PAPER 1 BLURT

• Statistical infrequency- trait or behaviour indication of abnormality if it was found to be numerically rare
• the example for SI?

  EG. schizophrenia only effects less than 1/100 people therefore it is seen as abnormality
• How to measure Statistical infrequency?

  measure behaviour and plot it on a normal distribution curve if a behaviour falls in the top 2.5% or bottom 2.5% it is considered rare and is abnormal
• Strength for SI?

  'cut off' which behaviour is rare and should be considered abnormal→ provides a very objective way of measuring abnormality, IDD fall below IQ of 70 →Abnormal as only 2% of the population have an IQ Below 70, Does not depend on subjective interpretations of diagnostic criteria by clinicians. helps with reliable and valid diagnosis
• weakness 4 SI

  Misdiagnosis behaviour does not account for desirability of rare behaviour and undesirability of common.

  Low IQ Just a statistically rare as high IQ Both seen as abnormal by definition. high IQ is desirable and has benefits, does not have any deficits by itself.

  Depression is common one in five people can be seen as a mentally healthy according to definition even though it has adverse effects and is MA.

  Misdiagnosed both high IQ do not need treatment Depression not seen as having MI and not get treatment it needs
• iq needed to diagnose as idd

  70
• Percentage of people that have IDD

  2%
• how common is depression

  1 in 5
• PARSEA( Jahoda)

  Positive attitudes towards the self,

  accurate perception of reality

  resistant to stress ,

  self actualization and personal growth ,

  environmental mastery

  personal autonomy
• Positive attitudes towards the self

  having self respect and a positive self concept
• Self actualization and personal growth


  having a motivation to achieve our full potential
• resistant to stress

  able to clip with stressful situations and anxiety
• Personal autonomy

  Being independent ,self reliant able to make personal decisions
• Accurate perception of reality

  perceiving the world in a non-distorted fashion having an objected and realistic view of the world

  .
• Environmental mastery

  competent in all aspects of life able to meet the demands of any situation Flexibility to adapt to Changing life

  circumstances
• strength of DIMH

  Positive approach To MI.

  focuses on traits which are desirable rather than undesirable help people realise areas of MH they need to work on and to have ideal mental health .

  reduce stigma of mental health seen in a more positive way

  Broad range of six criteria, comprehensive diagnostic tool ,Covers all MI in some way and MH issues will not go undetected if this is used to diagnose
• Weakness one of DIMH

  Western Society preferences, culture bias cannot be applied to nonwestern cultures.

  Self actualization and personal autonomy can be seen as a goal in western culture but not Collectivist culture. Abnormal to seek individual goals.

  eg. elders and collectivist cultures influence major life decisions for their youngers, arranged marriages,

  therefore absolute personal autonomy is not common.

  Not a tool to use for deciding MA outside of the West
• weakness two of the dimh

  unrealistically high and unachievable due to change of stresses of everyday modern life ,very few people match all criteria laid out by Jahoda and keep up with meeting the standards for a long period of time .

  According to DIMH ,a large majority of people are abnormal and need help but mental health research shows this is not the case, prevalence of MI is much lower than this →may lead to misdiagnosis
• Failure to function adequately

  cannot cope with expectations of day to day life. behaviour which cause distress to the point it leads to inability to function eg work or relationships .stops you from experiencing positive emotions or behaviour. Rosenhan &Selgiman: the characteristics are irrational belief and observer discomfort
• Failure to function adequately key issue

  Abnormal behaviour interferes with day-to-day living
• What did Rosenhan and Seligman suggest

  Related characteristics of FFA is irrational behaviour and causing observer discomfort
• Strength of ffa

  Practical app . Clearly identify serious cases of mental abnormality when it seriously interferes with everyday life. (Exeryone experiences sadness every once in a while)

  Allows us to distinguish between different severities of disorders and treat them accordingly, Improves lives. increases validity as a tool for defining MA
• Weakness of FFA

  Individuals with mh issues Maintain perfectly normal lives .

  Harold shipman, killed 200 patients over 23 years.

  Despite the crimes, he functioned adequately and was respected as a doctor , but he's clearly abnormal.

  According to ffa if he would have been seen as normal despite showing signs of APD, he

  did not display features of ffa so escaped detection and diagnosis.

  FFA as a tool itself can miss abnormalities
• DSN

  unwritten rules in society, goes against against the norms in a given community.

  Considered antisocial or undesirable

  eg APD- Impulsive, aggressive & irresponsible. abnormal because they do not conform to the moral standards in society
• Depression is a mood disorder characterised by extreme sadness. At least five symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  reduced concentration

  Negative beliefs about the self

  suicidal thoughts
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  worthlessness

  loss of interest and pleasure

  depressed mood
• behavioural characteristics of depression

  Changing activity -reduced energy or struggles to relax

  Change eating -weight change of 5%

  and sleeping patterns -Insomnia or excessive sleeping

  Social impairment
• ​OCD anxiety disorder characterised by obsessions or compulsions
• Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts which are intrusive and unwanted leading to anxiety and distress
• Compulsions are repetitive behaviour or mental act done in response to obsessions to reduce anxiety
• Cognitive characteristics of obsessions

  Recurrent and persistent thoughts- Uncontrollable

  Insi into excessive anxiety- Aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not rational, Experience catastrophic thoughts about worst case scenarios
• behavioural characteristics compulsions

  repetitive -compelled to repeat behaviour

  compulsions to reduce anxiety
• Emotional characteristics of ocd

  anxiety and distress -overwhelming

  guilt and disgust- irrational guilt over minor moral issuesv
• Genetic explanation for OCd

  candidate genes, polygenic
• Candidate genes

  Specific gene that leads to a vulnerability of OCd

  5HTT- Responsible for transportation of serotonin. Inheriting a defective version →transportation of Serotonin is disrupted→ Low levels in the synapse→ increases likelihood of ocd symptoms
• What does ozaki et al find

  Mutation of the 5 htt gene in a family were six out of seven people had ocd
• What did Taylor do

  Meta analysis to find that there is up to 230 different genes involved in OCD

  more of the genes inherited a higher vulnerability to OCD
• Neural explanation of OCD

  abnormal levels of neurotransmitters

  abnormal brain circuits
• Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters

  serotonin regulates mood by facilitating Synaptic transmission between one neuron to the next~

  in people with OCD ,serotonin is removed too quickly from the Synapse So it doesn't get a chance to pass on an impulse due to the low level of Serotonin Leads to issues with mood which are associated with ocd dopamine levels are abnormally high with individuals with OCD produces the anxiety linked with obsessions