Psychopathology

Essay titles Discuss the biological explanations to OCD (16 marks) Discuss the cognitive explanations to Depression (16 marks) Discuss the behaviourist explanations to Phobias (16 marks)

Q1 Behaviour which is rare and not exhibited by many people C Behaviour which does not fit the rules of expected behaviour B Behaviour which shows an inability to cope with everyday life A

Q2: What is meant by ‘statistical infrequency’ as a definition of abnormality? (2) A person’s trait, thinking or behaviour would be considered to be an indication of abnormality if it was found to be numerically (statistically) rare / uncommon / anomalous.

Q3: Give one definition of abnormality Q3: Give one definition of abnormality. (1) Use this definition to explain why Angus’ behaviour might be viewed as abnormal. (2) Deviation from social norms: this checking behaviour is not what most people do and therefore deviates from social norms. Many people check their lights once but not several times. Failure to function adequately: this checking behaviour is making them late for work; consequently they are not functioning adequately (they might lose their job, or just not be able to do it very well). Deviation from ideal mental health: these people are not psychologically healthy, the constant checking might cause them stress, and they show that they cannot deal with anxiety. Resistance to stress is one of Jahoda’s criteria for ideal mental health.

Q4: Explain how the therapist might use systematic de-sensitisation to help Hamish to overcome his phobia. (6) The two main features are relaxation and working through the anxiety hierarchy. Firstly, teach deep muscle or progressive relaxation techniques Then the therapist and client construct an anxiety hierarchy, starting with situations that cause a small amount of fear – in Hamish’s case this might be standing on a small stepladder – then listing situations that cause more fear, with the most frightening situation being at the top of the hierarchy, such as standing on top of a mountain. Finally, they work through this list, with the client remaining relaxed at each stage. Works on the basis of reciprocal inhibition and counter-conditioning

Q5: Explain what is meant by ‘obsessions’ and ‘compulsions’ Q5: Explain what is meant by ‘obsessions’ and ‘compulsions’. Refer to Bob in your answer. (4) Obsessions are internal, intrusive/recurring/unwanted thoughts whereas compulsions are external, repetitive behaviours. Bob is suffering from obsessions – he is overwhelmed by fear that his family will be in danger due to him, as-well as compulsions - Bob checks that doors are locked or plug sockets switched off before he can leave the house.

Q5b: Bob’s doctor is sending him for a brain scan and is looking into his family history. How might the biological approach be used to explain Bob’s obsessive-compulsive disorder? (4) Neural explanations - Bob is having a scan. The basal ganglia have been implicated suggesting that disturbed communication in these structures might account for the repetitive behaviours seen in Bob’s OCD. Also, OCD linked to abnormality/excessive activity in the orbital frontal cortex/thalamus Low levels of neurotransmitters, eg serotonin - serotonin might be removed too quickly before impulses have passed. Genetic explanations – Bob’s family history is being looked at Focus on the search for gene markers that Bob might have inherited –COMT, SERT. Family studies indicate a higher percentage of first degree relatives, ie Bob’s parents, have this disorder – 10% compared to the prevalence rate of 2%.

Q6: Explain what these findings suggest about the different therapies The two averages are very similar, suggesting that both therapies are as good as each other. The range of each group is very different. This suggests that for some people Therapy A was very beneficial, but for others it had little benefit. For Therapy B, there was a much smaller range, suggesting that it has a similar effect on improvement for all the patients.

Q7: Describe at least one strategy that might be used in cognitive behaviour therapy for depression. (4) Challenging irrational thoughts by requiring the client to gather evidence of behaviours/incidents etc and then comparing the evidence with the thought expressed to check whether they match or not. The client as scientist/reality testing – homework assignments where the client’s hypothesis/negative thinking is tested and the evidence evaluated. Diary records to monitor events and identify situations in which negative thinking occurs so these can be targeted.

Q8 A – self 1 mark B – future 1 mark

Q9: Outline at least two ways in which a cognitive psychologist might explain depression in a person who has recently become unemployed. (4) Cognitive triad - person will have negative thoughts about self, world, future eg I’m useless, the world is horrid, I’ll never get a job The person may overgeneralise ‘no-one wants me’ The person may show selective perception of negatives eg focus on loss of job and ignore the many good things in life The person may magnify significance / catastrophise eg loss of job will take on extraordinary significance and will be seen as major disaster The person makes negative attributions – person will blame themselves for loss of job and negate the influence of external factors eg world economy The erson shows absolutist thinking ‘if I can’t have that job then it’s a disaster, no other job will do’.