Psychopathology
Definitions of Abnormality
Mental Disorders
Behavioural Approach
Cognitive Approach
Biological Approach
Statistical Infrequency
Statistics describe typical values
Frequency graph of behaviours shows normal distribution
Extreme ends define what is abnormal
Deviation from Social Norms
Norms defined by a group of people
Standards of what is acceptable
May be implicit or defined by law
Failure to Function Adequately
Being unable to manage everyday life
Lack of functioning is abnormal if it causes distress to self or others
WHODAS used to provide a quantitative measure of functioning
Deviation from Ideal Mental Health
Janoda identified characteristics commonly used when describing competent people
High self-esteem, self-actualisation, autonomy, accurate perception of reality, mastery of the environment
Explaining Depression
Treating Depression
Ellis' ABC Model (1962) - Activating event leads to rational or irrational belief, which then leads to consequences.
Mustabatory thinking causes disappointment and depression
Beck's Negative Triad (1967) - Negative schema develops in childhood and leads to cognitive biases.
Negative triad is irrational and negative view of self, the world and the future
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is based off Ellis' ABCDEF model, D is for disputing irrational beliefs, e.g. logical, empirical, pragmatic.
Explaining OCD
Treating OCD
Genetic Explanations
COMPT gene - One allele more common in OCD, creates high levels of dopamine
SERT gene - One allele more common in a family with OCD, creates low levels of serotonin
Diathesis-Stress - Same genes linked to other disorders or no disorders at all, therefore genes create vulnerability
Neural Explanations
Dopamine levels high in OCD
Serotonin levels low in OCD
Worry Circuit - damaged caudate nucleus
Serotonin and Dopamine linked to activity in parts of the frontal lobe
Phobias
Depression
OCD
Emotional: Negative emotions - sadness, loss of interest and sometimes anger
Behavioural: Reduced or increased activity related to energy levels, sleep and/or eating
Cognitive: Irrational, negative thoughts and self-beliefs that are self-fulfilling
Emotional: Anxiety and distress, and awareness that is excessive
Behavioural: Compulsive behaviours to reduce obsessive thoughts
Cognitive: Recurrent, intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts
Emotional: Excessive fear, anxiety and/or panic cued by a specific object or situation
Cognitive: Not helped by rational argument
Behavioural: Avoidance, faint or freeze
Explaining Phobias
Treating Phobias
Systematic Desensitisation - Counterconditioning, reciprocal inhibition, relaxation, desensitisation hierarchy
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Little Albert
Social Learning
Drug Therapy - Antiderpressants increase serotonin
SSRIs prevent re-uptake of serotonin by pre-synaptic neuron
Tricyclics block re-uptake of noradrenaline and serotonin but have more severe side effects