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AQA AS/A Level Psychology - Psychopathology Topic Summary
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AQA AS/A Level Psychology - entire psychopathology topic summary with evaluation. All information sourced from AQA approved resources.
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PsychopathologyPsychopathology => The study of psychological diseases
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY
- Where any behaviour that falls outside of a 'normal' range for the rest of the population
Statistical infrequency - Example: an IQ higher or lower than 85-115 would be considered abnormal
- When behaviour deviates from what is seen as normal or acceptable in a particular society
Deviation from social
- This varies in different societies
norms - Social norms can also change with time
- When someone can no longer cope with the daily demands of life.
Inability to function
- This could be: not conforming to standard interpersonal rules, severe personal distress, irrational or
adequately dangerous behaviour towards self or others
- When someone deviates from ideal mental health
- Criteria suggested by Marie Jahoda (1958):
* No symptoms or distress - able to cope with stress
* Rational and perceive self and the world accurately and realistically
Deviation from ideal * Able to self-actualise (strive to reach potential)
mental health * Good self-esteem and lack of guilt
* Independent of others
* Can successfully work, love, and enjoy leisure
- Some areas may overlap with inability to function adequately
DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY - STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
Statistical infrequency Social norm deviation Inadequate function Ideal mental health deviation
- Used in clinical assessment - Distinguishes between - Attempts to include - Alternate explanation - focuses on
STRENGTH
- Has real life application in desirable and undesirable subjective experience of what is desirable
diagnosis behaviour and the effect on individual - Very comprehensive: lots of factors
- Includes measurement of others - Can be an objective - Clear to people the ways in which
severity against norms measure people can benefit from treatment
- Ignores behaviour - No clear line between - Can be confused with - Susceptible to abuse: norms vary
other definitions
LIMITS
desirability abnormal and harmless: - Not a clear line between
- Cannot be used alone context needed - Subjective judgements abnormality and eccentricity
- Labelling + cultural realism - Cultural relativism - Some behaviours - Cultural relativism
functional
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
- DSM-5 Definition: A condition categorised by obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour.
- Obsessions => (cognitive) uncontrollable, repetitive, and unpleasant thoughts which create anxiety.
- Compulsions => (behavioural) repetitive behaviours to manage anxiety produced by obsessions - not done = something bad.
- Examples of OCD:
* Trichotillomania - compulsive hair pulling.
* Hoarding disorder - compulsive gathering of possessions and the inability to part with anything regardless of value.
* Excoriation - compulsive skin picking.
- The OCD cycle: obsessive thought -> anxiety -> compulsive behaviour -> temporary relief -> etc
OCD - CHARACTERISTICS, EXPLANATIONS, TREATMENT
Characteristics of OCD Explanations of OCD Treatment of OCD
OCD => A condition characterised by Genetic explanation: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI):
obsessions and/or compulsive behaviour. - OCD caused by genes: closer genetic - Antidepressant - tackles OCD symptoms
Behavioural characteristics: relation has a higher risk of diagnosis - Prevents serotonin re-absorption +
- Repetitive, anxiety-reducing compulsions - Possible genes: COMT (dopamine reg) breakdown: increases levels in synapses
- Avoidance (of anxious situations) and SERT (serotonin reg) - typical 20mg daily for 3-4 mo. for impact
Emotional characteristics: * Ozkai et al. found mutation in SERT Tricyclics and SNRI:
- Anxiety and distress - OCD = polygenic (caused by multiple - Alternatives to SSRIs if no response
- Accompanying depression genes: Taylor (2013) found ~230 genes - tricyclics: SSRI with more side effects
- Guilt and disgust (irrational) Neural explanation: - SNRI: newer drug, increases serotonin and
Cognitive characteristics: - Abnormal serotonin levels linked to OCD noradrenaline (neurotransmitter)
- Obsessive and repetitive thoughts * Can cause brain areas to malfunction Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT):
- Cognitive strategies (e.g washings hand) * OFC sends worry signals to thalamus - Often used alongside drugs
- Insight into anxiety (aware of irrationality) that are not blocked due to low serotonin - Patients may respond more to CBT
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