Psychopathology Flashcards
(174 cards)
1
Q
ABNORMALITY
A
2
Q
What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?
A
- Deviation from social norms
- Failure to function adequately
- Statistical infrequency
- Deviation from ideal mental health
3
Q
What is abnormality (deviation from social norms)?
A
A person behaves in a way that is different from how we expect people to behave
4
Q
Why is deviation from social norms to explain abnormality a useful definition?
A
P= Useful definition
E= Social norms easily identifiable
E= Identification valid + reliable
5
Q
How does deviation from social norms to explain abnormality help to protect society?
A
P= Protect society
E= Consider effect behaviour has on others
E= Kept greater good of society in mind
6
Q
How is deviation from social norms to explain abnormality culturally/ situationally relative?
A
P= Culturally/ situationally relative
E= Hearing voices-> spiritual sign or brain disease?
E= Dif. to identify true abnormality
L= Definition not sufficient for accurate + reliable diagnosis
7
Q
Why is norms varying overtime a weakness for deviation from social norms in explaining abnormality?
A
P= Norms vary overtime
E= Abnormal behaviour years ago now considered normal
E= Consistency in diagnosis overtime is problematic (need to keep up with social norms)
L= Time-consuming for professionals
8
Q
What is abnormality (failure to function adequately)?
A
Behaviour suggests that they can’t cope with everyday life
9
Q
Who devised a criteria to help establish whether someone was failing to function adequately?
A
Rosenhan & Seligman (1989)
10
Q
What are the personal dysfunction 7 features?
A
- Violation of moral standards
- Unconventiality (wouldn’t expect behaviour in situation)
- Observer discomfort
- Unpredictability
- Personal distress
- Maladaptive behaviour (prevents achieving goals)
- Irrationality
11
Q
What is violation of moral standards?
A
Behaviour that breaks laws, unwritten social rules…
12
Q
What is uncongeniality?
A
Behaviour that differs substantially from what you would expect in a situation
13
Q
What is observer discomfort?
A
Behaviour that makes others feel uncomfortable
14
Q
What is unpredictability?
A
Behaviour is unpredictable, inappropriate for situation + shows loss of control
15
Q
What is personal distress?
A
People affected have some degree of suffering + can cause distress to others too
16
Q
What is maladaptive behaviour?
A
Behaviour that prevents individual from achieving major life goals/ behaviour not useful
17
Q
What is irrationality?
A
Behaviour that can’t be explained in rational way
18
Q
What scale is used to to determine if someone is functioning inadequately?
A
Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)
- 1 to 100 (1= severely impaired, 100= extremely high functioning)
19
Q
Why is having a sensible criteria to see the degree of abnormality a strength for failure to function adequately as a definition of abnormality?
A
P= Sensible criteria allows degree of abnormality to be established
E= 7 criteria + GAF scale to measure behaviours against
E=Allow clinicians to determine severity of patient behaviour
L= Definition useful for clinician + patient
20
Q
Why is a strength for failure to function adequately as a definition to explain abnormality acknowledging perspectives of patients?
A
P= Acknowledges perspective of patient
E= Clinicians assess what is routine functioning for patient + when behaviour is comparably abnormal
E= Empower patients (feel listened to + understood)
21
Q
Why is a weakness of failure to function adequately as a definition for abnormality be insufficient?
A
P= Presence of abnormality may not be ‘failure to function’
E= People with depression appear to function normally (suffer internally)
E= Definition insufficient + invalid in truly identifying behaviou
22
Q
Why is not all abnormal behaviour being associated with the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality a weakness?
A
P= Not all abnormal behaviour associated with definition
E= Psychopathy not typically associated with distress + failure to cope
E= Some behaviours go under the radar
L= Many who aren’t getting professional help cause distress/ danger to others
23
Q
What is abnormality (statistical infrequency)?
A
Abnormal behaviour deviates from statistical infrequency
24
Q
What is the normal distribution for statistical frequency?
A
Inside 2 standard deviations of the mean
25
What categorises people as abnormal in statistical infrequency?
People who fall outside the normal distribution (beyond 2 standard deviations of mean)
26
What % of people fall within 1SD of the mean?
68%
27
What % of the population falls 2 SD of the mean?
95%
28
What % of people are abnormal according to the statistical infrequency definition?
5%
29
Why is statistical infrequency a reliable measure of abnormality?
P= Reliable measure of abnormality
E= Easily compare data compared to normal distribution
E= No subjective interpretation
L= Consistent + objective diagnosis made
30
Why is the statistical infrequency definition in explaining abnormality a useful definition?
P= Useful definition in clinical practice
E= Beck Depression Inventory-> suffer with severe depression + identify if 30+ score
E= Goof applicability to real-world diagnostic process (assess severity of symptoms)
31
Why can diagnosis be poor/ invalid for statistical infrequency as a definition in explaining abnormality?
P= Diagnosis poor/ invalid (not accounting for behaviours that are rare but desirable)
E= Extremely high IQ-> not mental illness
E= Shouldn't rely on statistics to make decisions
32
Why is a weakness for statistical infrequency in explaining abnormality that there is a subjective cut off?
P= Subjective 'cut off' between normal/ abnormal
E= IQ 70 (normal), IQ 69 (abnormal)
E= Validity?
L= Lack application as may not correctly identify abnormality
33
What is abnormality (deviation from ideal mental health)?
Seeing what made someone 'normal', then could work out who was 'abnormal'
34
What are the 6 ideals (deviation from ideal mental health)?
1.Resistance to stress
2. Accurate perception of reality
3. Positive attitude towards self
4. Personal autonomy
5. Adapting + mastering environment
6. Self actualisation + personal growth
35
What is resistance to stress as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
Individuals shouldn't feel under stress + should be able to handle stressful situations competently
36
What is accurate perception of reality as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
Individuals should perceive world around them as similar to how others see the world
37
What is positive attitude towards the self as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
High levels of self esteem
Positive attitude should be good level + feel happy with themselves
38
What is personal autonomy as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
Independence + self reliance (don't depend on others)
39
What is adapting to & mastering the environment as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
People can adapt to new situations + be at ease at all situations in life
40
What is self-actualisation & personal growth as one of the 6 categories for 'ideal mental health'?
State of contentment (become best you can)
41
Why does ideal mental health as a definition to explain abnormality have a positive approach?
P= Positive approach to define abnormality
E= Gives ideal target to aim for
E= Offers guidance on how to get better
L= More useful/ applicable than other definitions
42
Why does deviation from ideal mental health as a definition to explain abnormality have a holistic approach?
P= Holistic approach
E= Considers individual as whole person
E= Looks at many to make a conclusion
43
Why is the criteria made for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition to explain abnormality difficult for people to meet?
P= Difficult for people to meet criteria
E= Too demanding as have to meet all criteria to be 'normal'
E= Many people lack in 1 area
L= Lacks validity (said to be abnormal when not)
E.g. Resistance to stress-> always stressful situations in life (exams)
44
Why are cultural issues a weakness for deviation from ideal mental health as a definition to explain abnormality?
P= Cultural issues
E= Based on Western ideals + values of individualistic cultures
E= Bias against other cultures (ethnocentric)
L= Not generalised as not for whole population so lacks internal validity
45
PHOBIAS
46
What is the definition of a phobia?
Excessive fear + anxiety, triggered by an object, place, situation
47
What is a specific phobia?
Having a phobia of a specific object (spider, snake)
48
What is social anxiety?
Marked by the fear of social situations (judge, embarrassment)
49
What is agoraphobia?
Irrational + extreme fear of being in places that are difficult to escape (crowded places)
50
What are the 3 behavioural characteristics of phobias?
Panic
Avoidance
Endurance
51
What is the panic response in the presence of a phobic stimulus?
Crying
Screaming
Running away
Freezing
Clinging
Stomping feet
52
What is the avoidance response in the presence of a phobic stimulus?
Prevent coming into contact with the fear
- Hard to go about daily life
53
What is the endurance response in the presence of a phobic stimulus?
Chooses to remain in the presence of phobic stimulus
54
What are the 3 emotional characteristics of phobias?
Anxiety
Fear
Unreasonable emotional fear
55
What is anxiety?
Phobias involve emotional response of anxiety (unpleasant state of high arousal)
- Prevent person relaxing + difficulty experiencing positive emotion)
56
What is fear?
Immediate + extreme unpleasant response when encountering phobic stimulus
57
What is an unreasonable emotional response?
Anxiety/ fear greater than 'normal' + disproportionate to any threat posed
58
What are the 3 cognitive characteristics of phobias?
Selective attention to phobic stimulus
Irrational beliefs
Cognitive distortions
59
What is selective attention to the phobic stimulus?
If see stimulus, hard to look away causing a loss of concentration on other things
60
What are irrational beliefs?
Person may hold unfounded thoughts in relation to stimulus
61
What are cognitive distortions?
Perceptions of a person with phobia has that may be inaccurate + unrealistic
62
What is the Two-Process model (Mowrer, 1947)?
Phobias can be explained by 2 stages:
1. Acquisition
2. Maintenance
63
What is acquisition in the Two-Process model?
Look at how phobias are acquired/ what caused onset
- Classical conditioning
UCS->UCR
UCS+NS->UCR
CS->CR
64
What is maintenance in the Two-Process Model?
Why a person continues to have a phobia, rather than extinction
- Operant conditioning (learning through consequence of behaviour)
- N reinforcement= escape stimulus for less anxiety
65
What supports the idea of the Two-Process Model?
Supporting evidence:
P= Little Albert
E= Hammer + white rat caused conditioned response of fear
E= Phobias acquired through association of UCS + NS
P= DiGallo
E= 20% people in car crash stay at home rather than making car journeys
E= Maintenance supports as now staying home
66
What opposes the idea of the Two-Process Model?
Opposing evidence:
P= Ignores biological preparedness
E= Anything causing danger embedded in genetics
E= Doesn't acknowledge role of evolution towards dangerous objects
Deterministic:
P= Deterministic
E= Suggests phobias environmentally determined + traumatic event with CC pairing causes phobia development
E= Ignores influence of conscious decision making
67
What is systematic desensitisation (Joseph Wolpe, 1958)?
Exposure treatment based on principles of CC
68
What is the aim of systematic desensitisation?
Extinguish undesirable behaviours + substitute fear with relaxation response (RECIPRICAL INHIBITION)
- If you learn fear, it can be unlearned
69
What are the 4 stages of systematic desensitisation?
1. Functional analysis
2. Relaxation training
3. Develop anxiety hierarchy
4. Gradual exposure
70
What is the functional analysis in systematic desensitisation?
Nature of anxiety + triggers discussed between client + therapist
71
What is the relaxation training in systematic desensitisation?
Patients trained to relax using various techniques
- Focus on breathing
- 'Here and now'
- Muscle relaxation
72
What is developing an anxiety hierarchy in systematic desensitisation?
Patients + therapists agree on target aim for therapy
- Form list of fears/ anxieties + begin with least feared to most fearful situation
73
What is gradual exposure in systematic desensitisation?
Object is slowly + gradually introduced according to hierarchy
- 'in vivo'= exposed to real object
- 'in vitro'= through imaginary exposure of object
74
What are the strengths of systematic desensitisation?
P= Capafons et al. (1998)
E= Treated 20 aerophobia suffers with SD
E= All but 2 patients recieving treatment recorded lower levels of anxiety showing it works
P= McGrath et al. (1990)
E= Treated noise phobia using SD + 75% responded well
E= Valid as high success rate for people being treated
75
What are the weaknesses of systematic desensitisation?
P= Ohman et al. (1975)
E= Less effective at treating phobias with underlying survival components
E= Down to genetics being passed on so harder to treat
P= Not useful for people with mental health conditions
E= Need to learn to relax which may be hard
E= Results won't be as effective
76
What is flooding?
Direct, prolonged exposure to a fearful situation/ experience
- Replace the fear response with a different response (CC + reciprocal inhibition)
77
What 2 components does flooding have?
Psychological
Biological
78
What is the psychological component of flooding?
Client will eventually see it as less fear-producing
- See that the phobia is irrational in nature
79
What is the biological component of flooding?
Sympathetic nervous system activated when fearful-> only held for certain amount of time
- Then body is forced to calm
80
How does flooding work?
Forcing the calmer response
- Quick extinction as person becomes physically exhausted
- Reduces maladaptive behaviour
81
What are the strengths of flooding in treating phobias?
1. Quick-> cost effective
2. Useful-> Joseph Wolpe removed girls phobia of cars after forcibly being driven round (4h)
82
What are the weaknesses of flooding in treating phobias?
1. Individual differences (bravery)-> not effective for everyone-> loss of time + money?
2. Risky-> may worsen/ cause more distress-> unethical-> reduces credibility
83
DEPRESSION
84
What is depression?
Mental disorder characterised by a change in mood
85
What is the diagnostic and statistical manual?
Manual used to help diagnose patients with disorders
86
What are the criteria's of the depression DSM?
1. Depressed mood
2. Diminished interest in activities
3. Weight loss/ gain
4. Reduction of physical movement
5. Fatigue
6. Worthlessness feelings
7. Concentration struggles
8. Recurrent thoughts of death
87
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
1. Activity levels (psychomotor agitation)
2. Disruption to sleep/ eating (insomnia/ hypersomnia)
3. Aggression + SH
88
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
1. Lowered mood (emotional element)
2. Anger
3. Lower self-esteem (self loathing= hating themselves)
89
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
1. Poor concentration
2. Attending to + dwelling on negatives
3. Absolutist thinking (black + white thinking)
90
What did Albert Ellis believe depression was down to?
Emotion + behaviour experienced where due to 'faulty' cognition
91
What did Albert Ellis believe depression was from?
Their interpretation of events that are to blame for unhappiness (not blaming external factors)
92
What did Albert Ellis believe poor mental health was a result of?
Irrational thinking
93
94
95
What is Ellis' ABC model?
A- activating event
B- beliefs
C- consequences
96
What is the activating event in Ellis' ABC model?
Something happens in the environment/ externally
97
What are the beliefs in Ellis' ABC model?
Event triggers belief/ irrational thought that you hold about the event/ situation
98
What are the consequences in Ellis' ABC model?
Emotional/ behavioural consequences usually following the belief we hold
99
Why is a strength for Ellis' ABC model that there is real-world application due to the development of treatments?
P= Real-world application
E= Ellis developed rational emotive behaviour therapy (effective with depressed patients)
E= Model is valid as enabled improved health
L= Useful explanation for depression
100
What evidence is there to support the role of irrational thinking in Ellis' ABC model?
P= Supporting evidence for role of irrational thinking
E= Hammen & Krantz-> patients made more errors when interpreting material
E= Shows activating event triggered irrational beliefs in depressed people
L= Valid theory
101
Why does Ellis' ABC model only explain 'reactive depression'?
P= Only explains 'reactive depression'
E= Some depressed patients unsure why depressed
E= Suggests activating event isn't crucial in becoming depressed
L= Reduces validity
102
Why is a weaknesses of Ellis' ABC model that is discounts neurotransmitters?
P= Discounts neurotransmitters as playing a part
E= Biological expl. says depression is result of having low levels of serotonin
E= More to disorder than 'faulty cognition'
L= Reductionist + simplistic explanation
103
What did Beck develop?
Cognitive model of depression
104
What did Beck's model believe about depression?
It's caused by early experiences which affect thinking
105
What are the 3 aspect of Beck's cognitive model of depression?
1. Schemata
2. Cognitive triad
3.Cognitive distortions/ bias
106
What is a schemata?
Pessimistic schemas we hold about the world
107
When do negative schemas develop?
During childhood
- Early trauma/ unhappy experiences
108
What is a negative cognitive triad?
Patients see themselves as worthless + useless
See world as overwhelming
See future as hopeless
109
What are cognitive biases/ distortions?
Depressed people will think in a negative way rather than positive
Triggers can cause existing dysfunctional beliefs to be activated
Only focusing on the information relevant to negative schemas
110
What are examples of cognitive biases/ distortions?
1. Selective abstraction/ perception (details taken out of context)
2. Overgeneralisation (overall negative conclusion based on 1 event)
3. Magnification + minimisation (magnify small bad events)
4. Absolutist thinking (unless perfect, its considered a failure)
111
What evidence is there to support Beck's negative triad?
+ Supporting evidence-> D'Alessandro (2002)-> those didn't get into college doubted future + developed depression-> supports triad
P= Supporting evidence
E= D'Alessandro-> people who have dysfunctional beliefs + didn't get into 1st choice college doubted future + developed depression
E= Supports negative triad
112
How does Beck's negative triad have good applicability?
P= Good applicability
E= Led to effective therapy (CBT)
E= Triad is useful theory
113
Why does Beck's negative triad lack internal validity?
P= Lacks internal validity
E= Faulty thinking cause depression or depression causes faulty thinking?
E= No C+E
L= Harder to identify most useful treatment
114
Why might Beck's negative triad not be valid?
P= Negative biases/ schemas don't always explain depression
E= Negative thinking can be seen as useful + adaptive rather than depression
E= Need to consider pro/ cons
L= May not be valid
115
What type of CBT is used in treating depression?
Rational emotive behavioural theory (REBT)
116
What are the general strategies of CBT?
- Thought catching
- Challenge irrational thoughts
117
What is thought catching?
Identify and thoughts you may be having and write them down to be challenged
118
How are irrational thoughts challenged?
Patient gathers evidence of behaviour + compares evidence to thoughts expressed
119
What is the aim of REBT?
Reframe/ challenge negative thoughts by reinterpreting the ABC (explanation) in positive way (using DEF)
120
What is DEF in the ABC model for treating depression (REBT)?
D- disputing intervention
E- effect
F- new feeling
121
Why does the therapist challenge the patients irrational beliefs in REBT?
Replace irrational beliefs with effective beliefs + attitudes
122
What is logical dispute? (DEF model)
Questions logic of a thought
123
What is empirical dispute? (DEF model)
Seeks evidence for the thought
124
What evidence is there that CBT is the most effective therapy for treating depression?
P= Most effective therapy for treatment
E= Hollon et al-> 40% relapse after CBT compared to 45% on drug treatment
E= Cognition likely to be cause of OCD
125
Why is CBT better at treating depression compared to drug treatments?
P= Drug therapy more frequency offered that CBT
E= Shows 20% people don't collect prescription/ stop course due to side effects
E= CBT more preferable as no side effects (less people drop out)
126
What are the weaknesses of CBT in treating depression?
- Individual differences-> Simon et al (2005)-> not effective for people with rigid attitude/ resistant to change-> can't force people to attend
P= Individual differences
E= Simon et al-> not effective for people with rigid attitudes/ resistant to change
E= Therapist unable to force people to attend sessions
127
Why does CBT vary its effectiveness depending on the therapist?
P= Variations of effectiveness down to competence of therapist
E= Kuyken & Tsivrikos-> more competent therapist had better patient outcomes
E= Dependent on therapist
L= Limited usefulness
128
OCD
129
What is OCD?
An anxiety disorder where sufferers experience persistent + intrusive thoughts/ compulsions
130
What are obsessions?
Recurrent + persistent thoughts/ urges/ images
- Lead to anxious feeling
131
What are compulsions?
Repetitive behaviours/ mental acts (intense + uncontrollable)
- Attempt to reduce distress/ prevent feared event
132
How many people does OCD occur in in the UK?
2%
133
What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD?
1. Compulsions are repetitive
2. Compulsions reduce anxiety
3. Avoidance
134
What are the emotional characteristics of OCD?
1. Extreme anxiety + distress (urge to repeat causes anxiety)
2. Accompanying depression (low mood/ lack of enjoyment)
3. Guilt + disgust
135
What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD?
1. Obsessive/ recurrent thoughts
2. Cognitive coping strategies (e.g. praying)
3. Insight/ awareness of irrational behaviour + anxiety
136
What are 2 genetic explanations for OCD?
ARE MORE THAN 2 SO MANY WRITE ALL UP?
1. Concordance rates
2. The SERT (serotonin transporter) gene
137
What did Lewis (1936) observe about OCD through concordance rates?
- 37% patients have OCD parents
- 21% patients had OCD siblings
- (Could be OCD vulnerability passed on from each gen + not absolute certainty of OCD)
138
What did Pauls et al (1995) find about OCD through concordance rates?
- Risk of OCD significantly greater in 1st degree relatives (10% risk)
139
Why is the SERT gene a possible 'candidate' gene for OCD?
It affects the transport + increases reuptake of serotonin, causing lower levels/ activities of neurotransmitter
140
What evidence is there to support the genetic explanation to explaining OCD?
P= Supporting evidence
E= Ozaki et al-> found 7 people with SERT gene mutation, 6 developed OCD
E= SERT gene linked with OCD + gene could explain OCD in other families
141
What evidence is there to support that MZ twins are more likely to get OCD due to concordance rates?
P= Supporting evidence
E= Nestadt et al-> 68% MZ twins shared OCD, 31% DZ twins shared
E= Shows higher rate if more closely related
C= If purely genetic, expect 100% concordance rate
L= Env. factors may also have a role to play?
142
Why is the genetic explanation of OCD not thorough enough?
P= Genetic explanation not thorough enough
E= Pato et al-> need more research on genetic mechanisms
E= Dif genes may cause OCD in dif people
143
Why is the genetic explanation of OCD not considering other factors a weakness?
P= Doesn't consider other factors
E= Grootheest et al-> genetic element in both kids + adults (kids= more genetic)
E= dif types + cuases of OCD (diathesis stress model)
144
What abnormal levels of neurotransmitters are explored in the neural explanation?
Dopamine
Serotonin
145
What role does dopamine play in the neural explanation?
Levels of dopamine are abnormally high for people with OCD
146
What did Szechtman et al find about dopamine in rats?
High doses of drugs that enhance levels of dopamine induced repetitive checking behaviours in rats
147
What role does serotonin play in the neural explanation?
Lower levels of serotonin in people with OCD
148
What have antidepressants shown to do in people with OCD?
Increase serotonin levels and reduce OCD symptoms
149
What abnormal brain circuits/ functioning are explored in the neural explanation?
The 'worry circuit'
Links to neurotransmission
The parahippocampal gyrus
150
What aspects of the brain are involved in the 'worry circuit'?
1, Orbitofrontal cortex
2. Caudate nucleus
3. Thalamus
151
What is the role of the 'worry circuit'?
1. Orbitofrontal cortex sends worry signal to thalamus (via caudate nucleus
2. Caudate nucleus supresses minor worries + limits message to thalamus
3. Thalamus relays strong message back to OFC (confirm worry + create 'worry loop')
152
What role does the 'worry circuit' play in the neural explanation as to why people have OCD?
- Caudate nucleus damaged, so thalamus confirms minor worries (brings repetivie, compulsive behaviours)
153
What role do the links to neurotransmission play in the neural explanation?
- Serotonin places key role in operation of OFC + caudate nucleus (cause malfunction due to abnormal serotonin levels)
- Dopamine= neurotransmitter of basal ganglia (high levels= overactivity)
154
What role does the parahippocampal gyrus play in the neural explanation?
- OCD associated with abnormal functioning in left parahippocampal gyrus (normally processes unpleasant emotions)
155
What research evidence is there to support the idea of serotonin in the neural explanation?
P= Research evidence
E= Zohar et al-> gave drug to reduce S levels to 12 OCD patients, symptoms enhanced
E= OCD associated with low levels of serotonin
156
What supporting evidence is there to show that a malfunction in the worry circuit leads to OCD (neural explanation)?
P= Supporting evidence
E= Saxena & Rauch-> look at scans+ found consistent evidence of association between OFC+ OCD symptoms
E= Malfunction within worry circuit
L= Valid explanation
157
Why may the neural explanation be too simplistic?
P= Can be explained by non-biological explanations
E= Two-process model can also be applied to OCD (acquisition + maintain)
E= Too simplistic (other theories also explain OCD)
158
Why does research found for the neural explanation lack internal validity?
P= Issue with C+E
E= Research only shows correlation/ link not cause
E= Not sure of true causes of OCD
L= Lack internal validity
159
What is the purpose of drug therapy for OCD?
Increase/ decrease levels of certain neurotransmitters in brain
160
What are the 4 main types of drugs used in OCD treatment?
1. Antidepressants (SSRIs)
2. SNRIs
3. Antidepressants (tricyclics)
4. Anti-anxiety drugs (BZs)
161
Why are antidepressants (SSRIs= selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) used to treat OCD?
- Prevent the reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neuron
- Increased S levels in synapse
- Reduces anxiety by normalising 'worry circuit'
162
Why are SNRIs (serotonin- noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) used to treat OCD?
- Works on noradrenaline + serotonin
- Dual uptake inhibitors
- Work in same way as SSRIs but act on both
163
Why are antidepressants (tricyclics) used to treat OCD?
- Block the transporter mechanism that's involved in reuptake of S + noradrenaline
- NTs left in synapse (prolonging activity)
- Negative side effects (2nd line treatment)
164
Why are anti-anxiety drugs (BZs- benzodiazepines) used to treat OCD?
- Lower anxiety levels
- Enhance activity of GABA (has inhibitory effect on brain)
- Tells neurons to slow down + stop firing
165
How long should OCD drug treatments last?
12-16 weeks
(most need treatment for at least a year)
166
What evidence is there to support SSRI as a drug therapy for treating OCD?
P= Supporting research
E= Soomro et al-> examined effectiveness of SSRI + found SSRI more effective than placebos at treating OCD
E= Shows it works
167
Why are drug therapies for treating OCD cost effective?
P= Cost effective
E= Cheaper + easier than psychological therapy
E= Once drug manufactured, easier to distribute + mass production
L= Easier for the patients + reviewed every 3 months
168
Why are some drug therapies for treating OCD having negative side effects a problem?
P= Negative side effects from drugs
E= BZs can be addictive + increase aggressive
E= Only prescribed on short term
L= People may stop taking them + get worse due to side effects
169
Why is drug therapy in treating OCD reductionist?
P= Reductionism
E= Biological treatments work on assumption that OCD is biological in origin
E= There are a range of other causes that could lead to OCD (env.)
L= Drug therapy may not be effective at treating OCD
170
How can improving people psychological health be economically positive?
- Improvements in psychological health (people get better + return to work)
- Cheaper than CBT
- Easier to administer (reduce NHS burden)
171
How can finding better ways to maintain people who are prone to mental health issues be economically beneficial?
- Better ways of managing people who are prone to mental health issues
- increased motivation + happiness
- Better economy as more people work
172
How can cutting-edge scientific research findings into treatment be economically beneficial?
- Cutting-edge scientific research findings may encourage investment from oversea companies
- Offer funding to unis for more jobs/ scholarships
173
How can understanding the causes of mental illness be economically beneficial?
- If we understand cause, reduce number of cases
- People around understand + offer support
- Less burden on NHS
174
How can finding more effective treatments be economically beneficial and economically bad?
- New treatments may be more effective
- Can be expensive to trial medication increasing financial burden
