1. Amber Gilewski Tompkins Cortland Community College
Chapter 2 An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology
Amber Gilewski
Tompkins Cortland Community College

2. One-Dimensional vs. Multidimensional Models
One-Dimensional Models
Explain behavior in terms of a single cause
Could mean a paradigm, school, or conceptual approach
Tendency to ignore information from other areas

3. One-Dimensional vs. Multidimensional Models
Interdisciplinary, eclectic, and integrative
“System” of influences that cause and maintain suffering
Draws upon information from several sources

4. Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology
Nature of Genes
Genes do not dictate behavioral outcomes
Genes create a predisposition or likelihood
Development and behavior is often polygenic
Interaction between genetic factors & environment (i.e. nature and nurture)
New developments in study of genes/behavior
Less than 50% is genetic contribution

5. The Interaction of Genetic & Environmental Effects
The Diathesis-Stress Model
Examples: blood-injury-injection phobia, alcoholism
Reciprocal Gene-Environment Model
Examples: Depression, sensation-seeking
Non-Genomic Inheritance of Behavior
Genes are not the whole story
Environmental influences may override genetics

6. Neuroscience Contributions to Psychopathology
The Field of Neuroscience
The role of the nervous system in disease and behavior
The Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord
-processes information received from sense organs

7. Neurons The Neuron Soma – Cell body
Dendrites – Branches that receive messages from other neurons
Axon – Trunk of neuron that sends messages to other neurons
Axon terminals (terminal buttons)– Buds at end of axon from which chemical messages are sent
Synapses – Small gaps that separate neurons

8. The Structure of the Brain
Two Main Parts
Brainstem - automatic functions
Forebrain – more advanced systems
Main Divisions
Hindbrain – medulla, pons, cerebellum
Midbrain – reticular activating system
Diencephalon – transmits info to forebrain
Teleencephalon – base of forebrain, limbic system

9. The Structure of the Brain
Hindbrain
Medulla – Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration
Pons – Regulates sleep stages
Cerebellum – Involved in physical coordination
Midbrain
Coordinates movement with sensory input
Contains parts of the reticular activating system (RAS)

10. The Structure of the Brain
Forebrain (Cerebral Cortex)
Most sensory, emotional, and cognitive processing
2 specialized hemispheres – left & right

11. Major Structures of the Brain
Fig. 2.6b2, p. 47

12. Lobes of Cerebral Cortex
The 4 Lobes
Lobes of Cerebral Cortex
Frontal – Thinking and reasoning abilities, memory
Parietal – Touch recognition
Occipital – Integrates visual input
Temporal – Recognition of sights and sounds, long-term memory storage

13. Neurotransmitters & The Brain
Brain circuits – pathways of neurotransmitters
Drug therapies – increase or decrease flow of neurotransmitters
Agonists - mimic neurotransmitters
Antagonists - act against/block neurotransmitters
Inverse agonists -like agonists, but opposite effect
Most drugs are either agonistic or antagonistic

14. Main Types of Neurotransmitters
Serotonin (5HT) – affects mood, behavior, thought processes
Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) – inhibits behavior and emotions, esp. anxiety
Norepinephrine – endocrine system, contributes to mood and arousal
Dopamine – controls voluntary movements, related to schizophrenia & Parkinson’s

15. Manipulating Serotonin in the Brain
Fig. 2.11, p. 52

16. Mental Illness in Social Context
How does the context of the situation influence our interpretations about mental illness?
What does this story say about the stigma of mental illness?
What does it say about the potential dangers of one-dimensional models?
Can you come up with other behaviors that would have been misinterpreted in this situation?