Psychopathology AO1

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of abnormality?

Answer 1

• Deviation from social norms
• Deviation for ideal mental health
• Statistical infrequency
• Failure to function adequately

Question 2

Explain what is meant by a deviation from social norms and give an example.

Answer 2

People who act against societal norms. E.g. homosexuality

Question 3

Explain what is meant by deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 3

If a persons psychological health does fit the ideal

Question 4

Name the 6 criteria for ideal mental health.

Answer 4

• Independence
• Environmental mastery
• Self-actualisation
• Positive self-attitude
• Resistant to stress
• Accurate perception of reality

Question 5

Who is the psychologist for the deviation from ideal mental health.

Answer 5

Jahoda

Question 6

Explain what is meant by statistical infrequency and give an example.

Answer 6

A behaviour is seen as abnormal if it is statistically uncommon in society. E.g. IQ

Question 7

Explain what is meant by a failure to function adequately and give an example.

Answer 7

When someone can no longer cope with the demands of everyday life. E.g. basic standards of hygiene

Question 8

What are the signs of a failure to function adequately?

Answer 8

• No longer conforms to interpersonal rules
• Experiencing severe personal distress
• Behaviour becomes irrational or dangerous to themselves or others

Question 9

Who are the psychologists for a failure to function adequately?

Answer 9

Rosenhan and Seligman

Question 10

What is a phobia?

Answer 10

An irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 11

What are the 3 categories of a phobias and describe them?

Answer 11

• Specific phobia: phobia of an object or situation
• Social phobia: social anxiety
• Agoraphobia: phobia of being in a public place

Question 12

What are the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 12

Behavioural: avoidance
Emotional: severe anxiety
Cognitive: irrational beliefs

Question 13

What is depression?

Answer 13

A mental disorder chatacterised by low moods and low energy levels

Question 14

What are the 4 categories of depression?

Answer 14

• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Question 15

What are the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 15

Behavioural: disruption to sleep and eating patterns
Emotional: lower moods
Cognitive: absolutist thinking

Question 16

What is OCD?

Answer 16

Obsessive compulsive disorder is characteristed by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour

Question 17

What is the difference between obsessions and compulsions?

Answer 17

Obsessions are repetitive irrational thoughts whereas compulsions are repetitive, impulsive behaviours

Question 18

What are the 4 types of OCD?

Answer 18

• OCD
• Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling)
• Hoarding disorder (excessive gathering of items)
• Excoriation disorder (compulsive skin picking)

Question 19

What are the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of OCD.

Answer 19

Behavioural: compulsions
Emotional: severe anxiety
Cognitive: obsessive thoughts

Question 20

What is the two-process model? (phobias)

Answer 20

Explains that phobias are acquired through classical conditioning and they are maintained through operant conditioning

Question 21

Who proposed the two-process model?

Answer 21

Mowrer

Question 22

Evidence for acquisition by classical conditioning, and psychologists names.

Answer 22

Watson and Rayner - Little Albert
- 9 month old baby was shown a white rat (NS)
- A loud bang (CS) was sounded along with the rat (UCS)
- The baby associated the rat (CS) with fear (CR)

Question 23

Explain how phobias are maintained through operant conditioning.

Answer 23

An individual avoids stressful situations which provides a desirable outcome. Therefore their behaviour is being reinforced.

Question 24

What are the 2 ways of treating phobias?

Answer 24

Systematic desensitisation and flooding

Question 25

Explain the 3 steps of systematic desensitisation.

Answer 25

- Anxiety hierarchy, list of situations from least to most scary - Relaxation techniques - Gradual exposure, using their relaxation techniques

Question 26

Who designed systematic desensitisation?

Answer 26

Joseph Wolpe

Question 27

Explain the process of flooding.

Answer 27

Immediate exposure to a phobic stimulus. The patient endures until their anxiety subsides.

Question 28

What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Answer 28

- People with depression are cognitively vulnerable - Faulty information processing: focuses on the negative - Negative self-schemas - Negative triad: negative view of the world, future and self

Question 29

What is Ellis’ ABC model?

Answer 29

A - Activating event B - Beliefs C - Consequences

Question 30

Name 3 irrational beliefs.

Answer 30

- Musterbation: always wanting to succeed - Icantstandititus: everything is a disaster - Utopianism - everything is fair

Question 31

What are the 2 treatments for depression?

Answer 31

- Beck’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Beck’s CBT) - Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT)

Question 32

What are the 3 steps in Beck’s CBT?

Answer 32

- A therapist and patient identify automatic thoughts about the negative triad - Therapists challenges these thoughts - Positive diary given as homework

Question 33

What is involved in REBT?

Answer 33

Identifying and challenging irrational thoughts through disputing.

Question 34

What are the 3 ways of disputing beliefs?

Answer 34

- Logical disputing (does this way of thinking make sense?) - Empirical disputing (where is the proof?) - Pragmatic disputing (what do I get from thinking this?)

Question 35

In Ellis’ ABCDE model, what does the DE stand for?

Answer 35

D - disputing E - effects

Question 36

What is a candidate gene?

Answer 36

Specific genes that create a vulnerability for OCD

Question 37

What is the COMT gene and how does it differ in people with OCD?

Answer 37

It reduces and controls dopamine, people with OCD have a variation of this gene which causes too much dopamine

Question 38

What is the SERT gene and how does it differ in people with OCD?

Answer 38

Controls the transport of serotonin, people with OCD have lower levels of serotonin

Question 39

Describe the function of the frontal lobe.

Answer 39

Responsible for logical thinking and decision making

Question 40

Describe the function of the parahippocampal gyrus.

Answer 40

Associated with processing unpleasant emotions which is impaired in OCD

Question 41

Describe the function of the orbitofrontal cortex and how it changes in OCD.

Answer 41

Responsible for decision making and regulating emotions, it becomes hyperactive in OCD

Question 42

Describe the function of the anterior cingulate cortex and how it changes in OCD.

Answer 42

Responsible for error detection and emotional regulation and in OCD it becomes overactive

Question 43

Describe the function of the caudate nucleus and how it changes in OCD.

Answer 43

Regulates movements and habits, underactive in OCD

Question 44

Describe the function of the thalamus and how it changes in OCD.

Answer 44

Relays sensory and motor signals and in OCD it interacts with the OFC and caudate nucleus to process obsessions and compulsions

Question 45

What is the treatment for OCD?

Answer 45

Drug therapy - SSRI

Question 46

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 46

Increase certain neurotransmitters in the brain by preventing the reabsorption of serotonin

Question 47

What are 2 alternatives to SSRIs?

Answer 47

Tricyclics and SNRIs