Abnormal psychology

General framework
- TWE do biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence abnormal behaviour
1-Biological- Neurotransmitter serotonin hypothesis- suggest depression caused low levels of serotonin and
leads to the use of SSRI drugs/ antidepressants which block the reuptake process for serotonin= increased
amount of serotonin.-Depression caused by neurotransmitter/chemicals signals in neurons.
2- Cognitive- Cognitive Triad(Beck)- says that depression is caused by negative thinking in the triad about the
self, world, and future which develops from a negative self-schema. (Critique)The maladaptive cognitions seen
in depressed people may be a consequence rather than a cause of depression.
3 Sociocultural- Nolen-Hoeksema (2001)gender differences in depression. Women are more likely to develop
depression because they lack social power and are more vulnerable to reacting to stressful life events like sexual
assault which women are twice as likely to be victims of leading to trauma with increased stress.
- Evaluate psychological research relevant to the study of abnormal behaviour
- Seligman(1974)- Learned Helplessness Dog study (depression)
Aim-Prove learned helplessness can lead to depression
Method-Trapped dog with floor shocking the dog to jump over a wall where there was no shocking, slowly
raised the wall until to high to jump over.
Result- Dog stopped trying to jump over wall and gave up even when the wall were lowered and let itself get
shocked. Learned that it is incapable of jumping across wall because believes it is helpless therefore lowering its
self esteem.
Evaluation of study-Low in ecological validity, lab experiment.Controlled, no confounding variable.Animal
experiment can provide insight into human behaviour.Unethical, participants did not have rights to
withdraw.Induced fear and depression into participants.

Concepts and diagnosis

- Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality
- Normality-defined by the standards of social behaviour which varies in different demographic/social groups.
Norms can changes according to prevailing moral values(Divorce, homo). There is pressure on conforming to the norm.
What is acceptable can depend on the situation
- abnormality-Unusual behaviours are sometimes desirable (geniuses) or sometimes normal (depression).
Problems occur in who decides the extent of deviation from norm.
- Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis
- Reliability-Whether the same disorder is diagnosed every time. To insure this test-retest are done to repeat the
diagnosis to see if still same and inter-rater reliability-others review the diagnosis and see if also get the same
- Validity-Does the diagnosis process measure a real pattern of symptoms. Important to being able to effectively
give correct treatments, need to be careful of biases such as confirmation bias, over attributing the causes, self
fulfilling prophecy.
- Discuss cultural and ethical considerations in diagnosis.
- Cultural- Behaviour is influenced by the culture raised in, different perceptions of behaviour other
cultures/ different norms, favoring own culture/ bias to western culture in diagnosis systems.
- Ethical-Rosenhan (1973) shows depersonalization in mental institutes worsening mental illness
- Leads to stigmatisation, Prejudice and discrimination, Self labeling can lead to Self-fulfilling prophecy,
Person diagnosed with disorder act according to the label.
Psychological disorder
- Describe symptoms and prevalence of one disorder from two of the following groups
 -Anxiety disorders(agoraphobia)-Symptoms include fear and avoidance of places and situations that
might cause feelings of panic, entrapment, helplessness, or embarrassment
- Affective disorders(depression)-The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest. Major depression has
range of behavioral and physical symptoms of changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration,
daily behavior, or self-esteem.
- Analyse etiologies of one disorder from two of the following groups
- Anxiety disorders (agoraphobia)-panic attacks with excessive fear and avoidance, stressful life events
- Affective disorders (depression)-change in brain chemistry from stress to genetics, or hormone level
changes.
- Discuss cultural and gender variations in prevalence of disorders
- Women are more likely to develop depression over men because of factors such as women being more
likely to be victims that would be considered as traumatic. Have more hormonal changes in their body
than men.
Implementing treatment
- Examine biomedical, individual, and group approaches to treatment.
- Biomedical uses connection to the use of drugs in treating patients by changing levels of in a person's
body that will in turn treat patients-- SSRI drugs for depression
- Ind- one on one sessions with a professional
- Evaluate the use of biomedical, individual, and group approaches to the treatment of one disorder
- Biomedical Approach Treatment-The usage of psychotherapeutic drugs (SSRI) to increase serotonin
levels for there is biological root cause to depression
- Reduce depressive symptoms by increasing serotonin levels, although there are side effects with
the drugs and a short-term treatment
- Kirsch et Al (2008)-Study analyzed the trials or the usage of anti-depprassants and placebos with
depressed individuals
- Individual Approach Treatment-A cognitive approach to use behavioral Therapy to remove the
negative thoughts depressed individuals hold, cost effective and has no found side effects
- Group Approach Treatment-The treatment for people who are comfortable in a group and do not like
the individual therapy.It is effective but a becomes ineffective if there is a lack of group chemistry can
lead to participant drop outs
- Discuss the use of eclectic approaches to treatment
- Eclectic-the usage of two different approaches as a combined treatment
- Pampallona et al (2004)
- The study analysed the efficacy of psychotherapeutic drugs (SSRI) and psychotherapy. The study
had concluded the combination of the two treatments is more effective than single treatment.
- Discuss the use relationship between etiology and therapeutic approach in relation to one disorder
- Depression and the etiology with biology
- Serotonin Hypothesis
- The correlation of serotonin levels to depression.Lack of serotonin levels in the brain leads to
depression.
- The usage of SSRI or antidepressants as a psychotherapeutic drug to block the reuptake of
serotonin in the brain to increase the serotonin levels
- Tueting- depression and serotonin study
- Had participants take a urine test and found the participants with depression had lower serotonin
levels
Abnormal Psychology

Key Concepts:
- Normality, Abnormality
- Validity, Reliability
- Placebo Effect
- Etiology
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Key Theories:
- Serotonin Hypothesis
- Beck’s Cognitive Triad (1976)
Cognitive Triad (Theorist: Beck)
Self <=> World <=> Future
Example:
Self – “I am going to do really bad in my coursework”
World – “Everyone probably thinks I suck”
Future – “I am going to fail my course”

Key Studies:
- Rosenhan (1973) pseudopatient experiment
- Caetano (1973) validity and reliability of diagnosis
- Kirsch et al (2002, 08) antidepressants and placebo
- Nolen-Hoeksema (2001)gender differences in depression
- Jahoda (1958) normality
- Paykel et al (1999) cognitive therapy in preventing relapse from residual depression
- Seligman(1974)- Learned Helplessness Dog study (depression)
- Tueting- depression and serotonin study twin study