Theories and Treatment of Abnormality

Theory

set of ideas that helps to determine questions to ask about specific phenomenon and for collecting and interpreting date

Therapy

treatment of psychological disorders; most therapies are based on theories

Biopsychosocial

biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors all play a part in the development of psychological disorders

Diathesis-Stress Model

risk factor(s) and stress happen within the individual and leads to the emergence of a psychological disorder

Three regions of the brain

Forebrain

Midbrain

Hindbrain

What consists of the forebrain?

cerebral cortex

thalamus

hypothalamus

What is the cerebral cortex in charge of?

advanced thinking processes

What is the thalamus in charge of?

handles incoming and outgoing signals

What is the hypothalamus in charge of?

regulates basic biological needs: hunger, thirst, and temperature control

What is the pituitary gland in charge of?

regulates other endocrine glands

What consists of the midbrain?

superior and inferior colliculus

substantia nigra

What consists of the hindbrain?

cerebellum

pons

reticular formation

medulla

What is the cerebellum in charge of?

involved in balance and the control of movement

What is the pons in charge of?

involved in sleep and arousal

What is the reticular formation in charge of?

network of neurons related to sleep, arousal, and attention

What is the medulla in charge of?

regulates unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation

Neurotransmitters

acts as messengers carrying impulses from one neuron, or nerve cell, to another in the brain and in other parts of the nervous system

HPA Axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal Axis)

people who have a dysregulated HPA axis may have abnormal physiological reactions to stress that make it more difficult for them to cope with the stress, resulting in symptoms of anxiety and depression

Medication

alter functioning/amounts of neurotransmitter systems

Brain Stimulation Techniques

ETC - repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation

Psychosurgery

lesioning very specific areas of the brain connected to their symptoms

Operant Conditioning

reinforcement and punishment in order to shape behaviors

Modeling and Observational Learning

imitating others, sometimes based on the consequences of the model’s actions

Removal of Reinforcements

removes the individual from the reinforcing situation or environment

Aversion Therapy

makes the situation or stimulus that was once reinforcing no longer reinforcing

Relaxation Exercises

help the individual voluntarily control physiological manifestations of anxiety

Distraction Techniques

help the individual temporarily distract from anxiety-producing situations

Flooding

exposes the individual to the dreaded or feared stimulus while preventing avoidant behavior

Systematic Desensitization

pairs the implementation of relaxation techniques with hierarchical exposure to the aversive stimulus

Causal Attribution

the “why” of an event, which can then impact how we view and respond to events

Global Assumption

broad beliefs about self, world, and relationships

Cognitive Therapies

identify and challenge dysfunctional thoughts and replace them with more functional ones

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

combination of cognitive and behavioral techniques

Psychodynamic Approaches

emphasis on unconscious and how it impacts our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors

Defense Mechanisms

used to combat anxiety and unacceptable behaviors

What is the goal of humanistic therapy?

help clients discover their potential

What goes in to Client Centered Therapy?

genuineness/congruence

empathy

unconditional positive regard

active listening

Family Systems Theory

views psychological disorders as being due to the systems (patterns) within families rather than an individual problem

Family Systems Therapy

therapy with the entire family in order to identify dysfunctional patterns that maintain psychological disorders or problems amongst individuals within the family

Sociocultural Approaches

looks at society as a whole vs focusing on individuals or families as a way of understanding individual problems

Risk Factors of sociocultural approaches

socioeconomic status

disintegration due to war, natural disasters, etc

stigmatizing and discriminatory norms and policies

implicit and explicit rules about what abnormal behaviors are acceptable

What are examples of cross cultural issues in treatment?

individualistic so ignore those from collectivist or other-oriented cultures

level of openness regarding emotions and personal issues varies among cultures

client led vs therapists as experts

cultural differences between clients and therapists

access issues

Primary Prevention

preventing the development of disorders

Secondary Prevention

early detection to prevent full-blown disorders

Tertiary Prevention

prevention of relapse amongst those who already have disorders

What are elements in effective treatment?

therapeutic relationship is the MOST IMPORTANT component of successful therapy

explanations and interpretations of what the client is experiencing and why they are experiencing it

confrontation of difficult emotions and teaching techniques to make this confrontation easier in the future