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PSYU3337 - Psychopathology - Coggle Diagram
PSYU3337 - Psychopathology
Week 1 (Intro)
Week 2
Defining abnormality
No single behaviour defines abnormality
Indicators
Distress
Emotional suffering (e.g., anxiety/depression)
Deviance
Statistically rare or socially unacceptable behaviour.
Dangerousness
Risk to self or others.
Dysfunction
Interferes with daily life (e.g., inability to work).
Social Judgment
Definitions of abnormality change over time (e.g., homosexuality was once classified as a disorder).
Cultural Perspectives on Abnormality
Culture influences what is considered abnormal.
e.g., Taijin Kyofusho (Japan) – Fear of embarrassing others.
e.g., Depression in China – More physical symptoms, less emotional.
Historical misuse of "abnormality" to justify control:
e.g., Witch hunts, political oppression, racial discrimination, and gender inequality.
Stigma & Psychological Disorders
Types of Stigma
Public Stigma – Society’s negative attitudes.
Self-Stigma – Internalized negative beliefs.
Perceived Stigma – Fear of discrimination.
Effects of Stigma
Lower self-esteem.
Reduced likelihood of seeking help.
Social isolation.
Historical Perspectives on Mental Illness
Ancient Beliefs
Supernatural explanations (e.g., demon possession, punishment by gods).
Treatment: Exorcisms, rituals, prayer.
Hippocrates (400 BC)
Mental illness due to brain pathology and humor imbalances (blood, phlegm, bile).
Treatment: Restoring humor balance (e.g., bloodletting).
Middle Ages
Return to supernatural explanations.
Treatment: Prayer, holy water, relics.
Renaissance (16th-17th Century)
Science re-emerged, but asylums were often inhumane.
Moral Treatment (18th-19th Century)
Philippe Pinel – Advocated for humane treatment, removed chains.
William Tuke – Created York Retreat (kind environment for mentally ill).
Dorothea Dix – Expanded humane care in U.S. hospitals.
20th Century
Advances in science led to new biological and psychological models.
Contemporary Theories of Psychopathology
Psychoanalytic Perspective
Freud: Unconscious conflicts drive behavior.
Object Relations Theory: Early relationships shape personality.
Interpersonal Perspective: Social/cultural factors influence behavior.
Attachment Theory: Early bonds affect lifelong psychological health.
Behavioural Perspective
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov): Learning via associations.
Operant Conditioning (Skinner): Learning via reinforcement & punishment.
Application: Used in behavioral therapies (e.g., exposure therapy).
Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective
Key Idea: Thoughts affect emotions and behaviors.
Cognitive Distortions (Ellis & Beck): Negative thinking patterns (e.g., catastrophizing).
Self-Efficacy (Bandura): Confidence in one’s ability to succeed.
Third-Wave CBT: Includes mindfulness-based approaches.
Biological Perspective
Genetics: Mental disorders are polygenic.
Diathesis-Stress Model: Interaction of genetic vulnerability + environmental stress.
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin – Mood regulation.
Dopamine – Reward processing.
GABA – Anxiety regulation.
HPA Axis Dysfunction: Linked to stress-related disorders.
Temperament: Early personality traits predict adult mental health.
Social Perspective
Environmental factors contribute to mental illness:
Childhood trauma, neglect, discrimination, poverty.
Social interventions can improve mental health outcomes.
No Single Cause of Psychopathology
Mental illness results from a combination of factors
Biological (genetics, brain function).
Behavioral (learning, reinforcement).
Cognitive (thought processes, self-efficacy).
Social & Cultural (relationships, environment).
Developmental (early life experiences, trauma).
Week 3
Multidimensional Model of Psychopathology
Core Idea: Mental disorders arise from multiple interacting factors
Biological Influences: Genes, neurotransmitters, brain function, hormones, HPA axis
Behavioral Influences: Pavlovian & operant conditioning, learned helplessness, social learning
Emotional & Cognitive Influences: Fight-or-flight response, implicit memory, cognitive biases
Social & Interpersonal Influences: Cultural factors, gender effects, social support
Developmental Influences: Prenatal, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging
Key Concept: Principle of Equifinality → Different paths lead to the same disorder, varying by life stage
Cause vs. Maintenance of Disorders
What causes a disorder ≠ what keeps it going
Treatment focuses on maintaining factors rather than initiating ones
Beyond the Diathesis-Stress Model
Mental disorders involve multiple interacting factors, not just genes + stress
Diagnosing Psychological Disorders
Classification Systems
ICD (WHO’s International Classification of Diseases) → Used globally, covers all diseases
DSM (APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) → Used in the U.S./Australia, focuses on mental disorders
Diagnosis Approaches
Categorical: You either have the disorder or you don’t (e.g., DSM diagnoses)
Dimensional: Symptoms exist on a continuum (e.g., severity of anxiety)
Example: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Core symptoms: Depressed mood and/or loss of interest
Other symptoms (need 4 or more): Sleep changes, fatigue, worthlessness, thoughts of death
Criticism of DSM
High comorbidity
Culturally limited
Medicalizes normal behavior
Lack of validity
Assessing Psychological Disorders
Purpose: Understand the individual, predict behavior, plan treatment, evaluate outcomes
Assessment Methods
Clinical Interview (structured/semi-structured)
Mental Status Exam (appearance, thought process, mood, cognition)
Physical Exams (rule out medical causes)
Behavioral Assessment (identifying triggers & consequences of behavior)
Psychological Testing (e.g., intelligence, neuropsychological, projective tests)
The ABCs of Behavioral Assessment
Antecedent (trigger)
Behavior (the action)
Consequence (result of behavior)
Case Formulation & Treatment Planning
Definition: A hypothesis about the causes and maintenance of symptoms, guiding treatment
Key Elements of Case Formulation
Identifying biopsychosocial factors (biological, behavioral, cognitive, social, developmental)
Understanding symptom triggers & maintenance
Tailoring treatment to the individual
Regular monitoring & updating formulation
Example: Chloe’s Social Anxiety
Biological: Family history of anxiety
Behavioral: Conditioned fear of public speaking, avoidance reinforces anxiety
Cognitive: Negative self-talk ("I will fail")
Social: Relies on friends to talk for her, reducing social exposure
Developmental: Adolescent brain changes (e.g., amygdala overactivity)
Week 4
Anxiety & Fear
Anxiety: Future-oriented worry (muscle tension, restlessness)
Fear: Anxiety (avoidance), Fear (escape), Panic (flight response)
Panic Attacks: Anxiety (muscle tension, Fear & Panic (sweating, trembling)
Differences between anxiety, fear & panic
Cognitive: Anxiety (future threats, Fear (immediate danger), Panic (loss of control)
Behavioural: Anxiety (avoidance), Fear (escape), Panic (flight response)
Physiological: Anxiety (muscle tension), Fear & Panic (sweating, trembling)
DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Chronic worry, restlessness, fatigue
Panic Disorder
Recurrent panic attacks, fear of future attacks
Agoraphobia
Fear of being unable to escape public areas
Specific Phobias
Fear of specific subjects/objects
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Fear of social scrutiny, avoidance
Seperation Anxiety Disorder
Excessive fear of separation
Selective Mutism
Failure to speak in social settings
Theoretical Model
Contrast Avoidance Model
Cultural Variations
Susto (Mexico)
Ataque de nervios (Puerto Rico)
Kyol goeu (Cambodia)
Taijin kyofusho (Japan/Korea)
Treatment Approaches
CBT
Medication
SSRI's, benzodiazepines (relapse risk)
Exposure Therapy
Parent Training
Week 5
OCD
Common Obsessions
Contamination
Responsibility for harm
Sex and morality
Violence
Religion
Symmetry and order
Common compulsive rituals
Decontamination
Checking
Repeating routine activities
Ordering/arranging
Mental rituals