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82 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the definitions of abnormality? |
- statistical deviation - deviation from social norms - failure to function adequately - deviation from ideal mental health |
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What is the statistical deviation definition of abnormality? |
- when an individual has a less common characteristics e.g more depressed/less intelligent than the population - e.g intellectual disability disorder which is characterised by an IQ below 70 |
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What are the evaluation points for the statistical deviation definition of abnormality? |
S: mental disorder=compare symptoms/statistical norms (intellectual disability disorder) W: statistically abnormal isn't necessarily undesirable [high IQ] W: person labelled 'abnormal'=negative effect on view of themselves |
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What is the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality? |
- behaviour that is different from accepted standards of behaviour in a community/society - norms are specific to culture/generation we live in - anti social personality disorder characterised by 'failure to conform' |
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What are the evaluation points of the deviation from social norms definition of abnormality? |
S: real life application (diagnose antisocial personality disorder) W: other factors=never sole reason for defining abnormality W: social norms vary from community/generation W: reliance on deviance=abuse of human rights=abuses people's rights to be different S: social norms includes desirability of behaviour issue/statistical doesn't |
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What is the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality? |
- when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of everyday living (nutrition/hygiene) - intellectual disability disorder=diagnosis needs to be failing to function and low IQ |
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According to David Rosenhan and Martin Seligman, what are the signs to determine if someone is not coping with everyday living? |
- no longer conforming to standard interpersonal rules (eye contact/personal space) - experiencing severe personal distress - behaviour irrational/dangerous to themselves/others |
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What are the evaluation points of the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality? |
S: captures experience of those who need help=useful criteria in abnormality W: alternative lifestyles may be seen as failing to function adequately W: patients who say they're distressed may be judged as not |
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What is the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality? |
- When someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health |
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According to Marie Jahoda, what are the criteria for good mental health? |
- no symptoms of distress - self-actualise (reach our potential) - realistic view of the world - independent of others - rational/perceive ourselves accurately - cope with stress - good self-esteem/lack guilt - successfully work, love, enjoy leisure |
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What are the evaluation points of the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality? |
S: broad criteria/range of factors=good for thinking about mental health W: classifications specific to individualist cultures, don't apply to collectivist cultures W: no one achieves all criteria at the same time/for very long=all of us would be abnormal W: judgement=label=add to problems (future employers/partners/finance organisations) |
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What is a phobia? |
- Excessive fear/anxiety of an object/situation - out of proportion fear |
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What are the DSM-5 categories of phobia? |
- Specific phobia - social anxiety (social phobia) - agoraphobia |
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What is specific phobia? |
- phobia of an object or situation |
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What is social anxiety (social phobia)? |
- phobia of a social situation e.g. public speaking |
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What is agoraphobia? |
- phobia of being outside/in a public space |
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What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias? |
- Panic: in presence of phobic stimulus/involve crying, screaming/children may freeze - Avoidance: avoid contact with phobic stimulus=daily life hard - Endurance: remains in presence of phobic stimulus/experiences high anxiety |
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What are the emotional characteristics of phobias? |
- Anxiety: emotional response of anxiety/fear=prevents relaxing - unreasonable response: emotional response to phobic stimulus highly disproportionate |
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What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias? |
- Selective attention: towards phobic stimulus - Irrational beliefs: relation to phobic stimuli e.g social anxiety (must always sound smart) - cognitive distortions: distorted perceptions of phobic stimuli (as ugly/disgusting) |
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What is the two-process model for explaining phobias? |
Hobart Mowrer: states phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and continue due to operant conditioning |
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How is a phobia acquired by classical conditioning? |
- Watson/Rayner: created phobia in 'Little Albert';white rat+loud bang=fear;rat become conditioned stimulus;generalised to similar objects |
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How is a phobia maintained by operant conditioning? |
- Mowrer: avoid phobic stimulus=successfully escape fear/anxiety=reinforces avoidance behaviour=phobia maintained |
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What are the evaluation points for the behavioural approach to explaining phobias? |
S: explained how phobias maintained/applied to therapy=exposed to phobic stimulus=prevent avoidant behaviour=not reinforced=declines W: complex phobias=avoidance behaviour motivated by positive feelings of safety(anxiety reduction) W: some aspects require further explaining(evolutionary factors=easy acquire phobias of danger=adaptive/predisposition) W: sometimes people develop a phobia and are not aware of having a related bad experience |
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What are the two behavioural approaches to treating phobias? |
- systematic desensitisation - flooding |
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What is systematic desensitisation? |
- behavioural therapy designed to reduce anxiety through classical conditioning - new response to phobic stimulus learned=counter-conditioning - impossible to be afraid and relaxed at the same time=one prevents the other=reciprocal inhibition |
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What are the three processes to systematic desensitisation? |
- Anxiety hierarchy: list phobic stimulus situations arrange from least to most scary - Relaxation: therapist teaches patient to relax deeply=breathing exercise/meditation - Exposure: patient exposed to phobic stimulus in relaxed state;several sessions, start from bottom of anxiety hierarchy=move up |
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What is flooding? |
- behavioural therapy where patients exposed to phobic stimulus without anxiety hierarchy build up - sessions longer (2-3 hours) - less sessions needed |
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How does flooding work? |
- no avoidance behaviour option=patients quickly learns phobic stimulus is harmless (extinction) - conditioned stimulus met without unconditioned stimulus=no conditioned response - some cases patient may achieve relaxation due to being exhausted by own fear |
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What are the ethical safeguards for the behavioural approach to treating phobias? |
- unpleasant experience=patients must give full informed consent to session - patient normally given the choice of systematic desensitisation or flooding |
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What are the evaluation points for systematic desensitisation to treating phobias? |
S: Gilroy:spider phobia patients;3/33 months=systematic>relaxation/long lasting W: hard to understand flooding/engage with cognitive therapies=systematic desensitisation most appropriate treatment W: patients prefer systematic desensitisation to flooding=less trauma/relaxation pleasant W: phobia replaced with another(evidence mixed/behavioural therapists don't believe it) |
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What are the evaluation points for flooding to treating phobias? |
S: highly effective/quicker than alternatives for specific phobias=free from symptoms sooner W: less effective for complex phobias=cognitive aspects=unpleasant thoughts (social phobia) W: highly traumatic=patients unwilling to finish=time/money wasted preparing W: phobia replaced with another(evidence mixed/behavioural therapists don't believe it) |
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What is depression? |
- a mental disorder characterised by low mood/energy levels |
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What are the DSM-5 categories of depression? |
- major depressive disorder - persistent depressive disorder - disruptive mood dysregulation disorder - premenstrual dysphoric disorder |
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What is major depressive disorder? |
- severe/often short term depression |
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What is persistent depressive disorder? |
- long term/recurring depression=sustained major depression/dysthymia` |
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What is disruptive mood dysregulation disorder? |
- childhood temper tantrums |
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What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder? |
- disruption to mood prior/during menstruation |
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What are the behavioural characteristics of depression? |
- Activity levels: reduced energy=lethargic=withdraw from work/social life;severe=can't get out of bed;some cases=psychomotor agitation=struggle to relax - Sleep/eating disruption: insomnia/hypersomnia;weight gain/loss - Aggression/self harm: irritable/verbally/physically aggressive;to self (cutting/suicide) |
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What are the emotional characteristics of depression? |
- Lowered mood: more pronounced;patients describe themselves as 'worthless/empty' - Anger: frequent (extreme) anger at others/self=lead to aggressive behaviour - Lowered self esteem: reduced;quite extreme=describe hating themselves (self loathing) |
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What are the cognitive characteristics of depression? |
- Poor concentration: unable to stick to task they normally find straight forward;poor decision making/concentration=interfere with work - dwelling on negative: pay more attention to negatives of situation/ignore positives;recall unhappy events than happy ones - absolutist thinking: sees situation as all good/bad |
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What are the two cognitive approaches to explaining depression? |
- Beck's cognitive theory of depression - Ellis's ABC model |
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According to Aaron Beck, how does depression occur? |
- The way a person thinks makes them more vulnerable to depression |
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What are the three parts to Beck's cognitive theory of depression? |
- Faulty information processing - negative self-schemas - the negative triad |
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How is faulty information processing involved in depression? |
- attend to negative/ignore positives of situation - blow small problems out of proportion - think in 'black and white' terms |
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What is a schema? |
- package of ideas/info developed through experience - framework for interpreting sensory info (self-schema=package of info about ourselves) |
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How is negative self-schemas involved in depression? |
- interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way |
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How is the negative triad involved in depression? |
- dysfunctional view of themselves=3 types of automatic negative thinking - negative world view: impression that there's no hope anywhere - negative future view: thoughts reduce hopefulness/enhance depression - negative self view: thoughts enhance depressive feelings=confirm existing emotions of low self esteem |
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What are the evaluation points of Beck's cognitive theory of depression? |
S:Grazioli/Terry: pregnant women=cognitive vulnerability/depression before/after birth;high cognitive vulnerability=post-natal depression up S: cognitive aspects of depression(negative triad)=therapist challenges them/encourage to test truth=successful therapy W: depression complex=can't explain deep anger/hallucinations(Cotard Syndrome) |
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According to Albert Ellis, how does depression occur? |
- good mental health=rational thinking - anxiety/depression=irrational thoughts |
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What is Ellis's ABC model? |
- Explanation how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour/emotional state A) Activating event: experience negative event e.g failing a test=trigger irrational beliefs B) beliefs: belief we must always succeed/major disaster when something doesn't go smoothly/belief life is always meant to be fair C) consequences: emotional/behavioural=depression triggered |
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What are the evaluation points of Ellis's ABC model? |
W: only explains reactive depression=only applies to some kinds of depression S: challenge irrational negative beliefs=successful therapy(research evidence) W: doesn't explain anger/hallucinations/delusions of sufferers W: emotions not always influenced by cognition(emotion stored like energy to emerge after causal event) |
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What is cognitive behaviour therapy? |
- most common psychological treatment for a range of mental health problems - begins with therapist assessing patient to clarify problems - jointly identify goals for therapy and set plan to achieve them - usually identify negative/irrational thoughts to challenge |
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What are the two types of cognitive behaviour therapy? |
- CBT: Beck's cognitive therapy - CBT: Ellis's Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) |
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How does Beck's cognitive therapy work? |
- identify negative triad aspects to challenge in therapy - aims to help test reality of negative beliefs=record when people are nice to them - used in future sessions to prove patient statements incorrect |
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How does Ellis's rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) work? |
- extends ABC model to ABCD(dispute)E(effect) - central technique=identify/dispute irrational thoughts=vigorous argument=change irrational belief=break link between negative life events and depression - Empirical argument: disputing if there's actual evidence to support negative belief - Logical argument: disputing whether negative thought logically follows facts |
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How is behavioural activation used alongside CBT? |
- Along CBT encourage patient to be more active/engaging in enjoyable activities=more evidence for irrational nature of beliefs |
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What are the evaluation points of cognitive behaviour therapy? |
S: compared CBT/antidepressant/both effect on depressed teens;36 weeks=81/81/86% significantly improved(effective as drugs) W: severe depression=no motivation to engage/concentrate(used with drugs)=can't be sole treatment for all depression W:CBT/systematic desensitisation share therapist-patient relationship;quality of relationship=success of CBT W: CBT focuses on present/future;patients aware of childhood/depression link=frustrating W: minimise importance of patient living circumstances=demotivate people to change |
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What is OCD? |
- A condition characterised by obsessions and compulsions of behaviour |
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What are the DSM-5 categories of OCD? |
- OCD - Trichotillomania - Hoarding disorder - excoriation |
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What is trichotillomania? |
- compulsive hair pulling |
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What is hoarding disorder? |
- compulsive gathering of possessions/inability to part with anything |
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What is excoriation? |
- compulsive skin picking |
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What are the behavioural characteristics of OCD? |
- compulsions: two elements=repetitive and reduce anxiety - avoidance: reduce anxiety=keep away from triggering situations |
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What are the emotional characteristics of OCD? |
- Anxiety/distress: unpleasant emotional experience =powerful anxiety accompanies obsessions/compulsions=overwhelming - Accompanying depression: anxiety+low mood/enjoyment;compulsive behaviour=some relief from anxiety but is temporary - Guilt/disgust: irrational guilt/disgust at external/self |
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What are the cognitive characteristics of OCD? |
- obsessive thoughts: vary but always unpleasant/recur over and over - cognitive strategies to deal with obsessions: religious person tormented by obsessive guilt=pray=manage anxiety - insight into excessive anxiety: aware obsessions/compulsions irrational;still experience catastrophic thoughts;tend to be hypervigilant |
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What is the genetic explanation to OCD? |
- genes are involved in an individuals vulnerability to OCD Lewis: observed OCD patients=37% parents OCD/21% siblings OCD=OCD runs in families |
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What is the diathesis-stress model? |
- certain genes leave people more vulnerable to mental disorder=environmental stress necessary to trigger the condition |
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How are candidate genes involved in the genetic explanation of OCD? |
- genes that create vulnerability for OCD - involved in regulating the serotonin system development - 5HT1-D beta=efficient transport of serotonin across synapses |
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How does the genetic explanation lead to OCD being polygenic? |
- caused by not one single gene but several genes are involved Taylor: Analysed previous studies=evidence 230 different genes involved in OCD - genes associated with action of dopamine/serotonin=regulate mood |
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How does the genetic explanation lead to different types of OCD? |
- aetiologically heterogenous=the origin of OCD has different causes - evidence different types of OCD result if genetic variations |
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What are the evaluation points of the genetic explanation of OCD? |
S: Nestadt: reviewed twin studies=68% identical shared OCD/31% non-identical=strongly suggests genetic influence of OCD W: several genes involved=each genetic variation increases OCD risk=can't pin all genes=little predictive value W: Cromer:1/2 OCD patients had traumatic event/more severe with 1+ trauma=not entirely genetic;focus on environment cause |
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What are the neural explanations of OCD? |
- genes affected levels of neurotransmitters/structures of the brain |
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How is the role of serotonin involved in OCD? |
- low levels of serotonin=mood/mental processes affected - some OCD cases=reduction in functioning serotonin system in brain |
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How are decision making systems involved in OCD? |
- abnormal frontal lobe function affect logical thinking/decision making - left parahippocampal gyrus=unpleasant emotion process=abnormal in OCD |
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What are the evaluation points for the neural explanations of OCD? |
S: antidepressants work on serotonin system (increase)=reduce OCD symptoms=suggests serotonin system involved in OCD W: neural systems function abnormally/other brain systems involved sometimes=can't claim really understand neural mechanisms in OCD W:biological abnormalities could be a result of OCD rather than its cause |
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How is drug therapy used to treat OCD? |
- aims to increase/decrease neurotransmitter levels in the brain (same with activity) |
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What are SSRIs? |
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor=type of antidepressent works on serotonin system - prevents reabsorption/break down=increase levels in synapse=stimulate postsynaptic neuron - daily dose: 20mg of Fluoxetine - takes 3-4 months of daily use for impact on symptoms |
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How are SSRIs combined with other treatments? |
- used with CBT to treat OCD=reduce emotional symptoms=engage more effectively |
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What alternatives are there to SSRIs? |
- Tricyclics - SNRIs |
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What are tricyclics? |
- older antidepressant - same effect on serotonin system as SSRIs - more severe side effects=kept in reserve |
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What are SNRIs? |
- serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors - increase serotonin and noradrenaline levels |
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What are the evaluation points for the biological approach to treating OCD? |
S: Soomro: studies of SSRIs vs placebos=17 studies showed SSRI>placebo;effect best when SSRI+CBT=drugs help OCD patients S: cheaper=good value for NHS;non disruptive to patients lives W: minority of sufferers side effects: indigestion/blurred-vision ;tricyclics= tremors/weight gain=patients stop meds W: controversy: psychologists believe evidence biased=research sponsered by drug companies (don't report all evidence)=unreliable |
