Psychology - psychological problems

What kind of behaviour can prevent people from functioning adequately?

The general inability to cope with everyday life.

Some behaviour can cause distress to the person experiencing it. One example is the inability to work. Name one other example.

The inability to engage in satisfying interpersonal relationships.

A positive attitude towards yourself and personal growth and development are two factors that encourage ideal mental health. Name two other factors.

Any two from:

Feelings of independence (autonomy)

Resisting stress

An accurate perception of reality

Being able to cope with life and the changing environment (environmental mastery)

Social norms are unwritten rules that people are expected to abide by. Name two social norms.

Any two from:

Appropriate public behaviour

Control of aggression

Politeness

Control of culturally and socially offensive language

What kinds of mental health problems might loneliness and feelings of isolation lead to?

Anxiety and depression.

Name two organisations that exist to help people cope with mental health problems or reduce stigma?

The Campaign against living miserably (CALM) and Time to Change.

Living with a person with significant mental health problems can put a strain on relationships. Give one example of how the problems might do this. [1]

The partner may experience feelings of guilt and shame [1] and even blame themselves [1].

Living with a mental health problem can lead to poor physical health. Explain why this might be the case.

Chronic mental health problems can lead to a weakened immune system and make people more susceptible to infection.

What can impact on the ability to treat and care for people with mental health problems?

The number of trained mental health professionals and social workers.

Some conditions, such as addiction, can lead to sufferings becoming aggressive and breaking the law. What other criminal activity might they engage in, and why?

Theft to obtain money to feed their addiction.

Why might people be reluctant to tell their employer about their mental health problem?

Stigma; the employee might believe that people will treat them differently if they divulge their illness.

What is the difference between sadness and depression?

Depression has a longer duration.

What is clinical depression also known as?

Major depressive disorder.

What symptom isn’t present in unipolar depression?

Mania.

State two symptoms often seen in people who are diagnosed with unipolar depression.

Any two from:

Persistent lowering of mood

Decrease in activity/ energy

Change in sleep pattern

Reduced self-esteem or self-confidence

Ideas of guilt or worthlessness

Loss of pleasurable feelings

Agitation

Loss or increase in appetite

Loss of concentration

Suicidal thoughts or acts

At what stage in life does unipolar depression usually develop?

It usually develops after adolescence/ in adulthood.

Why might depression be more common in women?

Men are less likely to seek help so are never diagnosed.

What do biological explanations of depression indicate?

Depression is caused by internal factors (nature rather than nurture) including brain chemicals and genes.

Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with depression?

Serotonin.

Depression has been linked to a mutated gene. How might this cause depression?

The gene has been found to reduce levels of serotonin.

a) What is the most common treatment for depression?

b) What two types of drugs are used to treat depression?

a) Antidepressant medication

b) Tricyclics and SSRIs

Name one type of psychotherapy used to treat depression.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

What is meant by addiction?

Any behaviour that leads to dependency.

Give one example of a substance addiction.

Drug addiction or alcoholism.

How is abuse different from addiction?

Abuse doesn’t involve dependency.

One symptom of addiction is a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take the substance despite the harmful consequences. Name two other symptoms.

Any two from:

Impaired capacity to control substance-taking behaviour

Pre-occupation with substance use and the giving up of activities once deemed important

A psychological withdrawal state when the substance is reduced or ceased

Describe one study into the heritability of addiction. [4]

Kaij (1960) [1] studied the rates of alcohol abuse in identical and fraternal twins [1]. He found that the concordance rates for identical twins was 54% and for fraternal twins it was only 28% [1]. He concluded that there are genetic and hereditary factors involved in alcohol addiction [1].

What is the role played by peers in the development of addictions? [2]

DeBlasio and Benda found the influence of peers to be a primary factor in the uptake of alcohol and drugs in adolescence [1]. Young people who smoke are more likely to associate with other young people who smoke [1].

Katie has been diagnosed with an addiction to alcohol. When Katie is with her friends they encourage her to drink more. Her father and older sister have also been diagnosed with an addiction to alcohol.

Which two of the following statements is true?

A) One treatment that might be offered to Katie is aversion therapy.

B) Katie might have a genetic vulnerability to alcohol addiction.

C) One biological explanation for Katie’s addiction could be peer pressure.

A) One treatment that might be offered to Katie is aversion therapy.

B) Katie might have a genetic vulnerability to alcohol addiction.

How would a psychologist use aversion therapy to cure someone of an alcohol addiction? [3]

They could use a drug that reacts with alcohol [1] and makes the person feel nauseous [1]. The addict would learn to associate alcohol with the feeling of being sick [1].

a) What is meant by a self-management program?

b) What is the most well-known self-management program?

a) A group of people with the same or similar problem who come together for support and help in overcoming their addiction.

b) The 12 step program.

What behaviours might suggest that a person is not coping well with everyday life? [3]

Feeling bad about yourself (including the way you look) [1]; showing signs of stress or an inability to cope [1]; feeling you have no control over life [1].

What factors indicate ideal mental health? [6]

A positive attitude towards yourself [1], personal growth and development (self-actualisation) [1], feelings of independence (autonomy) [1], resisting stress [1], an accurate perception of reality [1], and be able to cope with life and the changing environment (environmental mastery) [1].

a) In what ways might culture affect attitudes towards mental illness?

b) Suggest one behaviour that was once thought of as abnormal but is no longer considered to be by much of society.

a) Different cultures have different norms and values so something that might appear ordinary or normal in one culture can be seen as abnormal in another.

b) Homosexuality.

How might being geographically closer to family help prevent the onset of mental health problems?

More support networks to fall back on in times of need. Families can support people in a number of ways including psychological support, comfort, understanding and feelings of belonging.

How might stigma surrounding mental health problems makes some conditions worse? [2]

Mental illness can lead some people to feel alienated because of the negative feelings towards it. People might equate mental illness to psychological weakness and associate it with violence and extreme unusual behaviour [1]. This leads to an awkwardness around sufferers and they could feel isolated because of it, making the condition worse [1].

How can living with a partner with a mental illness put a strain on the relationship? [3]

It can lead to the partner experiencing feelings of guilt and shame [1]. They might even blame themselves for their partners illness [1]. Behaviour can change, resulting in the relationship being less intimate, making the condition worse [1].

How might mental illness affect a person’s day-to-day life? [2]

It can lead to some people neglecting themselves, such as their personal hygiene [1]. They might become less interested in activities they once found enjoyable and socialise less often [1].

How does mental illness increase the possibility of poor physical health?

Certain conditions, such as chronic anxiety and depression, can put a strain on on the immune system, making people more susceptible to infections.

An increase in mental health issues can put a strain on a number of social services. What specific services might this include?

Health services and social services.

How might mental illness put a strain on employees?

Some conditions, such as stress-related problems and depression, can lead to people having to take long periods off work. This can lead to understaffing in some work places.

Depression is a mood disorder. What are the main characteristics of mood disorders?

A prolonged and major disturbance of mood and emotions.

What is bipolar depression also known as?

Manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Explain the main difference between unipolar and bipolar depression?

Bipolar depression or bipolar disorder is characterised by periods of mania followed by periods of low mood. Unipolar depression doesn’t include manic episodes.

What are the main characteristics of mania? [4]

A sense of euphoria or elation [1]. People with mania have a great deal of energy [1] and can survive on very little sleep [1]. Despite this, however, they have difficulty focusing and rarely get very much done [1].

a) List the three main behaviours that are characteristics of unipolar depression.

b) List three additional symptoms that are also often present in depression.

a) Persistent sadness, loss of interest and pleasure in activities, and fatigue and low energy.

b) Any three from:

Disturbed sleep

Poor concentration

Low self-confidence

Poor or increased attitude

Suicidal thoughts or acts

Agitation

Guilt/ self-blame

a) What is the relationship between serotonin and depression?

b) How might the relationship in a) be criticised?

a) People with depression often display low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

b) The assumption is that low-levels of serotonin are responsible for depression. However, there is a cause and effect in that depression might lead to lower levels of serotonin rather than be caused by it.

What did Beck believe caused depression?

Negative self-schemas which lead people to think pessimistically.

How do SSRI antidepressant drugs work?

They help to regulate the level of serotonin in the brain. They block the transporter mechanism that absorbs the serotonin.

How does CBT reduce the symptoms of depression?

It helps people to think differently about how they perceive events - encourages more positive and adaptive ways of thinking. Maladaptive thoughts can be challenged and help up to scrutiny where they are found to be false.

Describe the difference between addiction and substance abuse.

Addiction refers to a behaviour that leads to dependency; abuse refers to taking the substance in excess but doesn’t necessarily lead to dependency.

Explain why addiction can be related to behaviours and habits and not just substances.

Certain behaviours and habits can cause people to become dependent on them (such as playing computer games). These behaviours share the same core components as addiction.

Describe Walters’ behaviour pattern of addiction. [4]

Progression (increase in severity) [1]; preoccupation with the activity [1]; perceived loss of control [1]; persistence despite negative long-term consequences [1].

What is meant by salience in relation to addiction?

The addictive activity becomes the most important aspect of the addict’s life.

What is meant by relapse?

The reverting to the patterns of addiction that existed prior to recovery.

You are concerned that your friend Ella, might be addicted to playing video games. Briefly describe the symptoms she is displaying that gave rise to your concerns. [3]

Ella will have become gradually more consumed by playing games and will find it difficult to think about anything else [1]. Activities she once found interesting and exciting (such as playing sports or socialising) will have become far less important [1]. She might be spending large amounts of time on her own playing games [1].

What do Kaij’s results tell us about the nature of alcohol abuse? [2]

There is a genetic component to alcohol abuse [1] because identical twins had a higher concordance rates (54%) than fraternal twins (28%) [1].

What is the link between the D2 dopamine receptor and addiction?

Research found that deceased alcoholics were more likely to possess at A1 variant of the DRD2 gene suggesting that the cause of alcoholism might be genetic.

Why are young people who smoke more likely to have friends that also smoke?

Addiction is learned through observation. This would suggest that people are more likely to engage in potentially addictive behaviour if they witness the behaviour being carried out by others, especially peers.

a) What is aversion therapy? [2]

b) How do self-management programs differ from aversion therapy? [3]

a) a technique that pairs the addictive behaviour with an unpleasant experience of sensation [1]. For example, drugs can be taken that cause nausea when a cigarette is smoked [1].

b) Self-management programs rely on group support and a series of steps in the path to recovery [1], while aversion therapy attempts to apply the principles of conditioning [1]. Aversion therapy obtains faster results than self-management programs [1].