psych bits psychopathology

Strengths of the two process model

real world application in exposure therapy, when avoidance is prevented it ceases to be reinforced, therefore reducing avoidance

Evidence for a link between bad experiences and phobias, Little albert study with rat and lour metal pipe, De Jongh found 73% of people who fear going to the dentist had a traumatic experience  compared to a low anxiety control group at only 21% having traumatic experience

Beck's CBT

application of his cognitive theory of depression, identifying negative thoughts about the world, self and future (negative triad), once identified they must be challenged and test the reality of these negative beliefs

Limitations of the two process model

does not account for cognitive aspects of phobias, behavioural explanations are geared towards explaining behaviour and phobias may be more complex than simple avoidance responses and does not offer an adequate explanation for phobic cognitions

Not all phobias are formed by a traumatic experience, meaning the association between trauma and phobias is not as strong as may be expected if behavioural theories provided a complete explanation

strength of the genetic model as an explanation for OCD

evidence from twin studies Nestadt found 68% of identical twins shared OCD and 31% non-identical

A person who has a family member with OCD is 4x as likely to develop it Marini and Stebniki

deviation from ideal mental health

when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health

Jahoda suggested we have good mental health if:

no symptoms or distress

rational and accurately perceive ourselves

self actualise

can cope with stress

realistic view of the world

self esteem and lack guilt

independent of other people

can successfully work

limitations of drug treatments

even if they are helpful they may not be the most effective, Skapinakis et al carried out a systematic review of outcomes and found CBT was more effective

potentially serious side effects, such as indigestion and blurred vision, rarer ones are becoming aggressive and heart problems heart problems (later 2 1/100 chance with the tricyclic chloripramine)

strength of drug treatments

evidence for it's effectiveness, Soomro reviewed 17 studies comparing SSRIs to placebos significantly better outcomes for SSRIs, typically symptoms reduce by about 70%

cost effective and non-disruptive to people's lives, good for people and healthcare systems

alternatives to SSRIs

tricyclics- more severe side effects

SNRIs-increased serotonin and another neurotransmitter noradrenaline 

emotional response to phobias

-anxiety

-fear

-unreasonable emotional response e.g big reaction to tiny spider

DSM-5 categories of depression

Major depressive disorder- severe short term depression

Persistent depressive disorder- long term or recurring depression

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder- temper tantrums

premenstrual dysphoric disorder- during menstration

Strength of failure to function

represents a stable threshold for when people need professional help and can target treatment at those who need it most

Genetic explanations to OCD

Lewis observed that for people with OCD 37% of their parents had OCD and 21% of their siblings

candidate genes- genes which create vulnerability for OCD, such as the 5HT1-D beta, implicated in the transport of serotonin across synapses

OCD is polygenic, meaning there it not 1 gene responsible for it Taylor found evidence of up to 230 

types of OCD may vary from one person to another, aetiologically heterogenous

limitation of the genetic model as an explanation for OCD

environmental risk factors and is not entirely genetic Cromer found over half the OCD clients in their sample had experienced a traumatic event in the past, OCD more severe in those with one or more traumas