psychopathology paper 1 completed

Question 1

what are the four 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

what is statistical infrequency a01

Answer 2

somebody is considered abnormal if condition is rare judged of statistics, how many sd’s away from the mean, further away from the mean the more abnormal

Question 3

what is deviation from social norms a01

Answer 3

abormality linked to socially unapproved behaviours deviating from social norms such as ‘joining back of queue’
unwritten implicit rules expected by society
breaking the rules considered abnormal

DSM-5 includes ‘absense of prosocial internal standards’ ‘ absense of lawful and culturally normative behaviour’

Question 4

what is the failure to function adequately a01 (including criteria)

Answer 4

inability to live normal life if not coping with expected demands (ie get a job, wake up, hygiene)
Rosenhan and Seligman 7 features, the more features present greater the abnormality

1. irrationality
2. observer discomfort
3. unpredictability
4. maladaptive behaviour
5. personal distress
6. violation of moral standards
7. unconventionality

Question 5

what is deviation from ideal mental health a01 (including criteria)

Answer 5

Jahoda, good features of mental health, if you lack them then you are abnormal

1. ability to cope with stress
2. ability to grow and achieve maslow self actualisation
3. posiitve self concept and self esteem
4. personal autonomy
5. environmental mastery
6. accurate perception of reality

Question 6

3 behavioural responses to phobias

Answer 6

1. panic
2. avoidance
3. endurance

Question 6

how do we emotionally respond to phobias

Answer 6

persistant fear and anxiety, unreasonable

Question 6

what are phobias

Answer 6

type of anxiety disorder characterised by fears and anxiety levels

Question 7

cognitive symptoms of phobias
beliefs (3)

Answer 7

1. irrationality - beliefs about stimuli
2. recognition of exaggerated anxiety
3. hypervigilance

Question 8

describe the behavioural approach a01 into explaining phobias
(classical conditioning)
1st process
including the diagram of the acquisition

Answer 8

mowrers two process model, phobias develop after two processes
classical conditioning (acquisition) onset gaining the phobia

watson and raynar white rat fear little albert developing phobia to white rat
NS (rat) ——- no fear ( albert)
UCS (hammer steal bar) —– UCR (crying albert)
NS (rat) + UCS (hammer) — UCR (fear)
NS (white rat) —- UCR (fear)

Question 9

describe the behavioural approach a01 into explaining phobias
(operant conditioning)
second process

including the diagram of the acquisition

Answer 9

mowrers two process model, phobias develop after two processes
how phobias are maintained
avoidance responses = fear response reduced
reduction in anxiety = rewarding — repeated

fear of dark (sleep with lights on)
negative reinforcing as reduces fear response so will leave lights on all the time, increase chance of sleeping with lights on due to no consequence

phobias resistance to extinction phobia dying out du to sufferer making reinforcing avoidance responses

Question 10

what are the two treatments for phobias

Answer 10

1. systematic desensitisation
2. flooding

Question 11

what does the treatments for phobias aim to do

Answer 11

replace maladaptive behaviours through counter conditioning techniques of behaviourist principles

Question 12

what are the three steps for systematic desensitisation

Answer 12

1. anxiety hierarchy
2. relxation strategies
3. gradual exposure

Question 13

a01 systematic desensitisation

Answer 13

main treatment
exposure therapy classical conditioning
replace fear with relaxation techniques

works through reciprocal inhibition as two opposing emotions can’t occur at the same time
client learns new response through counter conditioning

1. anxiety hierarchy ( ie look at pic of snake then hold)
2. relaxation strategies- when meet stimulus
3. gradual exposure- 1st fearful stage first then work up

Question 14

a01 flooding

Answer 14

exposes client to most fearful stimuli (phobia) with immediate effect, fear of heights means you stand at the top of a building, no relaxation technique
cant leave until learnt that the stimuli is harmless

Question 15

behavioural symptoms of depression

Answer 15

loss of energy
social impairment
disrupted eating
poor hygiene
disrupted sleep pattern

Question 16

emotional symptoms of depression

Answer 16

loss of enthusiasm
constant low mood
low self esteem

Question 17

cognitive symptoms of depression

Answer 17

reduced concentration
reduced memory retrieval
dwelling on the negative

Question 18

what are the three main points in becks cognitive theory (just names)

Answer 18

negative schema
faulty information processing cognitive biases
negative cognitive triad

Question 19

becks cognitive theory - negative schema

Answer 19

persons cognitions make them vulnerable, way they think negative schema
- world is seen negatively
- schema package of info to interpret world and is developed by past experiences
- depression = negative self schema and view everything negative
- negative schema is developed in childhood by unreal demands

Question 20

what is a schema

Answer 20

a package of information to allow us to interpret the world

developed in childhood, negative one is by unreal demands set by parents

Question 21

cognitive biases a01 in becks cognitive theory

Answer 21

systematic errors in thinking made when processing the world causing us to misperceive reality

negative self schemas fuels cognitive biases
- cause individual to make errors
misconception strengthen negative schemas

ie overgeneralisation, magnification and minimilisation

Question 22

negative cognitive triad becks cognitive theory a01

Answer 22

person develops dysfunctional view due to three types of negative automatic thinking

1. the self
2. the world
3. the future

Question 23

a01 ellis's abc model for explaining depression

Answer 23

irrational thinking - good mental health dependant on rational thought disorders caused by irrational thinking A- activating event 'fail exam' B- belief ' i am stupid' C- concequence 'quitting college'

Question 24

what are the two explanations for depression

Answer 24

becks cognitive theory ellis's abc model

Question 25

what is the cognitive approach for treating depression

Answer 25

cognitive behavioural therapy CBT

Question 26

What is cbt

Answer 26

main treatment for depression based on cognitive model different forms ellis's rational emotional behaviour therapy REBT identify challenge cognitive reconstruct

Question 27

how is cbt done ( 3 steps)

Answer 27

1. identify negative thoughts 2. challenge negative thoughts 3. behavioural act

Question 28

identifying negative thoughts cbt

Answer 28

assessment with therapist to clarify problems identify faulty thought processing 'automatic' as beck said faulty thoughts are so they should be written in diary, thought catching' keep diary and have homework from sessions write what they do and feel throughout the day becks therapy - look in dairy for world, self, future negative thoughts ellis therapy look for activating events, beliefs and consequences

Question 29

challenging negative thoughts cbt

Answer 29

after thought's have been identified, they are challenged to reconstruct reality testing, patient has to act like a dcientist and write down thoughts and explore the validity of theiR their beliefs encouraged them to challenge thoughts 'ie if someone thinks everyone will reject them, they should ask someone on a date' evidence is gathered to be evaluated to demonstrate it doesn't match their belief

Question 30

behavioural act , cbt treating depression

Answer 30

people with depression tend to avoid situations and become isolated, therapist works so they stop avoiding and isolating situations and increase engagement in activities that are shown to boost mood might be made to go on walks or walk on the countryside - if it works it is implemented into their routine PLEASANT EVENT SCHEDUALING

Question 31

what is OCD

Answer 31

an anxiety order where sufferers experience intrusive thoughts, obsessions (internal) and compulsions (external)

Question 32

behavioural symptoms of ocd

Answer 32

compulsions social impairment avoidance

Question 33

what are emotional symptoms of ocd

Answer 33

extreme anxiety distress

Question 34

what are cognitive symptoms of ocd

Answer 34

recurrent persistant thoughts hyper-vigilance realisation of inappropriateness

Question 35

what two genes are associated with ocd and why

Answer 35

SERT gene - faulty seratonin processing when seratonin passes along synapse, lower levels of seratonin and lack of it causes ocd symptoms COMT gene- production of comt enzyme which breaks down dopamine, mutation in OCD, dopamine not being broken down

Question 36

what are the two explanations for OCD (biological )

Answer 36

1. hereditary influence through genetic transmission (genetics) 2. occurance of ocd through damage to neural brain mechanisms (neural)

Question 37

how does biologists compare differences in non sufferers and non sufferers in ocd

Answer 37

using gene mapping studies

Question 38

what is the correct term for the definition ' a combination of genes determining vulnerability' (OCD)

Answer 38

polygenic

Question 39

what is the correct term for the definition (OCD) 'origins of the disease are different but the same disorder'

Answer 39

etiologically heteregeneous

Question 40

what to PET scans show OCD - neural explanation

Answer 40

show serotonin level activity in OCD patients brains cans 1.not enough serotonin being released 2. removed too quickly before signal transmitted

Question 41

neural explanations A01 including orbital frontal cortex and caudate nucleus

Answer 41

over active orbital frontal cortex - converts sensory info to thoughts to initiate action (sends signals to initiate action then once action has been done, signal should stop) caudate nucleus (part of basal ganglia) act as filter to signals sent by OFC should stop receiving signals if caudate nucleus not doing job to switch of worries when no longer necessary will create worry circuit

Question 42

what are the three forms of treatment for OCD

Answer 42

1. antidepressant treatment drugs 2. anxiolytic drugs 3. CBT and drugs combination

Question 43

describe anti depressants drug as a treatment for OCD

Answer 43

- work by blocking re-uptake proteins on pre synaptic Neuron -prevents reabsorption (re-uptake) of serotonin at synapse allowing build up - allow serotonin to build up where it can continue to stimulate post synaptic Neuron - elevates levels of serotonin back to normal allowing the OFC to function normally

Question 44

what does serotonin stand for

Answer 44

selective serotonin uptake inhibitors

Question 45

describe anxiolytic drugs as a treatment for OCD

Answer 45

they work to lower anxiety benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety - works on reducing activity of nervous system by increasing activity of GABA - GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter works by blocking stimulation of neurons - calming effect on brain and reduces anxiety

Question 46

name a non drugs treatment for ocd

Answer 46

cbt (can also be used alongside drugs though)