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