Psychopathology

• definitions of abnormality

  statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function aquately and deviation from ideal mental health
• Statistical infrequency

  top or bottom 2% seen as abnormal
• Evaluation of statistical infrequency

  not all abnormal behaviours are undesirable
• deviation from social norms

  collective judgement as a society about what is right
• Evaluation

  we all have collective agreement, behaviours can change
• failure to function adequately

  if a person cannot cope with the ability of everyday activities they are seen as abnormal
• Evaluation of failure to function adequately

  behaviour is subjective + adaptive
• deviation from ideal mental health

  Johoda suggested we are in good mental health if we can answer yes to the criteria
• What does the criteria include?

  Self-actualised, strong sense of self and independent
• Evaluation of deviation from ideal mental health

  majority would be Classed as abnormal, focuses on the positive rather than the negative
• behavioural, cognitive and emotional - phobias

  B= Repetitive behaviours, C=Lack of self-esteem, E=Anxiety, fear
• Two process model

  phobias are formed through classical conditioning and maintained using operant conditioning
• systematic desensitisation

  behavioural therapy which gradually reduced phobic anxiety through principles of classical conditioning
• Flooding

  involves phobic patients to their phobic stimulus but without gradual build up. immediate exposure
• Behavioural, Emotional and Cognitive - depression

  B= Low energy, always tired E= Sad, Alone C=worthlessness, negative views
• Becks negative triad

  a person develops dysfunctional views of themselves.

  World ----Future

  \ /

  self
• Ellis' ABC Model

  A - activating agent

  B - beliefs
• CBT


  Cognitive behavioural therapy, aims to change your cognition which will change behaviours
• Ellis REBT

  A - activating event

  B - belief

  C - consequences

  D - disputes

  E - change in emotion
• disputing beliefs

  logical - doesn't follow logical info

  empirical - isn't consistent with reality

  pragmatic - usefulness to believe like this
• OCD

  affects 2% of the population
• Behavioural, cognitive and emotional - OCD


  B = compulsions

  E = anxiety

  C = aware its irrational, obsessive thoughts
• Neural explanations


  serotonin is known to play a role in regulating mood, if a person has low levels of serotonin, a person can have low moods

  dopamine levels are abnormally high in people who suffer OCD
• Abnormal brain circuits 


  OFC sends signal to the thalamus about things you are worrying about, this area of the brain is overactive in people who suffer from OCD

  The thalamus, instructs a person to do a certain activity, this would be the OCD behaviours
• Brain structures of OCD 


  Basal ganglia - involved in multiple processes,

  OFC - converts sensory information into thoughts + actions
• SSRI 


  increase the levels of serotonin available in the synapse by preventing it from being reabsorbed into sending cells
• COMT gene


  associated with the production of + regulates neurotransmitter dopamine
• SERT gene


  linked to the neurotransmitter serotonin, it affects the transport of the serotonin causing lower levels of serotonin
• Worry circuit

  orbital-frontal cortex (rational decision making), basal ganglia + thalamus is all involved. This system appears to be overactive in people with OCD

  In normal functional the BG filters out minor worried coming from OFC but this area is hyperactive so even small worries get to the thalamus which is then pressed back to OFC forming a worry circuit. The repetitive behaviours are an attempt to break the loop forming a temporary relief however this will soon resume when worry reaches the BG