PS2008 Week 1 Psychopathology Concepts and Paradigms PDF

[Introducing Psychopathology Concepts and Paradigms] **Psychopathology** can be described in many ways including: a **Deviation** from **statistical norms**, a **Deviation** from **social** and **political norms**, a **Maladaptive behaviour** and **harmful dysfunction**. These **definitions lack a...

[Introducing Psychopathology Concepts and Paradigms] **Psychopathology** can be described in many ways including: a **Deviation** from **statistical norms**, a **Deviation** from **social** and **political norms**, a **Maladaptive behaviour** and **harmful dysfunction**. These **definitions lack a standardised** way to measure psychopathology, therefore speculation is necessary. Each definition has its own **problems** and there is no ideal solution/definition. **Stigma** is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance. There is a **social stigma** (e.g. through the **media**) and **a** **self-stigma** (failing to meet your own standards). Historically, stigma originates from **fear of the unknown or misunderstandings** created through the use of certain words and phrases. For example, the **media** has often portrayed psychopathology as an **"illness"** or as violent, **perpetuating** the **stigma** against it. [Historical Models] A diagram of four seasons Description automatically generated **Hippocrates** (460bc AG) thought that we had certain **fluids** (blood, black/yellow bile, phlegm) in our body, and any **imbalance** in these, would contribute to a **mental or physiological condition.** The **treatment** would focus on **re-balancing** them, methods include leeches, etc. **Demology** (until 18^th^) was the idea that people with a **mental condition** had been **possessed** by demons. Interventions would involve **forcing out the demons**. "**Madness**" was considered a **domestic problem**, often linked to the house or the whole family. Those considered "**mad**" were kept **restrained in asylums**. In these asylums the **treatments** were often **torturous** involving the **depletion** of food or even **purgation** to restore the body to balance and **rid it of unwanted spirits**. Between **1950-1970s** there was a movement to **de-institutionalise** those incarcerated in asylums. People were able to be **integrated** back into society and given the opportunity to use various talking **therapies**, new **medications**, **rewarded** behaviours, etc.  Now, there are more **community based, adult mental health services**. There is an increase in **outreaching**, finding those who are suffering and engaging them in new services. This **recovery model** focuses on the **philosophy** underpinning mental health services, **balancing** the idea there may be a "**cure**" and the concept of having a "degree of **distress**". It suggests that every individual has their own journey, it has a **holistic** approach that suggests we are all **unique parts of wider society**. More cultural sensitivity is necessary as these ideas are stuck purely as **western approaches.** [Explanatory Paradigms] **A Biological/Medical model**: focus on a group of **symptoms** that would indicate an **illness** and questioning the **mechanisms** involved. For example, can it be caused by **neurotransmitters,** **genetic factors or brain abnormalities? Psychiatry** is the method of **treatment** for these difficulties, based on **medication** or even **surgical intervention**. **Neuroscience**: focuses on **structural abnormalities** in the brain regions or **changes in patterns of** **activation.** These can lead to changes in their personality, behaviours, sexuality, etc. It may be linked to the **neurotransmitters** or the **hormones** (or all the above). These **complex interactions** between **neurotransmitter systems and receptors** inform the **development of new medications**. One **problem** of these **biological approaches** is they are considered too **reductionist**, as it focuses on only a **physiological** cause, **forgetting all other factors**. **Psychodynamic Approach: Freud's psychoanalytical** approach considers the idea that various **early experiences** become **supressed** and form **defence mechanisms**. The **therapists** attempt to **uncover** these memories and **assesses their impact** on behaviour, thinking and emotion. The treatment aims to **work through unconscious conflict/suppression** through various techniques. For example, Free association, Transference, Dream analysis, Interpretation. **Problems** with this explanation is the **concepts are too difficult to measure or define** and there is a likelihood that treatment can continue for years, this has **a financial impact** on the patients' long-term cost. A table with text and numbers Description automatically generated with medium confidence **Behaviourism**: suggests that **psychopathology** is the **"faulty learning"** of environmental **experiences**. The treatment involves **behavioural therapies** (CC) and **behavioural modification** therapies (OC). The **aim** of treatment is to **unlearn** faulty responses and learn more **functional** ones, subsequently **treating behaviour** rather than its cause. The core principles of **Operant and Classical conditioning** can be used to change behaviours. For example, Classical conditioning can be used to **extinguish** an **existing relationship** between a **stimulus** and an **unwanted conditioned response** and Operant conditioning can be used to **reward target behaviours (token economy).** **Cognitive Approach**: this suggests psychopathology is the result of **errors in informational processing and biases.** Treatment can be on its own (**cognitive therapy**) or combined with behaviour (**CBT**), aiming to **challenge irrational beliefs** and **thinking**, to **develop realistic/functional** ways of thinking. **Beck's cognitive therapy** tests our own assumptions by focusing on **gathering evidence** to prove them. **Ellis' rational emotive behavioural therapy** challenges patients' irrational implicit assumptions. CBT helps patients identify **the link between their thoughts, behaviours and feelings**. One problem of CBT is **improvement** may **depend on the effort of the patient**. **Humanist-Existential approach:** underlines **emotional distress and awareness**. The **therapist** provides **guidance and insights into higher meanings** (**universality of suffering and shared mortality).** The aim of this is to move the individual from their perspective to a different one (not interested in causes), where they **accept their feelings instead of trying to change them.** **All talking therapies** aim to **relieve distress,** provide **insight,** develop more **coping strategies, identify** and resolve the **cause** of the problem. Approaches depend on the therapist and client- often **pluralistic** (using multiple approaches).