Psychopathology

• Models


  Used to explain events and guide treatment
• Multiple models are used to explain abnormality
• Biological Model


  • Assumes biological basis and medical perspective
  • Focuses on malfunctioning parts of the organism
  • Points to problems in brain anatomy or chemistry
• Neurons


  Basic building blocks of the nervous system
• Glial cells


  Basic building blocks of the nervous system
• Brain Structures


  • Cerebrum: Cortex, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala
• Specific brain structures are linked to certain psychological disorders
• Neuron-to-Neuron Transmission


  Communication via neurotransmitters
• Dendrites


  Receive messages
• Axons


  Transmit messages
• Nerve Endings


  Release neurotransmitters
• Synapses


  Gaps between neurons
• Neurotransmitters


  Chemical messengers
• Receptors


  Sites on neurons that receive neurotransmitters
• Genetics


  • Inheritance plays a role in many mental disorders
  • Mutations: Inherited genetic errors
  • Evolutionary principles: Genes contribute to adaptation, but some may be less adaptive in contemporary environments
• Biological Treatments


  • Drug therapy
  • Brain Stimulation: ECT, TMS, VNS, Deep brain stimulation
  • Psychosurgery
• Biological Model


  • Strengths: Respected field, produces valuable information, effective treatments
  • Weaknesses: Limits understanding by excluding non-biological factors, side effects
• Psychodynamic Model (Freud)


  • Focuses on unconscious psychological forces shaping personality
  • Abnormal symptoms result from conflict between these forces
• Id


  Pleasure principle (instinctual needs)
• Ego


  Reality principle (rational thinking)
• Superego


  Morality principle (moral standards)
• Defense mechanisms


  Unconscious strategies for managing anxiety
• Developmental Stages

  • Each stage brings new events and pressures requiring adjustment
  • Successful adjustment = personal growth
  • Unsuccessful adjustment = fixation at early stages, leading to abnormality
• Psychodynamic Therapies


  • Free association
  • Therapist interpretation
  • Resistance
  • Transference
  • Dream interpretation
  • Catharsis
  • Working through
• Psychodynamic Model


  • Strengths: First to recognize importance of psychological theories and systematic treatment
  • Weaknesses: Unsupported ideas, difficult to research, non-observable concepts
• Cognitive-Behavioral Model


  • Focuses on maladaptive behaviors and cognitions
  • Combines behavioral and cognitive perspectives
• Behavioral Dimension


  • Classical conditioning
  • Modeling
  • Operant conditioning
• Maladaptive Thinking Processes


  • Inaccurate/disturbing assumptions
  • Illogical thinking
• Behavioral and cognitive components are interwoven
• Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments


  • Exposure therapy
• Cognitive-Behavioral Model


  • Strengths: Powerful force in clinical field, broad appeal, clinically useful, focuses on human processes, lends itself to research, effective for various disorders
  • Weaknesses: Role of cognition unclear (cause or consequence), not effective for all, changes may be difficult to achieve
• New Wave Therapies


  • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
  • Mindfulness-based techniques
• Humanistic-Existential Model


  • Emphasizes human potential, self-awareness, and meaning in life
• Humanist View


  • Emphasis on friendliness, cooperation, and constructive nature
  • Focus on self-actualization
• Existentialist View


  • Emphasis on self-awareness and finding meaning
  • Freedom of choice can lead to positive or negative outcomes
  • Dysfunction caused by self-deception
• Humanistic-Existential Therapies


  • Rogers' Client-Centered Therapy
  • Logotherapy (Frankl)
  • Gestalt Therapy (Perls)
• Humanistic-Existential Model


  • Strengths: Focuses on individual, optimistic, emphasizes health, taps into domains missing from other models
  • Weaknesses: Focuses on abstract issues, difficult to research, lacks scientific approach
• Sociocultural Model


  • Focuses on social and cultural influences on behavior
  • Includes family-social and multicultural perspectives
• Family Systems Theory


  Enmeshed vs. disengaged family structures
• Family-Social Treatments


  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Couple therapy
  • Community treatment