67 Questions
According to Thomas Szasz, what is the condition for treating a person for mental illness?
The person considers their symptoms a problem
What does the term 'psychopathology' literally mean?
Sickness of the mind
What is the primary characteristic of psychoses?
Loss of touch with reality
What is the main idea behind Thomas Szasz's view on mental illness?
Mental illness is a myth used to make people conform to society's standards of normality
What is the term for problematic patterns of thought, feeling or behaviour that disrupt an individual's sense of well-being, social or occupational functioning?
Psychopathology
What is the primary difference between neurotic symptoms and psychotic states?
Neurotic symptoms occur in severely disturbed individuals, while psychotic states occur in relatively healthy individuals
What is the term for gross disturbances involving a loss of touch with reality?
Psychoses
What is the term for enduring maladaptive patterns of thought, feeling, and behaviour that lead to chronic disturbances in interpersonal and occupational functioning?
Personality disorder
According to which model, people with an underlying vulnerability may develop a disorder under stressful circumstances?
Diathesis-stress
What type of diagnostic system does DSM-5 use?
Non-axial diagnostic
What is one of the common symptoms exhibited by children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder?
Impulsiveness
What is the primary focus of the first question a psychodynamic psychologist asks?
Dominant motives and conflicts
What is the primary cause of psychoses according to the aetiology?
Biological abnormalities
Approximately what percentage of Australians had sampled illegal drugs in the 12 months preceding a recent study?
13.4
Which of the following theories is NOT integrated by cognitive-behavioural practitioners?
Information-processing approach
Why are positive symptoms of schizophrenia so named?
They reflect the presence of something not usually or previously there
What does the biological approach to psychopathology take into consideration?
All the above options
What is an example of a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
Blunted emotional response
What is the estimated heritability of schizophrenia according to a study of twins born in Finland between 1940 and 1957?
83%
What approach to psychopathology looks for the roots of mental disorders in the broader social context?
Systems approach
What does the diathesis-stress model propose about the development of schizophrenia?
People with an underlying vulnerability may develop symptoms under stressful circumstances
What do family systems theorists examine in assessing the family?
Family boundaries
What is the term for constellations of symptoms that tend to occur together?
Clinical syndromes
What is a characteristic of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder?
It is characterised by inattention and hyperactivity
What is the primary focus of the third question a psychodynamic psychologist asks?
How the patient experiences himself or herself and others
What does the second question a psychodynamic psychologist asks focus on?
Ego functioning
What is NOT a focus of the biological approach to psychopathology?
Environmental experiences
What neurotransmitter may be important in addition to dopamine in schizophrenia, as suggested by PCP's effects?
Glutamate
In the dopamine hypothesis, which neural circuits are responsible for positive symptoms in schizophrenia?
Subcortical circuits projecting from the midbrain to the limbic system and basal ganglia
What is a characteristic abnormality in the brain structure of individuals with schizophrenia?
Enlargement of the ventricles, the fluid-filled cavities of the brain
What environmental variable is particularly important in the onset and course of schizophrenia?
Expressed emotion
Which disorder is depression most likely to be associated with?
Anxiety disorders
What is a characteristic of depression in terms of gender differences in Australia?
Australian women are more likely to suffer from depression than Australian men
What does Aaron Beck call the mechanisms by which a depressed person transforms neutral or positive information in a depressive direction?
Cognitive distortions
In the dopamine hypothesis, what is the role of subcortical circuits projecting from the midbrain to the prefrontal cortex?
They produce too little dopamine and seem to be responsible for negative symptoms
What is the term for the tendency of family interactions to be characterized by criticism, hostile interchanges, and emotional over-involvement?
Expressed emotion
What is the prevalence of depression among Australian females aged between 25-34 years, according to the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare?
27%
What is the term for mechanisms by which a depressed person transforms neutral or positive information in a depressive direction?
Cognitive distortions
What percentage of the population is affected by generalised anxiety disorder?
2 percent
What is the characteristic of veterans who are most likely to develop PTSD?
Lower IQ
Which disorder is characterised by attacks of intense fear and feelings of doom or terror not justified by the situation?
Panic disorder
What is the new disorder included in the DSM-5?
Binge eating disorder
What are personality disorders characterised as?
Chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work
What is borderline personality disorder characterised by?
All of the options listed
Which of the following is not a personality disorder listed in the DSM-5?
Dissociated
What is the prevalence of personality disorders in the general population estimated to be?
Unknown
What is typical of depressed patients identified by Beck?
Cognitive errors
Substance-related disorders are characterised by:
continued use of a substance that negatively affects psychological and social functioning
Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women?
Borderline
What is the term for a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom?
Psychodynamic formulation
According to which theory, a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorise individuals whom a society considers deviant?
Labelling theory
What is the term for perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus?
Hallucinations
What is characterised by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood?
Mania
What is the term for methods that families use to preserve equilibrium?
Homoeostatic mechanisms
Which approach to psychopathology integrates an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective?
Cognitive-behavioural
What is the term for common patterns of thought, feeling, or behaviour that disrupt an individual's sense of well-being, social or occupational functioning?
Mental disorder
Which personality disorder is more prevalent in men?
Antisocial
Which diagnostic category is used to describe individuals who seem to have attributes of both schizophrenia and psychotic depression?
Schizoaffective
What is the characteristics of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
More frequent during the winter months, due to the lack of sunlight
What is the term for a disturbance of childhood characterized by persistent violation of societal norms and the rights of others?
Conduct disorder
When do most forms of schizophrenia begin?
Late teens/early adulthood
What is the relationship between dopamine and schizophrenia?
Positive symptoms reflect too much dopamine activity in sub-cortical circuits
How long do major depressive episodes usually last?
About 5 months
What is NOT a typical symptom of mania?
Persistence
What is the term for a person who experiences periods of mania and depression?
Bipolar disorder
What do psychodynamic theories of depression focus on?
Motivation
What is NOT a compulsion?
Repetitive thoughts
Study Notes
Abnormal Psychology
Thomas Szasz's View
- According to Thomas Szasz, a person should only be treated for mental illness if they consider their symptoms a problem.
Psychopathology
- Refers to problematic patterns of thought, feeling or behaviour that disrupt an individual's sense of well-being, social or occupational functioning.
Psychoses
- Are chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Can involve a loss of touch with reality (e.g., hearing voices, believing in conspiracy theories).
Psychodynamic Psychology
- Asks three questions to create a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and meaning of their symptoms:
- What does the patient wish for and fear?
- What psychological resources does the person have at their disposal?
- How does the patient experience themselves and others?
Aetiology of Psychoses and Neuroses
- Psychoses result primarily from biological abnormalities.
- Neuroses and personality disorders stem more from environmental experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioural Practitioners
- Integrate an understanding of:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Cognitive-social perspective
Biological Approach
- Looks for the roots of mental disorders in:
- Genetic factors
- Brain regions
- Brain circuitry
Systems Approach
- Examines the physical and psychological limits of the family and its subsystems.
- Includes looking at family boundaries.
Clinical Syndromes
- Constellations of symptoms that tend to occur together.
Diathesis-Stress Model
- Proposes that people with an underlying vulnerability may develop a disorder under stressful circumstances.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Characterized by impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity.
Schizophrenia
- Heritability estimated at 83%.
- Positive symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, loose associations.
- Negative symptoms: blunted emotional response, lack of motivation, socially inappropriate behaviour, and intellectual impairment.
Dopamine Hypothesis
- Suggests that individuals with schizophrenia have excess dopamine in subcortical circuits.
Environmental Variables
- Expressed emotion (criticism, hostility, emotional over-involvement) can contribute to the onset and course of schizophrenia.
Mood Disorders
- Depression is likely to be associated with anxiety disorders.
- Women are more likely to suffer from depression than men.
Cognitive Distortions
- Mechanisms by which a depressed person transforms neutral or positive information in a depressive direction.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Characterized by persistent anxiety at a moderate but disturbing level and excessive and unrealistic worry about life circumstances.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- More likely to develop in veterans with lower IQ.
Panic Disorder
- Characterized by attacks of intense fear and feelings of doom or terror not justified by the situation.
Eating Disorders
- Binge eating disorder is a new disorder included in the DSM-5.
Personality Disorders
- Chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Examples include borderline, histrionic, and schizotypal personality disorders.
Schizoaffective Disorder
- A diagnostic category used to describe individuals who seem to have attributes of both schizophrenia and psychotic depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- More frequent during the winter months due to lack of sunlight.
Conduct Disorder
- A disturbance of childhood characterized by persistent violation of societal norms and the rights of others.
Schizophrenia Onset
-
Most forms of schizophrenia begin in the late teens and early twenties.### Amphetamines and Psychosis
-
Amphetamines increase dopamine activity, leading to psychotic-like symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations in normal people when taken in high doses.
Major Depressive Episodes
- Major depressive episodes typically last about 5 months.
Mania Symptoms
- Symptoms of mania include an inflated sense of self, racing thoughts, and a constant need to talk.
- People during a manic episode are not persistent, and their thoughts and behavior jump from one thing to another.
Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania and depression.
- Individuals with bipolar disorder experience both depression and mania.
Psychodynamic Theories of Depression
- Psychodynamic theories of depression focus on motivation, including identification with a depressed or belittling parent or an attachment history that predisposes fear of rejection or abandonment.
Compulsions and Obsessions
- Compulsions include counting, hand washing, and touching.
- Repetitive thoughts are an obsession, not a compulsion.
Substance-Related Disorders
- Substance-related disorders are characterized by continued use of a substance that negatively affects psychological and social functioning.
Personality Disorders
- Borderline personality disorder is more prevalent in women.
- Antisocial personality disorder is more prevalent in men.
Labelling Theory
- Labelling theory suggests that a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorize individuals whom a society considers deviant.
Psychodynamic Formulation
- A psychodynamic formulation is a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom, used to assess psychopathology.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapists integrate an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective.
Family Systems Model
- Family systems model suggests that families use homoeostatic mechanisms to preserve equilibrium.
Hallucinations and Schizophrenia
- Hallucinations are perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus, and are common in individuals suffering from schizophrenia.
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) are the most frequent kind experienced by people suffering from schizophrenia.
Mania
- Mania is characterized by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self that reaches grandiose proportions.
- During a manic episode, people generally require less sleep, experience their thoughts as racing, and feel a constant need to talk.
Learn about Thomas Szasz's views on mental illness, including his proposal that mental illness is a myth and its implications on treatment and societal norms.
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