psychopathology

• systematic desensitisation- exposure to the phobic stimulus in small increments. anxiety hierarchy-arrange in order from least to most frightening. relaxation- breathing techniques, meditation, medication. exposure- exposed to the phobic stimulus
• systematic desensitisation evaluation +viewed as an appropriate therapy for phobias. -symptom substitution= phobia is treated yet another appears in its place
• flooding: a technique which works by exposing the patient directly to the fear it is a sudden so there is no gradual exposure
• flooding evaluation +highly effective, quick, cost effective -less effective for social phobias, can be highly truamatic
• becks negative triad: negative views on the world, oneself and future. faulty information processing- ignores positives when there is a negative aspect in the situation
• ellis ABC model: A activating event- triggers irrational beliefs. B beliefs- always succeed to reach perfection. C consequences- emotional and behavioural
• depression behavioural : activity levels -reduced energy levels, disruption to sleep- insomnia or hyper insomnia, disruption to eating- weight loss or gain, aggression- harm against others themselves
• depression emotional: lowered mood- numb of emotions, anger- leads to aggression, lowered self esteem- may not like themselves
• depression cognitive: poor concentration- unable to think straight, dwelling on the negative- glass either half full or half empty, absolutist thinking- everything is either all good or all bad
• drug therapy: based on neural explanation. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). example fluoxetine often used alongside CBT. Evaluation: + 70% effectiveness. -most effective with CBT, side effects- blurred vision and less of a sex drive
• neurotransmitter- serotonin regulates mood. patients with OCD have low levels of serotonin. OCD is an abnormality in the frontal lobe. Evaluation +real world application(SSRIs) - we cannot establish cause and effect, free will and determinism
• failure to function adequately- unable to cope with ordinary demands of day to day life. Evaluation +experiences and feelings are taken into account. -subjective
• deviation from ideal mental health- to understand what it is like to be mentally healthy. Evaluation -culturally biased, concepts have self-actualisation has been criticised
• deviation from social norms- behaviour that is different from the accepted and expected standard. Evaluation - culturally relative, free will determinism
• statistical infrequency- occurs when the behaviour is rare e.g high IQ or schizophrenia. Evaluation - some things are desirable. +attempts to define abnormality objectively
• Cognitive behavioural therapy- a method for treating mental disorders based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques. from the cognitive viewpoint the therapy aims to deal with thinking such as challenging negative thoughts. Homework tasks- clients are encouraged to test the reality of their beliefs therefore they may be asked to keep a diary including when people are nice.
• Explaining OCD: Genetics- OCD is polygenic, candidate genes create vulneraity to OCD. Family studies- families are studied in order to investigte the genetic influence upon OCD. Twin studies- if one monozygotic twins has OCD the other has a 68% chance of also having OCD. Evaluation - ignores environmental factors
• OCD behavioural: Compulsions- repetitive behaviour that an individual feels that they have to do. Avoidance -keep away from the situations that trigger anxiety.
• OCD emotional: Anxiety/distress- obsessive thoughts are unpleasant. Guilt and disgust- experience guilt over minor moral issues
• OCD cognitive: obsessive thoughts- unpleasant thoughts occur over and over again. Insight- aware thoughts are not rational
• classical conditioning- involves learning to associate something of which we initially have no fear with something that already triggers a fear response
• Phobias behavioral: panic- crying, screaming, running away. avoidance- choose not to come into contact with the phobia. endurance- patient remains in the presence of the phobia
• phobia emotional: anxiety- unpleasant high level of arousal. unreasonable emotional response- extreme negative emotions in the presence of the stimulus.
• phobia cognitive: selective attention- finds it difficult to look away from the stimulus. irrational beliefs- unrealistic ideas. cognitive distortions- exaggerated beliefs.