Psychopathology Exam 1

pychopathology

scientific study of pathological behavior to desribe, predict, explain, and change behavior

4 D’s

1. Deviance: is it normal?

2. Distress: is the person suffering?

3. Dysfunction (Impairment): is this getting in the way of the life the person wants?

4. Danger: is there a risk of harm to individual’s self or others?

What is the one “D” that almost always ensures a diagnosis even without the others?

Danger

formula for diagnosis

symptoms + distress/impairment = disorder

ancient treatment: abnormality

work of evil spirits

triphination

stone instrument used to cut away sections of the skull to release evil spirits

greek/roman treatment: abnormality

result of internal physical problems

hippocrates’ 4 humors

1. yellow bile

2. black bile

3. blood

4. phlegm

middle ages: abnormality

conflict between good and evil; evidence of Satan’s influences

lycanthropy

people in middle ages thought they were possessed by wolves

turantula dance

people thought they had been bitten by spiders in the middle ages

Johann Weyer

first mental health physician; considered father of psychopathology

believed mind was as susceptible to sickness as body

the issue with asylums during the renaissance

• overcrowded

• mistreatment of patients (leeching, straightjackets, rotational chair, organ removal)

moral treatment

patients with mental illness should be treated with sympathy and kindness

Philippe Pinel

allowed asylum residents to be unchained and roam the grounds freely, increasing the recovery rate of patients

William Tuke

allowed patients to live in quiet country homes and treated with rest, talk, prayer, and manual work

Dorothea Dix

urged congress to improve institutions for prisoners and people with mental illness

what caused the decline of moral treatment?

1. money and staff shortages

2. overcrowding

3. declining recovering rates

4. lack of effective treatments for severely mentally ill

5. lack if individual care and genuine concern

6. caused resurgence of societal view and mentally ill as strange and dangerous

somatogenic perspective

abnormality has physical cause

Emil Kraepelin

new research linking bio and psych illness, discovered medicine

Francis Galton

discovered inheritance of mental illness

psychogenic perspective

abnormality has psychological cause

Mesmer

established a clinic in Paris and treated hysterical disorders

Freud

unconscious mind; popularized outpatient talk therapy

what were the results of the discovery of new psychotropic medications?

decreased institutionalization

increased patient care

what was the result of lack of support after being discharged?

homelessness

incarceration

repeated hospitalization

what is prevention?

address social and environmental risk factors

provide early intervention for at-risk populations

what are some barriers to treatment?

cost

insurance coverage

stigma

why is research especially important in psychopathology?

clinical observation can be misleading and inaccuracies can cause real harm

what do clinical researchers do?

• study nature, causes, and treatment of psychopathology

• seek general patterns across people

• use scientific method to test ideas

• examine relationships between variables

• develop and test hypotheses

• use case studies, correlational studies, and experiments

pros of case studies

• opportunity to study rare conditions

• lots of detailed info

• source of new ideas about behavior

• disprove allegedly universal hypotheses

• generate hypotheses for later controlled testing

cons of case studies

• paradigm may influence observations

• potential for bias in observers

• cannot rule out alternative explanations

correlational method

variables are measured but not manipulated, so we can’t determine cause or effect

directional problem

unknown whether on variable is being caused by or causing the other variable

third variable problem

both variables may be caused by something else not being measured

masked design

participants in an experiment are kept unaware of which group they’re in

double masked

experimenter doesnt know which participants are in which group, and neither do the participants

internal validity

extent to which experimental effect is due to independent variable

external validity

extent to which results generalize beyond study

what is lower external validity caused by?

• lab studies

• undergrad studies

• social desirability

• inclusion/exclusion criteria

• sample characteristics

efficacy

does treatment work

randomized control trial

participant is randomized to treatment or control group; typically involves masking or double masking

non-treatment control condition

treatment that doesn’t contain active ingredient of experimental trial; placebo effect

active control condition

different but related treatment; can be more difficult to prove treatment is effective

epidemiology

study of the distribution of disorders in a population

3 features of a disorder

1. prevalence: how frequently it occurs

2. incidence: number of new cases/year

3. correlates: variables correlated with presence of disorder

cross-sectional

causes and effects measured at same time

longitudinal

study participants over time; examine whether causes are present before disorder appears; high risk

biological model: abnormal behavior

symptom of malfunctioning parts of organism

biological model focus

brain anatomy, chemistry and functioning; biological predisposition

amygdala

area of brain responsibile for fear response and processing emotions

synaptic transmissions

info spreads throughout the brain in the form of electrical impulses that travel between neurons

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers released when electrical impulses reach nerve endings

sources of biological abnormalities

• genetics

• evolution

• viral infections

• prenatal exposure or injury

biological treatments

• drug therapy

• brain stimulation

• psychosurgery

strengths of biological model

• highly respected field

• supported by research for disorders

• some treatments are highly effective

weaknesses of biological model

• does not account for non biological factors

• evidence incomplete

• some treatments result in undesirable effects

psychodynamic model claims

• person’s behavior is determined by underlying dynamic psychological forces of which they are not aware

• no behavior is accidental, all determined by past experiences

Id

• in charge of instinctual needs, drives, and impulses

• fueled by libido

pleasure principle (Id)

constantly seeking gratification; leads Id

Ego

• based in reality, the voice of reason

• defense mechanisms control voice of Id

Superego

• guided by morality

• conscious mind

• inherited from parents

Freud’s developmental stages: Oral

leads to dependency, mistrust later

Freud’s developmental stages: Anal

leads to rigidity, perfectionism later

Freud’s developmental stages: Phallic

Oedipus complex; development of superego

Freud’s developmental stages: Latency

focs shifts to friendships, school, and skills

Freud’s developmental stages: Genital

focuses on mature relationships and intimicy

Psychodynamic treatment

• seek to uncover past trauma and resulting inner conflicts

• therapists act as subtle guide and is not directive

• believe in catharsis

• free association

therapist’s interpretation: resistance

unconscious refusal to participate fully in therapy

therapist’s interpretation: transference

patient acts and feels close with the therapist

therapist’s interpretation: dream interpretation

reveal unconscious instincts, needs, and wishes

Psychodynamic strengths

• first to recognize importance of psychological theories and treatment

• saw internal conflicts as an important course of both psychological health and abnormality

• first to apply theory and techniques systematically to treatment

Psychodynamic weaknesses

• difficult to research

• may require lots of resources and high levels of development

• usually rely on case studies

humanistic view

people born friendly and driven to self-actualization; have basic need for unconditional positive regard

existential view

emphasis on self-determination, choice, and individual responsibility. focusing on authenticity

Carl Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy

• unconditional positive regard

• accurate empathy

• genuineness

existential therapy

• therapists help clients recognize their freedom to choose to change

• clients are responsible for the choices they make in responding to their circumstances

humanistic and existential model strengths

• taps into domains missing from other models

• emphasizes individual

• optimistic

• emphasizes health

humanistic and existential model weaknesses

• focuses on abstract issues which makes it difficult to research

• dismal research support