Abnormal Psychology: Models of Abnormality – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
model
answer
a perspective used to explain events; each one does the following: 1. delineates basic assumptions 2. gives order to the field of study 3. sets guidelines
question
Do models evolve over time?
answer
yes
question
Current Models (5)
answer
1. Biological 2. Psychodynamic 3. Cognitive-Behavioral 4. Humanistic-existential 5. Socio-cultural
question
Biological Models (brain makeup and how information is communicated)
answer
1. brain is made of approximately 100 billion neurons and thousands of billions of support cells (glia - glial cells) 2. Information communicated in the brain through electrical impulses
question
Synaptic Transmission (4 steps)
answer
1. An electrical impulse reaches the neuron's ending 2. This stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter 3. The neurotransmitter travels across the synapse (space between neurons) and comes in contact with other neuron's receptors 4. This stimulates electrical impulses in this neuron
question
synapse
answer
space between neurons
question
Key Neurotransmitters (5)
answer
1. Serotonin 2. Norepinephrine 3. Dopamine 4. GABA 5. Glutamate SNDGG (Send Gigi)
question
Serotonin
answer
NT - mood, impulse control
question
Norepinephrine
answer
NT - mood, response to drugs
question
Dopamine
answer
NT - pleasure/pain; implicated in schizophrenia
question
GABA
answer
NT - stress response, anxiety; inhibitory
question
Glutamate
answer
NT - epilepsy; excitatory
question
Sources of Biological Abnormalities (2)
answer
1. Genetics (evolutionary perspective) 2. Viral infections (EX: influenza during pregnancy and schizophrenia)
question
Biological Treatments (4)
answer
1. Psychotropic medications 2. Electroconvulsive therapy 3. Psychosurgery 4. Experimental techniques
question
psychotropic medications (5)
answer
biological treatment; medications are effective; have a wide range of intense side effects; compliance difficulties; cocktails (mixing kinds) 1. Antidepressants 2. Anxiolytics 3. Antipsychotics 4. Mood Stabilizers 5. Stimulants
question
Antidepressants (4)
answer
1. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 2. Tricyclics (TCAs) 3. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 4. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) SSTM ("System" of antidepressants)
question
MAOIs
answer
(antidepressants) monoamine oxidase inhibitors; last line of treatment because of lethal interactions with other medications and food; discovered in the 1950s
question
TCAs
answer
(antidepressants) tricyclics; very effective, but have lots of side effects (EX: dry mouth, blurry vision, drowsiness, anxiety, sexual dysfunction); can also be used to overdose; EX: imimpramine- Tofranil
question
SSRIs
answer
(antidepressants) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; also effective for anxiety and eating disorders; fewer side effects than TCAs and less potential for overdose; yet some important side effects (sexual dysfunction); EX: fluoxetine (Prozac); sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil)
question
SNRIs
answer
(antidepressants) serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; also used for anxiety, ADHD, pain; very similar to SSRIs, but important adrenergic side effects (EX: blood pressure needs to be periodically monitored) EX: duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
question
Anxiolytics (2)
answer
psychotropic medication 1. Barbiturates 2. Benzodiazepine (benzos)
question
Barbiturates
answer
(anxiolytics) first synthesized in 1864 by Adolf von Bayer; very powerful relaxants and hypnotic; potential for lethal overdose; no longer used EX: phenobarbital
question
Benzodiazepine (benzos)
answer
much safer than barbiturates, though they can still produce dependence and withdrawal; mostly prescribed for short-term relief of anxiety EX: alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan)
question
Antipsychotics (2)
answer
1. First generation (typical) 2. Second generation (atypical)
question
First generation (typical)
answer
antipsychotics; discovered int he 50s; effective but have severe side effects (extrapyramidal, effects on motor control- Parkinson's-type movements; weight gain; lowered white cell count) EX: haldoperidol (Haldol)
question
Second generation (atypical)
answer
antipsychotics; less likely to cause extrapyramidal effects; also discovered in the 50s but not popular until the 70s EX: clozapine (Clozaril), olzanzapine (Zyprexa), quetapina (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperidal)
question
Mood Stabilizers (2)
answer
1. Antoconvulsants 2. Lithium
question
Anticonvulsants
answer
mood stabilizer; first used to treat epilepsy; effective but have a wide range of side effects (weight gain, lowered white cell count) EX: valporic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal)
question
Lithium
answer
mood stabilizer; very effective, but blood levels need to be monitored regularly
question
What are stimulants used to treat?
answer
Attention Deficits Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD); suppress appetite; long term effects not yet known (as with most drugs) EX: amphetamine salts (Adderall), methylphenidactive (Ritalin)
question
What is Atmoxetine (Strattera)?
answer
not a stimulant, but rather a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor also used to treat ADHD
question
ECT
answer
biological treatment; Electroconvulsive Therapy; 1. brain seizure induced by passing electrical current through the brain (65-140 voltz) 2. 6-12 sessions 3. Patients are anesthetized or given muscle relaxants 4. high response rate, but high relapse rate; memory loss
question
Psychosurgery
answer
biological treatment; modern technologies are derived from lobotomy (1930s): surgeons would cut connections between the frontal lobes and lower regions of the brain today, techniques are more precise (but still considered experimental and last line of treatment)
question
Experimental Techniques (3)
answer
1. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) 2. Deep brain stimulation 3. Vagus nerve stimulation
question
TMS
answer
experimental techniques, transcranial magnetic stimulation; expose patients to high-intensity magnetic pulses focused on particular brain structures in order to stimulate activity
question
Deep brain stimulation
answer
experimental technique; surgically plant electrodes in specific areas of the brain that deliver stimulation via a pulse generator
question
Vagus nerve stimulation
answer
experimental technique; attach electrodes to vagus nerve and deliver stimulation through a pulse generator; stimulation travels to certain brain areas (parasympathetic control of the heart)
question
Psychodynamic Models
answer
people's behavior (whether normal or abnormal is determined largely by underlying psychological forces of which s/he is not consciously aware
question
Deterministic
answer
psychodynamic models; no behavior is "accidental" - there is always a "why" (a reason)
question
Sigmund Freud
answer
Viennese neurologist; interested in research but needed to make additional income so he started seeing patients 1. Worked with French physician Josef Breuer - conducted hypnosis on women with hysterical symptoms 2. Anna O- a patient who started to describe traumatic events under hypnosis (expression of those repressed memories seemed to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment 3. "the talking cure"
question
Freud's Topographic Model (of personality structure)
answer
iceberg analogy: (id, ego, superego- all in constant struggle with one another - expressed as symptoms) 1. tip is the CONSCIOUS (contract with the outside world) - EGO 2. PRECONSCIOUS (material just beneath the surface of awareness)- EGO (reality principle, secondary process thinking- reality testing) 3. UNCONSCIOUS (difficult to retrieve material- well below the surface of awareness); ID (pleasure principles, primary process thinking, wish fulfillment) and SUPEREGO (social component, moral imperatives) -superego spans all parts
question
Where does all psychic energy originate according to Freud?
answer
the unconscious
question
id
answer
instinctual needs, drives, and impulses (anxiety, sexual, anger; pleasure principle); unconscious, pleasure principle, primary process thinking; biological component (the instincts Eros and Thanatos are associated with the unconscious mind and the id)
question
ego
answer
develops mechanisms to defend against unacceptable impulses and uncontrollable anxiety (reality principle); conscious and preconscious
question
superego
answer
rules and norms incorporated from our parents and society; conscience
question
Defense Mechanisms (creator and levels)
answer
George Vaillant (1977) categorized defenses according to psychoanalytic development level Level 1: pathological defenses Level 2: immature defenses Level 3: neurotic defenses Level 4: mature defenses (PINM)
question
Level 1: Pathological Defenses (6)
answer
1. Delusional projection 2. Conversion 3. Denial 4. Distortion 5. Splitting 6. Extreme projection
question
Delusional projection (level 1)
answer
frank delusions about external reality
question
Conversion (level 1)
answer
expression of intrapsychic conflict as physical symptoms
question
Denial (level 1)
answer
refusal to accept external reality
question
Distortion (level 1)
answer
gross reshaping of external reality to meet inernal needs
question
Splitting (level 1)
answer
negative and positive impulses are split off and not integrated
question
Extreme projection (level 1)
answer
blatant denial of a deficiency
question
Level 2: Immature Defenses (7)
answer
1. Acting out 2. Fantasy 3. Idealization 4. Passive aggression 5. Projection 6. Projective identification 7. Somatization
question
Acting out (level 2)
answer
direct expression of unconscious wish or impulse in action without conscious awareness
question
Fantasy (level 2)
answer
tendency to retreat inwards to resolve inner and outer conflicts
question
Idealization (level 2)
answer
perceiving another person as having more positive qualities than they actually do
question
Passive aggression (level 2)
answer
aggression towards others expressed indirectly
question
Projection (level 2)
answer
attributing one's thoughts, emotions, behaviors, to others
question
Projective identification (level 2)
answer
the object of projection invokes in that person the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors (projected behaviors) to others
question
Somatization (level 2)
answer
transformation of negative feelings towards others into negative feelings about the self, pain, illness, anxiety
question
Level 3: Neurotic Defenses (11)
answer
1. Displacement 2. Dissociation 3. Hypochondriasis 4. Intellectualization 5. Isolation 6. Rationalization 7. Reaction formation 8. Regression 9. Repression 10. Undoing 11. Withdrawal
question
Displacement (level 3)
answer
shifting of sexual or aggressive impulses to a more acceptable or less threatening object
question
Dissociation (level 3)
answer
temporary drastic modification of one's identity
question
Hypochondriasis (level 3)
answer
excessive preoccupation about having or contracting an illness
question
Intellectualization (level 3)
answer
replacement of emotional reactions in favor of overly logical responses
question
Isolation (level 3)
answer
separation of feelings from ideas and events
question
Rationalization (level 3)
answer
creation of acceptable excuses for feeling, thoughts, and behaviors that are unacceptable
question
Reaction formation (level 3)
answer
converting unconscious wishes and impulses perceived to be dangerous as their opposites
question
Regression (level 3)
answer
temporary reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development
question
Repression (level 3)
answer
attempting to prevent unacceptable desires from entering consciousness
question
Undoing (level 3)
answer
trying to undo an unacceptable thought, feeling, or behavior by engaging in a behavior
question
Withdrawal (level 3)
answer
removing oneself from events, stimuli, etc. in order to avoid remembering painful thoughts and feelings
question
Level 4: Mature Defenses (7)
answer
1. Altruism 2. Anticipation 3. Humor 4. Identification 5. Introjection 6. Sublmiation 7. Thought of suppression
question
Altruism (level 4)
answer
service to others to bring personal satisfaction
question
Anticipation (level 4)
answer
realistic planning for futuristic discomfort
question
Humor (level 4)
answer
overt expression of ideas and feelings that gives pleasure to others; the thoughts retain a portion of the original distress
question
Identification (level 4)
answer
modeling of oneself upon others
question
Introjection (level 4)
answer
identifying with some idea or object so deeply that it becomes one's identity
question
Sumblimation (level 4)
answer
transformation of negative emotions or instincts into positive ones
question
Thought suppression (level 4)
answer
pushing thoughts into the preconscious
question
Mapping Defense to Psychopathology (3)
answer
1. Pathological: psychotic disorders 2. Immature: psychotic and personality disorders 3. Neurotic: mood and anxiety disorders
question
Freud's Developmental Stages (5)
answer
1. Oral (0-18m, focus on mouth; id dominates; learn delayed gratification) 2. Anal (18m-3y toilet training, conflict between id and ego regarding waste elimination; autonomy) 3. Phallic (3-5y conflict between id and ego regarding wanting attention of one parent; Oedipus/Electra complex) 4. Latency (5-12y, consolidation of previous stages; identity formation) 5. Genital (12y+ further consolidation, symbolism; goals) OAPLG (Oh, a plug)
question
What happens when conflict is not resolved according to Freud?
answer
if conflict is not resolved -> fixation -> psychopathology
question
Useful Psychodynamic Terms (3)
answer
1. Transference 2. Countertransference 3. Repetition compulsion
question
Transference
answer
redirection towards the therapist of feelings associated with important figures in the patient's life
question
Countertransference
answer
reactions that the patient evokes in the therapist
question
Repetition compulsion
answer
putting oneself in situations when an undesired event is likely to happen again
question
Psychodynamic Treatment
answer
1. Free association 2. Interpretation of resistance, transference, and dreams (resistance to Freud- patients blocking memories from consciousness; current conceptualization- treatment interfering behaviors by the patient) 3. Catharsis 4. Working through (Psychodynamically-oriented therapy: once/twice a week, interactive; Psychoanalysis: 3-4 times/week, patients lies down on the couch, therapist does very little talking)
question
Behavioral Models (3)
answer
1. Classical conditioning 2. Operant conditioning 3. Modeling and observational learning
question
Classical Conditioning
answer
(behavioral model); Pavlov's dogs 1. Unconditioned stimulus (food) leads to -> unconditioned response (salivate) 2. Conditioned stimulus (bell) paired with the unconditioned stimulus (food) leads to -> conditioned response (salivate when hear bell)
question
Extinction
answer
produce the conditioned stimulus (bell) without the unconditioned stimulus (food) and the association between conditioned stimulus and conditioned response (salivation) will become extinguished new accounts of exposure -> inhibitory learning
question
John Watson's Little Albert Experiment
answer
US: loud noise -> UR: startle CS: white rat paired with noise -> CR: startle at the sight of the rat Fear generalized to many other white furry things (rabbits, Santa hats)
question
Operant Conditioning
answer
(behavioral models); B.F. Skinner showed that behaviors that are reinforced are strengthened over time; behaviors that are punished are weakened
question
Operant Conditioning and Little Albert
answer
1. Little Albert would avoid furry things to reduce anxiety 2. Thus, avoidance behavior was reinforced 3. Avoidant behavior increases 4. Because he avoids white furry things, he also avoids the opportunity for the association between furry things and loud noises to be extinguished 5. Exposure to the unconditioned stimulus in the absence of the conditioned stimulus is at the core of behavioral treatments for anxiety
question
Mowrer's Two-stage Fear Conditioning
answer
1. Classical conditioning leads to fear 2. Operant conditioning maintains it +avoidance of experience makes unable to extinguish the association
question
What is at the core of behavioral treatments for anxiety?
answer
exposure to the conditioned stimulus in the absence of the conditioned response
question
Modeling (new behaviors)
answer
learning new behaviors by imitating behaviors of others
question
Observational learning (rewards/punishments)
answer
observe rewards and punishments others receive for behaviors and act accordingly (EX: children can learn to be afraid of things their parents fear by observing their reactions)
question
Behavioral Treatments (Exposure)
answer
primarily to treat anxiety disorders 1. Patient and therapist generate a hierarchy of feared situations 2. Therapist exposes client to feared situations gradually, starting with the least feared and moving toward the most feared 3. Systematic desensitization when patient is instructed to relax during emotional arousal
question
What is exposure used to treat?
answer
primarily anxiety disorders
question
Cognitive Models
answer
individuals engage in automatic thoughts that are based on cognitive distortions; such thoughts perpetuate viscous cycles of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc. (EX: "I'm never going to finish that paper")
question
Aaron Beck and Cognitive Models
answer
an American psychiatrist; widely regarded as the father of cognitive therapy, and his pioneering theories are widely used in the treatment of clinical depression. Beck also developed self-report measures of depression and anxiety including Beck Depression Inventory (BDI),[1][2] Beck Hopelessness Scale,[3] Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Youth Inventories.
question
Cognitive Distortions (10)
answer
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking 2. Overgeneralization 3. Mental Filters 4. Disqualifying the Positive 5. Jumping to Conclusions 6. Magnification/Catastrophizing or Minimization 7. Emotional Reasoning 8. "Should" Statements 9. Labeling and Mislabeling 10. Personalization
question
All-or-Nothing Thinking
answer
cognitive distortion; you see things in black and white categories; if your performance falls short of perfect, you see yourself as a total failure
question
Overgeneralization
answer
cognitive distortion; you see a single negative event as a never-ending pattern
question
Mental Filters
answer
cognitive distortion; you pick out a single negative detail and dwell on it exclusively, so that your vision of all reality becomes darkened (drop of ink in water)
question
Disqualifying the Positive
answer
cognitive distortion; you reject positive experiences by insisting they "don't count" for some reason or other; in this way you can maintain a negative belief that is contradicted by your everyday experiences
question
Jumping to Conclusions
answer
cognitive distortion; you make a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your conclusion
question
Magnification/Catastrophizing or Minimization
answer
cognitive distortion; you exaggerate the importance of things (such as your failures or someone else's achievement) or you inappropriately shrink things until they appear tiny (your own desirable qualities)
question
Emotional Reasoning
answer
cognitive distortion; you assume that your negative emotions necessarily reflect the way things really are: "I feel it, therefore it must be true."
question
"Should" Statements
answer
cognitive distortion; you try to motivate yourself with "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" as if you had to be punished before you could be expected to do anything
question
Labeling and Mislabeling
answer
cognitive distortion; an extreme form of overgeneralization; instead of describing your error, you attach a negative label to yoursel ("I'm a loser"); mislabeling involves describing an event with language that is highly colored and emotionally loaded
question
Personalization
answer
cognitive distortion; you see yourself as the cause of some negative external event for which, in fact, you were not primarily responsible
question
Cognitive Therapy
answer
help patients to: 1.identify irrational and maladaptive thoughts 2. critically examine their validity and usefulness 3. replace them with more adaptive thoughts
question
The Thought Record
answer
cognitive therapy; Feeling, Situation, Thought, Alternative Perspective
question
Third-Wave CBT
answer
more recent CBT approaches that include the following processes: 1. Emotion regulation skills (techniques to manage difficult and painful emotions) 2. Mindfulness (ability to remain in contact in the present, non-judgmentally, even if we are experiencing unpleasant emotions/thoughts/physical sensations) 3. Radical acceptance (learning to embrace our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors "as they are")
question
CBT
answer
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
question
Humanistic-Existential Therapies
answer
...
question
Carl Rogers
answer
Client-centered therapy
question
Fritz Perls
answer
Gestalt therapy
question
Irvin Yalom
answer
Existential therapy
question
Socio-cultural Therapy
answer
abnormal functioning can be understood in the context surrounding a person's life group therapy, family therapy, marital therapy
question
For which therapies is empirical support the strongest?
answer
biological, cognitive, and behavioral therapies
question
Which therapies are time-limited and symptom-focused?
answer
Cognitive and behavioral therapies
question
Which therapy is the best?
answer
despite their differences, not one therapy is better and it is important to find a therapist treatment that fits one's needs
question
Describe one difference between psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies?
answer
???
