psychopathology Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the definitions of abnormality? (AO1)
• Deviation from Social Norms: Behavior that deviates from social norms and cultural expectations is considered abnormal.
• Failure to Function Adequately: A person is considered abnormal if they cannot cope with everyday life, showing personal distress and an inability to perform normal functions (e.g., work, relationships).
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health: Abnormality is the absence of characteristics necessary for optimal mental health, such as self-actualization, autonomy, and a realistic view of the world.
• Statistical Infrequency: Abnormality is identified when behavior is statistically rare (e.g., an IQ score significantly lower or higher than the average).
How can definitions of abnormality be applied to real-life scenarios? (AO2)
• Deviation from Social Norms: A person exhibiting aggressive or disruptive behavior in public may be seen as abnormal for violating societal norms.
• Failure to Function Adequately: Someone with severe depression who cannot perform daily tasks, such as getting out of bed or maintaining relationships, might be seen as failing to function.
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health: Excessive anxiety, lack of independence, or unrealistic self-perceptions may be considered abnormal.
• Statistical Infrequency: A person with an IQ score of 55 (far below the average range of 85-115) would be deemed statistically abnormal.
What are the strengths and limitations of definitions of abnormality? (AO3)
Strengths:
• Statistical Infrequency: Provides objective, measurable criteria for identifying abnormal behavior.
• Failure to Function Adequately: Focuses on observable behaviors and real-life outcomes, such as the ability to maintain work and relationships.
Limitations:
• Deviation from Social Norms: Culturally relative, as norms differ between cultures, leading to potential bias.
• Failure to Function Adequately: Some abnormal behaviors (e.g., eccentricity) may not prevent daily functioning.
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health: Subjective criteria that may not be universally achievable or relevant.
What are phobias, and what types exist? (AO1)
• Definition: Phobias are excessive, irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities, often out of proportion to the actual threat posed.
• Types of Phobias:
1. Specific Phobias: Fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., heights, spiders).
2. Social Phobia: Fear of social situations and being judged (e.g., public speaking).
3. Agoraphobia: Fear of situations where escape is difficult, like crowded places.
How can phobias be applied to real-life scenarios? (AO2)
• Specific Phobias: A person with a flying phobia might avoid air travel entirely, experiencing anxiety even at the thought of planes.
• Social Phobia: Individuals may avoid social gatherings, suffer panic attacks, or feel self-conscious in public.
• Agoraphobia: A person might confine themselves to their home due to fear of panic attacks in public spaces.
What are the strengths and limitations of phobia explanations and treatments? (AO3)
Strengths:
• Behavioral explanations (e.g., classical conditioning) provide insight into how phobias are learned, and treatments like systematic desensitization are effective.
• Biological approaches (e.g., evolutionary factors) explain why some fears (e.g., of snakes) are more common.
Limitations:
• Behavioral explanations may overlook cognitive factors in phobia development.
• Exposure therapy may increase anxiety for some patients rather than reducing it.
What is depression, and what are its symptoms? (AO1)
• Definition: Depression is a mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in activities once enjoyed.
• Symptoms:
Emotional: Sadness, feelings of worthlessness.
Cognitive: Negative self-thoughts, difficulty concentrating.
Behavioral: Lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite.
Physical: Low energy, aches, and pains.
How can depression be applied to real-life scenarios? (AO2)
• A person with depression might struggle to get out of bed, withdraw from social interactions, and have difficulty concentrating at school or work.
• Treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help challenge negative thinking patterns and promote positive thought processes.
What are the strengths and limitations of depression explanations and treatments? (AO3)
Strengths:
• The cognitive-behavioral model is well-supported, with Beck’s Cognitive Triad linking negative thought patterns to depression.
• Biological explanations highlight neurotransmitters like serotonin, explaining the efficacy of medications.
Limitations:
• CBT may not work for everyone, particularly those with severe depression who might require medication.
• Biological approaches are criticized as reductionist, ignoring psychological and social factors.
Phobias- Behavioral Approach-
Flooding- AO1+2
AO1:
• Flooding: Exposing the individual to the phobic stimulus without gradual buildup, leading to extinction of fear.
AO2:
• Case study: Wolpe (1960) treated a girl with a phobia of cars by driving her around for hours until her anxiety reduced.
Phobias- Behavioral Approach-
Flooding- AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Cost-effective (quick and efficient).
• ✅ Evidence-based success (Wolpe’s case study).
• ❌ Highly traumatic (ethical concerns).
• ❌ Symptom substitution (underlying anxiety may manifest elsewhere).
Depression Cognitive Approach- CBT + ABC Model AO1+2
AO1:
• Ellis’s ABC Model: Activating event → Belief → Consequence.
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) aims to challenge irrational beliefs and replace them with more adaptive thoughts.
AO2:
• Application: Treating patients with negative automatic thoughts (NATs) through thought records and cognitive restructuring.
Depression Cognitive Approach- CBT + ABC Model AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Practical application (CBT is widely used and effective).
• ✅ Research support (March et al. found CBT was as effective as antidepressants).
• ❌ Requires motivation (not suitable for severely depressed patients).
• ❌ Overemphasis on cognition (ignores biological factors like genetics).
OCD Biological Approach-
Drug therapy + neural explanations- AO1+2
AO1:
• Neural explanation: Low levels of serotonin and hyperactivity in the orbitofrontal cortex.
• Drug therapy: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) increase serotonin levels.
AO2:
• Case study: Soomro et al. (2009) found SSRIs significantly reduced OCD symptoms.
OCD Biological Approach-
Drug therapy + neural explanations- AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Strong scientific evidence (brain scans show neural abnormalities).
• ✅ Effective treatment (SSRIs reduce symptoms in 70% of cases).
• ❌ Side effects of medication (e.g., weight gain, insomnia).
• ❌ Reductionist (ignores psychological factors like trauma).
Phobias- Two process model- AO1+2
AO1:
• Two-process model: Classical conditioning (initiation) and operant conditioning (maintenance).
AO2:
• Application: Arachnophobia can develop after a traumatic experience (classical conditioning), and avoidance of spiders reduces anxiety (negative reinforcement through operant conditioning).
Phobias- Two process model- AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Explains maintenance (why phobias persist over time).
• ✅ Practical application (informs effective treatments like systematic desensitization).
• ❌ Incomplete explanation (doesn’t explain phobias without a traumatic experience).
• ❌ Ignores cognitive factors (e.g., irrational thoughts).
Depression (Cognitive Approach)- Beck’s triad + cog distortions AO1+2
AO1:
• Beck’s Cognitive Triad: Negative views about the self, the world, and the future.
• Cognitive distortions: Overgeneralisation and catastrophising.
AO2:
• Example: A student who fails one test believes they are destined to fail all future exams.
Depression (Cognitive Approach)- Beck’s triad + cog distortions AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Supporting research (Grazioli & Terry found that pregnant women with cognitive vulnerabilities were more likely to develop postnatal depression).
• ✅ Practical application (forms the basis for CBT).
• ❌ Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression (e.g., anger or hallucinations).
• ❌ Causation issue (negative thinking may be a consequence, not a cause, of depression).
OCD (Biological Approach) AO1+2
AO1:
• Genetic explanation: Candidate genes like COMT and SERT influence serotonin and dopamine levels.
• Polygenic: Taylor (2013) found up to 230 genes may be involved in OCD.
AO2:
• Family study: Nestadt et al. (2000) found that first-degree relatives of OCD sufferers had a five times higher risk of developing OCD.
OCD (Biological Approach) AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Strong research support (twin studies show higher concordance rates in identical twins).
• ✅ Explains why some people are biologically predisposed to OCD.
• ❌ Reductionist (ignores environmental triggers like trauma).
• ❌ Not 100% concordance in twins (suggests other factors are involved).
Treating OCD (Biological Approach) Alt drug treatments- AO1+2
AO1:
• Alternative drug treatments: Tricyclics and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) when SSRIs are ineffective.
AO2:
• Evidence: Soomro et al. (2009) found SSRIs significantly more effective than placebos in reducing OCD symptoms.
Treating OCD (Biological Approach) Alt drug treatments- AO3
AO3:
• ✅ Cost-effective and non-disruptive (no need for therapy sessions).
• ✅ Quick relief from symptoms.
• ❌ Side effects (nausea, headaches, sexual dysfunction).
• ❌ Treats symptoms, not the root cause (relapse when medication is stopped).
The Interactionist Approach to OCD AO1+2
AO1:
• Diathesis-Stress Model: Genetic vulnerability combined with environmental stressors triggers OCD.
AO2:
• Example: A person with the COMT gene may only develop OCD after a traumatic life event.
