Psychopathology

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

1. Statistical infrequency
2. Deviation from social norms
3. Failure to function adequately
4. Deviation from ideal mental health

Question 2

Define statistical infrequency

Answer 2

Person having less common characteristics e.g low IQ than most of population

Question 3

Becks negative triad

Answer 3

Negative view of self, world and future

Question 4

Cognitive explanation for depression

Answer 4

Faulty thinking/thought processes makes person vulnerable to and can cause depression.

Question 5

Cognitive treatment for depression

Answer 5

CBT and REBT

Question 6

CBT stages

Answer 6

Initial assessment where problems are identified, set goals and plan of action to achieve them. 6 weekly 1 hour sessions. Patient given ‘homework’

Question 7

REBT

Answer 7

Ellis’. Initial assessment and identify problems and goals however then uses empirical argument and logical argument to challenge irrational thoughts

Question 8

4 definitions of abnormality

Answer 8

Statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately, and deviation from ideal mental health

Question 9

Deviation from ideal mental health

Answer 9

Jahoda. Absence of 6 particular characteristics e.g positive view of self and resistant to stress

Question 10

Deviation from social norms

Answer 10

Behavhour seen as abnormal if it violates unwritten rules about what is acceptable in society

Question 11

Drug therapy of OCD

Answer 11

SSRI’s increase level of serotonin in synapse and result in more serotonin being recieved by the cell. Quieting influence on brain so reduces anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts

Question 12

Ellis ABC model

Answer 12

A: activating event e.g friend ignored you
B: belief e.g they hate me
C: consequences e.g emotional irrational unhealthy outcomes like blocking them

Question 13

Failure to function adequately

Answer 13

Considered abnormal if person is unable to cope with demands of everyday life and live independently

Question 14

Flooding

Answer 14

Exposed to most frightening situation immediately. Unable to avoid (negatively reinforce) their phobia.

Question 15

COMT gene in OCD

Answer 15

COMT responsible for clearing dopamine from synapses, low activity of COMT associated with OCD

Question 16

SERT gene in OCD

Answer 16

Affects transport of serotonin and can cause lower levels of it which is associated with OCD

Question 17

Polygenic

Answer 17

OCD is believed to be a polygenic condition, meaning several genes are involved

Question 18

Neural explanation to OCD

Answer 18

Lowest levels of neurotransmitter serotonin (possibly caused by SERT) are associated with OCD

Question 19

Operant conditioning: phobias

Answer 19

Phobias can be negatively reinforced. Behaviour is strengthened because unpleasant consequence is removed e.g avoiding phobic stimulus

Question 20

Statistical infrequency

Answer 20

Behaviour seen as abnormal if it’s statistically uncommon

Question 21

Systematic desensitisation stages

Answer 21

1) fear hierarchy
2) relaxation training
3) reciprocal inhibition

Question 22

Two-process model phobias

Answer 22

Phobias are initiated through classical conditioning (association) and are maintained through operant conditioning (negative reinforcement)

Question 23

Discuss biological approach to explaining OCD
6 AO1

Answer 23

• Lewis found 37% of his patients w OCD had parents with OCD, 21% had siblings with it: genetic link
• candidate genes: vulnerability for OCD
• polygenic: Taylor found 230 different genes may be involved
• low levels of serotonin can impact transmission of mood relevant info
• abnormal functioning of lateral frontal lobes involved in logical thinking: hoarding disorder

Question 24

Discuss biological approach to explaining OCD
(AO3)
(Study, pill, too many)

Answer 24

+ Nestadt found 68% MZ twins both had OCD, as opposed to 31% DZ
+ antidepressants that work purely on serotonin system are effective in reducing OCD symptoms. Suggests serotonin system is involved in OCD
- too many genes involved so this explanation is unlikely to be very useful as it holds little predictive value

Question 25

Discuss behavioural approach to explaining phobias 6 AO1

Answer 25

- acquired by classical, maintained by operant - NS becomes CS and UCR becomes CR - Little Albert - Mowrer operant conditioning - Reinforcement increases likelihood that behaviour will be reinforced - Avoidance negatively reinforces phobia

Question 26

Discuss behavioural approach to explaining phobias 3 AO3 points

Answer 26

+ application to therapy, when patient prevented from avoiding, behaviour is not reinforced - not always result of trauma. People may have a phobia of bears. Instead could be evolutionary - avoidance may be motivated by positive feelings of safety e.g agoraphobics may leave house with someone they trust, but not alone

Question 27

Biological approach to explaining OCD 3 AO3

Answer 27

+ Nesadt 68% concordance rate of OCD in MZ twins, 31% in DZ. - correlation in family studies does not equal causation. Concordance rate is not 100% so must have some environmental influence. MZ treated more similarly +/- diathesis stress more valid explanation. 54% of Cromer’s OCD patients had reported a traumatic life event

Question 28

Biological approach to treating OCD 3 AO3 points

Answer 28

+ Soomro conducted meta analysis on 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebo. SSRIs significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo - Goldacre points out most research on drug therapies are conducted by pharmaceutical companies who have financial interest + Cheaper and more convenient for CBT. Better for NHS

Question 29

3 strengths of SD

Answer 29

+ Gilroy followed up 42 patients who recieved SD for arachnophobia. Control group treated by relaxation techniques without exposure. At 3 and 33 months after treatment, SD group less fearful than control + suitable for diverse range of patients. Learning difficulties can make it hard to understand what’s happening in cognitive therapy or flooding, SD more appropriate + patients prefer it when given choice. Does not cause same degree of trauma. Reflected in low refusal rates and low no. Of patients dropping out

Question 30

1 strength 2 weaknesses of flooding

Answer 30

+ cost effective. Studies comparing cognitive therapy to flooding found flooding to be highly effective and quicker therefore cheaper - less effective for some types of phobias e.g social phobias due to cognitive elements, cognitive therapy may be better to tackle irrational thinking - treatment is traumatic for patients. Often unwilling to see it through to end so then time and money is sometimes wasted