Psych Paper 2 - PTSD

Studies about etiology/treatment/diagnosis for paper 2

Etiology definition

Origin or cause of symptoms/disorders

Gilbertson et al. date

2002

Gilbertson et al. design

Case control/twin study

Gilbertson et al. Participants

34 sets of identical twins, 1 twin went to war, the other didn’t.

Set A: Veteran with PTSD

Set B: Veteran without PTSD

Gilbertson et al. Method

Hippocampal volume of the non-veteran twins were measured

Gilbertson et al. Results

Trauma unexposed twins of veterans with PTSD had smaller hippocampal volumes compared to twins of veterans without PTSD

Gilbertson et al. limitations

Low population validity: only studied veteran males in the US

Cognitive reappraisal

A strategy to reduce emotional reactivity by re-evaluating the emotional stimuli

Urry et al. date

2006

Urry et al. Aim

To investigate the correlation between the vmPFC and the Amygdala during cognitive reappraisal

Urry et al. design

True experiment

Urry et al. participants

19 participants

Urry et al. method

Exposed to a range of emotionally unpleasant images in an fMRI, told to increase, decrease or attend

Urry et al. results

Higher activation of the vmPFC during "decrease" condition + greater reduction of amygdala activity

Urry et al. limitations

Low ecological validity because of laboratory conditions + mimics trauma with emotionally unpleasant images

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors)

Blocks re-absorption of serotonin into pre-synaptic neuron -> more available serotonin in the synapse -> improved transmission

MacNamara et al. date

2016

MacNamara et al. aim

to study the effectiveness of Paroxetine (SSRIs)

MacNamara et al. design

true experiment

MacNamara et al. participants

34 male veterans, 17 diagnosed with PTSD

What method did MacNamara et al. use in their study?

Participants underwent an fMRI scan while doing an emotional regulation task requiring top-down processing/cognitive reappraisal.

How long was the break before repeating the emotional regulation task in MacNamara et al.'s study?

12 weeks

What treatment did participants with PTSD receive in MacNamara et al.'s study?

Paroxetine

MacNamara et al. Results

70% of PTSD group showed at least a 50% reduction in PTSD symptoms

• increased activation in areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation/top-down processing

Which parts of the brain showed increased activation in MacNamara et al.?

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and supplementary motor area

Fear extinction

The process of unlearning a conditioned fear

Felmingham et al. date

2007

Felmingham et al. aim

To test the neurological effects of imagination therapy and cognitive restructuring

Felmingham et al. design

Correlational study

Felmingham et al. participants

5 females and 3 males with PTSD from car accidents or assault

Felmingham et al. method

• used Clinically Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) questionnaire

• viewed fearful/neutral faces in the fMRI

-> 8 weeks of imagination therapy sessions

Felmingham et al. results

• 30% reduction in CAPs scores

• Positive correlation between CAPS scores and amygdala activation

• Negative correlation between CAPS scores and functioning in anterior cingulate cortex (in the vmPFC)

Horne et al. date

2004

Horne et al. Aim

To investigate cultural differences in attitudes towards using medication

Horne et al. design

Observational study

Horne et al. participants

500 undergraduate students in the UK from either Asian or European cultural background

Horne et al. Method

Questionnaire about their attitude towards medication as a treatment

Horne et al. results

Asian students more likely to have negative attitudes towards using medication + perceive them as intrinsically harmful/addictive

Cultural competency

Understanding cultural backgrounds of patients and how that affects etiology/treatment/diagnosis

Hwang et al. date

2012

Hwang et al. participants

2000 US participants aged over 65 years old

Hwang et al. participants demographics

non-Latino whites, African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Latinos

Hwang et al. Method

Questionnaires: "What do you think causes depression?" + what treatments + speaking to someone about their mental health problem

What did Hwang et al. find about African-Americans' beliefs regarding stress and depression?

African-Americans are more likely to believe that stress/worry causes depression.

What type of advice are African-Americans more likely to seek according to Hwang et al.?

African-Americans are more likely to seek spiritual advice.

Who are African-Americans more likely to speak with about their mental health?

African-Americans are more likely to speak with family.

What did Hwang et al. find about Latinos' preferences for mental health treatment?

Latinos are more likely to choose medication.

What did Hwang et al. find about non-Latino whites and mental health professionals?

Non-Latino whites are more likely to see a psychiatrist.

What did Hwang et al. find about Asian-Americans' likelihood to speak with someone about mental health?

Asian-Americans are less likely to speak with anyone.

Who are Asian-Americans more likely to speak with regarding mental health?

Asian-Americans are more likely to speak with someone of the same racial group.

Turvey et al. date

2012

Turvey et al. aim

To compare different cultural attitudes towards depression

Turvey et al. participants

Russian, South Korean and American participants over 60

What percentage of American participants viewed depression as a sign of weakness?

6%

What percentage of Russians viewed depression as a sign of weakness?

61%

What percentage of Koreans viewed depression as a sign of weakness?

78%

Classification Systems

A detailed description of a range of psychological disorders and their symptoms, classified by specific characteristics

Clinical bias

The belief that a person seeking professional help must have something wrong with them

Confirmation bias

a tendency to search for information that is consistent with one's prior beliefs

Mendel et al. date

2011

Mendel et al. design

True experiment

Mendel et al. participants

75 psychiatrists

What was the main focus of Mendel et al.'s method?

Participants were given a case study about an old man.

What was the most probable diagnosis suggested in the first paragraph of the case study?

Depression

What does all the information in the case study actually suggest?

Alzheimer's disease

What could participants do after the initial diagnosis?

Ask for additional information about either diagnosis.

What did researchers measure in Mendel et al.'s study?

Accuracy of diagnosis and correlation between further information asked and accuracy of diagnosis.

What percentage of psychiatrists made an incorrect diagnosis according to Mendel et al.?

30%

What information did the psychiatrists who misdiagnosed ask for?

Information consistent with the original incorrect diagnosis

What behavior increased the likelihood of correctly diagnosing Alzheimer's in psychiatrists?

Asking for information that contradicted the depression diagnosis