Research & Models

Types of Research

Case examples/studies, epidemiological, correlational, & experimental (double-blind)

Case examples/studies

the assessment and description of a single individual, including the symptoms, environment, and personal history of this individual

Epidemiological

Examines the prevalence (commonness) of different mental health disorders in different populations, and how the prevalence may differ based on relevant variables

Correlational

The association between two variables

Experimental Research Method

This should be evidence-based and should show a decrease in symptoms or improved functioning. Many psychologists and psychiatrists engage in the treatment of mental health conditions, often through psychotherapy or psychopharmacology

Strengths of a Double-Blind

reduces bias from both participants and researchers, makes it easier to tell whether the treatment actually works, and proves more reliable and objective results

Limitations of a Double-Blind

Can be difficult or expensive, cannot always be used when the treatments may have side effects that reveal who received the treatment

Psychodynamic Theory

Significant focus on the unconscious - part of the mind outside of conscious awareness, containing hidden instincts, impulses, and memories

Three components of the mind - Psychodynamic Theory

ID, EGO, SuperEGO

ID

instinctual impulses

EGO

mediates between ID impulses and external reality: ex. the id wants to eat someone else’s food immediately, but the ego recognizes that stealing it would have consequences, so it waits or finds another way to get food.

Fixation

Disrupted maturation of the psyche (mind), leading to a patient being “stuck” in an early developmental stage

Oral Fixation

Exvessive drinking or eating

Types of Anal Fixation

Anal retentive & Anal expulsive

Anal retentive

Ecessive control, order

Anal expulsive

disorganized, emotional outburst

Regression

in life stress, a person may go back to a stage where they were partially fixated to cope

What are Defense Mechanisms?

A strategy to avoid anxeity-arousing experiences

Types of Defense Mechanisms

Displacement, Repression, Intellectualization, Projection, Sublimation — DRIPS

Types of Psychodynamic Treatments

Free Association, Resistance, and Transference

Free Association

A psychodynamic treatment where a patient is asked to say, without censorship, what freely comes to mind

Resistance

A psychodynamic treatment in which a patient unconsciously resists gaining insight into unconscious motives and conflicts

Transference

The patient projecting thoughts and feelings about others onto the therapist

Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov - Learning by associating two things together, so that one thing eventually causes a learned response

Terms Associated with Classical Conditioning Learning

Unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, neutral stimulus, conditioned stimulus, conditioned response, extinction, spontaneous recovery, & generalization

Unconditioned stimulus

a stimulus (thing) that naturally causes a response without being learned

Unconditioned response

a natural, automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus

Neutral stimulus

something that does not naturally cause the response before learning takes place

Extinction

if the bell is continuously rung without the unconditioned stimulus, it would eventually stop occurring

Spontaneous recovery

the conditioned response would sometimes reoccur, even after extinction

Operant Conditioning

Learning through rewards and punishments that make a behavior more or less likely to happen

Terms associated with operant conditioning learning

Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment

Positive reinforcement

add something to increase the behavior

Negative reinforcement

remove something to increase the behavior

Positive punishment

add something rewarding to reduce behaviors

Negative punishment

Remove something reduce a behavior

Little Albert

An example of classical conditioning for a phobia with an 11-month-old (unethical)

Little Albert - Classical Conditioning Terms and Stimulus’/reponses

Neutral stimulus = white rat

Unconditioned stimulus = loud noise

Produced an Unconditioned Response = fear

Conditioned response = produced a fear response, even in the absence of the loud noise

Generalization = fear generalized to other furry objects

Cognitive Dimensions

patterns of thinking that can contribute to mental disorders

• negative thoughts

• distorted thinking

• attention problems

• memory issues

• unhealthy interpretations

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments

Modeling, exposure, and thought challenging

CBT - modeling

imitating behaviors that have a positive consequence, observing positive social interactions, and effective problem solving

CBT - exposure

direct observations to a feared stimulus until the distress goes away - often tiered and gradual

Thought Challenging

Identifying patterns of problematic thinking, challenging distorted cognitions with more accurate ones, and adapted thoughts

Cerebral Cortex

The largest structure of the brain and contains two hemispheres and four lobes

The four Lobes of the brain

Occipital Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Frontal Lobe

Occipital Lobe

Vision

Parietal Lobe

Touch & body awareness

Temporal Lobe

Memory, hearing/language

Frontal Lobe

motor, planning/problem solving, & language

Components of a Neuron

Dendrites, Axon, & Synapse

Dendrite

A component of a neuron whose branches receive signals from other neurons

Axon

A component of a neuron that carries impulses away from the neurons

Synapse

A component on the brain with a small gap between neurons where neurotransmitters communicate with other cells

Name the Two Types of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory & Inhibitory

Excitatory

A type of neurotransmitter that increases the activity of the receiving neuron

Inhibitory

A neurotransmitter that decreases the activity of the receiving neuron

Examples of Neurotransmitters

Dopamine, Serotonin, Glutamate, GABA

Biological Treatments for Mental Health Disorders

Convulsive Therapy, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Medications (agonists, antagonists), Psychosurgery

Convulsive therapy

a type of biological treatment that uses electricity to cause a brief seizure

rTMS = Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain

Agonist

increases neurotransmitter activity

Antagonists

Block & decreases neurotransmitter activity

Psychosurgery

A biological treatment that involves brain surgery; early lobotomies were common, but moder surgery is more precise and rarely used

Humanistic Approach vs. Deterministic Models

The Humanistic approach focuses on personal choice, free will, and an individual’s ability to control their own life, while deterministic models suggest behavior is largely caused by factors outside conscious control, such as biology, unconscious conflicts, or past experiences

Who contributed to the Humanistic Approach

Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl, & Abraham Maslow

Carl Rogers

Contributed to the Humanistic Approach by developing the person-centered approach to therapy: unconditional positive regard

Viktor Frankl

Contributed to the Humanistic Approach through meaning in a pursuit of understanding the purpose of life

Maslow

Contributed to the Humanistic Approach through self-actualization, the hierarchy of needs, and the achievement of full human potential

Sociocultural Model

The role that our environment, social life, and identities play in our mental health - family, relationships, culture, social support, discrimination, and lack of support can affect mental health

Intersectionality

Different cultures and identities interacting to create a unique cultural experience that affects our mental health — SOCIOCULTURAL MODEL

The Biopsychosocial Approach

A framework that explains health and illness through biological, psychological, and social factors that affect well-being.

The Biopsychosocial Approach Explained

If a patient begins to experience schizophrenia early in life, that likely results from a biological cause; however, their functioning and the severity of symptoms may relate to their capacity to cope (e.g., psychological factors) and their access to services and supports (e.g., social factors).