Psychopathology

Question 1

Definitions of abnormality

Answer 1

Statistical infrequency
Deviation from social norms
Deviation from ideal mental health (Jahoda)
Failure to function adequately

Question 2

Descriptions of phobias, depression and OCD

Answer 2

Emotional, behavioural and cognitive symptoms of each

Question 3

Behavioural explanation of phobias

Answer 3

• Two-process model (classical and operant conditioning)
• Social learning theory

Question 4

Behavioural treatment of phobias

Answer 4

• Systematic desensitisation, and its procedure
• Flooding, and its procedure
• Counterconditioning and reciprocal inhibition (Wolpe)

Question 5

Cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 5

• Ellis’s ABC model, with examples
• Musturbatory thinking
• Beck’s negative triad
• How negative schemas develop and manifest themselves later on

Question 6

Cognitive treatment of depression

Answer 6

Ellis’s REBT

• DEF model
• Methods of challenging and replacing irrational beliefs
• Use of homework, behavioural activation and unconditional positive regard

Question 7

Biological explanation of OCD

Answer 7

• Genetic explanation (COMT and how it affects hormones, Tukel et al.) (SERT and how it affects hormones, Ozaki et al.)
• Diatheis-stress model
• Neural explanation; ‘worry circuit’ involving the OFC, caudate nucleus and thalamus
• Comer -> role of serotonin in worry circuit

Question 8

Biological treatment of OCD

Answer 8

• SSRIs and tricyclics (antidepressants) and their pharmacological mechanisms
• Anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines and their pharmacological mechanism) and D-cycloserine in conjunction with psychotherapy