach to treating phobias: A01
counter condition phobias- replace anxiety and fear with relaxation
Systematic Desensitisation- teaches relaxation techniques establishes an anxiety hierarchy- each stage is tackled bottom to top replacing anxiety with relaxation
Flooding- full exposure to maximum phobic stimulus- creates panic with the individual, therapist calms them down until the individual realises the phobia isn’t something to be scared of.
behavioural approach to treating phobias: A03
- SD more ethical than flooding- higher success rate
x flooding not suited to vulnerable people
x good in clinical setting effects don’t really last long in the outside world
x anti anxiety drugs cheaper than therapy sessions.
biological approach to explain OCD: A01
genetic factors: polygenetic however there are many individual gene markers like comt and sert. twin concordance of 87%
neural factors: low serotonin. communication between basal ganglia and orbito-frontal cortex is abnormal
abnormal BG leads to compulsions, abnormal OFC links to obsessions
biological approach to explain OCD: A03
- SSRI’s effective X could only be masking symptoms
- polygenic difficult to pinpoint 1 gene responsible for it
- cause and effect- does OCD cause abnormal OFC and BG or vice versa.
- alternate explanations like behavioural.
biological approach to treating OCD A01
SSRIS- SRNIS- Tri cyclics work by increasing serotonin in the synaptic cleft. extreme cases psychosurgery
biological approach to treating OCD A03
X- publication bias drug companies could only post favourable results
X- side effects include lower libido, nausea and insomnia
X- could be a “mask” removal of drugs causes relapse of symptoms
X- most effective when combined with cbt
-Cheap and easy to administer, good for the economy cost benefit analysis
