Phsycology

• Schizophrenia


  A mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, affective flattening, alogia, avolition, and cognitive issues
• Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia


  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Disorganized speech
• Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

  • Affective flattening
  • Alogia
  • Avolition
• Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

  • Issues with memory
  • Attention
  • Executive functions
• Genetic Explanation for Schizophrenia

  Studies show high concordance rates in twins, supporting a genetic link, but environment also plays a role
• Dopamine Hypothesis for Schizophrenia

  Excess dopamine activity in certain brain pathways, which explains positive symptoms but less so for negative symptoms
• Cognitive Explanation for Schizophrenia

  Dysfunctional thought processing, issues with attention, and reality testing
• Antipsychotic Medications for Schizophrenia

  • Typical Antipsychotics (e.g. Chlorpromazine)
  • Atypical Antipsychotics (e.g. Clozapine, Risperidone)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Schizophrenia


  Addresses maladaptive thought patterns and develops coping strategies
• Depression


  A mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, negative thinking patterns, and changes in sleep, appetite, and energy levels
• Symptoms of Depression


  • Emotional: Persistent sadness, loss of interest
  • Cognitive: Negative thinking patterns, difficulty concentrating
  • Physical: Changes in sleep, appetite, and energy levels
• Genetic Explanation for Depression

  Studies show higher prevalence in first-degree relatives, indicating significant heritability, but environmental triggers are crucial
• Monoamine Hypothesis for Depression


  Deficiencies in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
• Cognitive Explanation for Depression

  Beck's Cognitive Triad: Negative views about self, world, and future
• Antidepressant Medications for Depression

  • SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, e.g. Fluoxetine)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Depression


  Identifies and changes negative thought patterns
• Primary Data


  Data collected firsthand (e.g. experiments, surveys)
• Secondary Data


  Pre-existing data (e.g. meta-analyses, archival research)
• Longitudinal Studies


  Follow the same participants over time
• Cross-Sectional Studies


  Compare different groups at a single point in time
• Cross-Cultural Research


  Examines if psychological theories and findings are universally applicable
• Rosenhan (1973): '"On Being Sane in Insane Places"'
• Rosenhan (1973) Study


  Tested the validity of psychiatric diagnoses by having pseudo-patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals, where they were all diagnosed with psychiatric disorders despite exhibiting normal behaviors
• Carlsson et al.: 'Contemporary study on the dopamine hypothesis, confirming the role of dopamine and also implicating glutamate dysfunction'
• Beck (1967): 'Cognitive Theory of Depression, which identified the cognitive triad and common cognitive distortions, leading to the development of CBT'
• Schizophrenia


  A mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairments
• Symptoms and Features of Schizophrenia

  • Positive Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions
  • Negative Symptoms: Affective flattening, avolition
  • Cognitive Symptoms: Impaired executive function
• Genetic Explanation of Schizophrenia

  Studies show higher concordance rates for schizophrenia in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins, indicating a strong genetic link, but environmental factors also play a significant role
• Neurotransmitter Dysfunction Explanation of Schizophrenia

  Dopamine Hypothesis: Overactivity of dopamine in certain brain areas. Explains positive symptoms well, but not all symptoms are accounted for by dopamine alone.
• Cognitive Explanation of Schizophrenia

  Dysfunctional thought processes, such as poor reality testing and misattribution of significance. Cognitive therapies are effective, supporting the theory, but biological underpinnings cannot be ignored.
• Treatments for Schizophrenia


  • Antipsychotic Medication: Typical (Chlorpromazine) and Atypical (Clozapine, Risperidone)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses maladaptive thought patterns and coping strategies
• Depression


  A mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness, anhedonia, negative thinking patterns, and physical symptoms like changes in sleep, appetite, and energy levels
• Genetic Explanation of Depression


  Family studies indicating a higher prevalence of depression among first-degree relatives. Genetic predisposition is significant, but environmental triggers are also critical.
• Neurotransmitter Dysfunction Explanation of Depression

  Monoamine Hypothesis: Deficiencies in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. While effective for many, the delayed onset of action and side effects suggest other factors are involved in depression.
• Cognitive Explanation of Depression

  Beck's Cognitive Triad: Negative views about self, world, and future. CBT, based on this theory, is highly effective and widely used.
• Treatments for Depression


  • Antidepressant Medication: SSRIs (Fluoxetine)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying and changing negative thought patterns
• Research Methods


  • Primary Data: Data collected firsthand (e.g., experiments, surveys)
  • Secondary Data: Pre-existing data (e.g., meta-analyses, archival research)
• Types of Studies


  • Longitudinal: Follows the same participants over time
  • Cross-Sectional: Compares different groups at a single point in time
• Cross-Cultural Research


  Examines if psychological theories and findings are universally applicable. Highlights cultural differences and universal traits but is challenging due to language barriers and differing cultural norms.
• Key Studies to Know

  • Rosenhan (1973): "On Being Sane in Insane Places" - Raised ethical concerns and highlighted issues in psychiatric diagnostic processes
  • Carlsson et al. (1999/2000): Confirmed the role of dopamine and implicated glutamate dysfunction in schizophrenia
  • Beck (1967): Cognitive Theory of Depression - Led to the development of CBT, which is highly effective