WEEK 9 - Psychological disorders

Question 1

Theoretical context of psychopathology

Answer 1

• Psychodynamic theories
• Cognitive-behavioural approaches
• Biological approaches
• Systems theory
• Evolutionary perspectives

Question 2

Psychodynamic perspective

Answer 2

ego functioning is central for three classes:
- neuroses; issues in living that involve anxiety or interpersonal conflict
- personality disorders; chronic, severe disturbances that alter the capacity to work and love
- psychoses; marked disturbances of contact with reality

Question 3

Cognitive-behavioural perspective

Answer 3

integrates understanding of classical and operant conditioning with cognitive-social perspective.
Cognitive - reflect dysfunctional attitudes, beliefs and cognitive processes
Behavioural - arise from conditioned emotional responses

Question 4

Biological perspective

Answer 4

root of abnormal behaviour lies within the brain.
- neurotransmitter dysfunction
- abnormality of brain structures
- disrupted neural pathways
- genetics
- diathesis-stress model; underlying vulnerability with symptoms appearing under stress

Question 5

Systems perspective

Answer 5

root of abnormality lies in the context of a social group (and families). Family systems model; individuals symptoms are viewed as symptoms of dysfunction in the family

Question 6

Evolutionary perspective

Answer 6

less adaptive behaviour may have its roots in behaviour that is important for survival. important interplay of genes and environment

Question 7

Descriptive approach - disorder classification systems

Answer 7

• Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) - mental disorders only
• international classification of diseases (ICD) - physical and mental diseases

Question 8

Schizophrenia

Answer 8

disorder that involves disturbance in almost every dimension of human function - 9 in 10 suffer enduring disability and suicide attempts > 13 times of general population

Question 9

Schizophrenia: Symptoms

Answer 9

Positive symptoms:
- excess of behaviour
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganised speech or behaviour
Negative symptoms:
- Absence of normal behaviour or function
- emotional flattening
- apathy
- social withdrawal
- lack of spontaneous movement

Question 10

Bipolar

Answer 10

disturbances in emotion and mood. alternating periods of mania and depression.
- Bipolar 1: major depression and mania
- Bipolar 2: major depression and hypomania
- Cyclothymia: hypomania and mild depression

Question 11

Depressive disorders

Answer 11

disturbance in emotion and mood (particularly, negative mood). Major depressive disorder; long term episode of intense sadness, loss of appetite, and difficulty in/excessive sleeping.
- Symptoms can cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning.
- also not due to effect of drug or medical condition

Question 12

Anxiety disorders

Answer 12

frequent, intense, and irrational anxiety or apprehension.
- phobic disorder
- panic disorder
- generalised anxiety disorder