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An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology

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Title: An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology


1
An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology
  • Chapter 2
  • Abnormal Psychology

2
Multidimensional Integrative Approach
  • Psychopathology
  • Biological roots
  • Psychological roots
  • Socio-cultural roots
  • As opposed to one dimensional perspectives

3
Influences
  • Behavioral emotions become associated with
    situations
  • Biological inherited traits/genetic
    contributions
  • Emotional influences how we think about and
    respond to situations
  • Social familial/peer influences, cultural
    context
  • Developmental critical periods- we may be
    particularly susceptible due to developmental
    timing

4
Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology
  • Traits are influenced by our genetic endowment
  • Polygenetic inheritance psychological
    characteristics are influenced by many genes,
    which interact with the environment each gene
    has a very small effect

5
Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology
  • Environmental contexts and experiences determine
    whether or not genes are expressed or turned on

6
Study of Genes and Behavior
  • Twin studies
  • Comparing heritability estimates between
    identical and fraternal twins
  • Schizophrenia if one identical twin has the
    disorder, the other twin has approximately a 50
    chance of developing it (similar or lower in
    other disorders)

7
Brain Plasticity
  • Research the structure and functioning of the
    brain is continually shaped by experience
  • Early childhood deprivation
  • Adulthood exposure to stress/trauma effects of
    therapy/learning, etc.

8
Diathesis-Stress Model
  • We inherit tendencies toward particular
    behavioral traits which may become activated
    during times of stress
  • Particular life events may trigger the symptoms
    of a disorder

9
Diathesis-Stress Model
  • Example
  • Individual with a genetic vulnerability, a
    history of childhood abuse, and current stress in
    adulthood
  • These factors interact to influence the
    development of symptoms

10
Genes and Environments Influence Each Other
  • Our genetic vulnerability may increase the chance
    that we will experience stress
  • Example we may have a personality
    trait/temperament that draws us toward stressful
    environments and relationships, which lead to
    depression
  • Niche-picking genes may lead us to select
    certain environments

11
Recent ResearchGenetic Contributions
  • Genetic contributions to disorders may be
    overstated in the research
  • Some undermine the importance of environments in
    the expression of genes
  • The critical role of early environments and
    experiences

12
Summarizing Genetic Contributions
  • Genes must always be understood in combination
    with environments (nature nurture)
  • Maladaptive environments may impact us more or
    less depending on our genetic inheritance

13
The Neuron
Fig. 3.8
14
Understanding Neurons
  • 140 billion neurons in the brain
  • Transmit information chemical and electrical
    events
  • Neurotransmitters chemicals affecting the brain
    and body implicated in psychopathology

15
Neurotransmitters
  • An increasingly complex picture
  • Not just too much or too little-
    neurotransmitters affect information processing
  • Psychotropic medications may block or inhibit the
    production of neurotransmitters, or may increase
    production

16
Overview Neurotransmitters
  • GABA (inhibitory) affects information
    transmission- GABA tends to reduce anxiety-
    anti-anxiety meds allow more GABA to attach to
    receptors
  • Serotonin information processing and mood
    regulation- different effects depending on the
    area of the brain

17
Overview Neurotransmitters
  • Dopamine has a general effect, allowing other
    neurotransmitters to function associated with
    pleasure seeking revision to the dopamine
    hypothesis
  • Norepinephrine does not appear to directly link
    to psychopathology, but works with other
    neurotransmitters associated with fear
    responses, blood pressure, and heart rate

18
Neurotransmitters
  • New hypotheses and findings
  • Genetic contributions may affect patterns of
    neurotransmitter activity, which may influence
    personality characteristics and behaviors
  • Environments and experiences can shape and change
    neurotransmitter activity over time- brain scans
    with patients receiving therapy

19
Neurotransmitters
  • Placebo effect
  • The brain circuits/neurotransmitter activity
    change based on our expectations

20
Brain Changes- Learning and Experience
  • Learning/experience influences the structure of
    the neurons and the number of receptors
  • Studies
  • Active vs. inactive rats- active rats have more
    neural connections and more active brains
  • Deprivation/enrichment brain scans of children

21
Dendritic Spreading
Fig. 3.11
22
Lessons from Behavioral and Cognitive Science
  • The manner in which we process information shapes
    the learning and maintenance of certain behaviors
  • Events become paired and associated with each
    other

23
Lessons from Behavioral and Cognitive Science
  • Learned Helplessness Seligman
  • When we give up and stop trying to cope
  • In response to stress that we perceive as beyond
    our control
  • Based on our attributions

24
New ResearchLearned Optimism
  • Seligman- we function better psychologically and
    physically when we have hope, positive beliefs
    about ourselves, and positive attitudes
  • The mind-body connection

25
Emotions
  • Emotions contribute to the development of
    psychopathology
  • Alarm reactions fight or flight responses
  • Our emotional appraisals of a situation shape our
    reactions (behaviors)

26
Emotions
  • Research on suppression activates the
    sympathetic nervous system (responsible for fight
    or flight responses)
  • Suppression is linked with psychopathology

27
The Role of Culture
  • Culture shapes what we learn to fear, expect,
    believe, etc.
  • Example case studies of Voodoo death
  • Cultures have difference constructions of
    psychopathology

28
The Role of Culture
  • Culture shapes our constructions of gender
  • Perspectives on gender shape what we find
    socially acceptable
  • Example men and experiences of fear and emotion
    women and body image

29
Social Relationships and Mental Health
  • Research the experience of social support
    affects life expectancy
  • Physical and mental health is influenced by the
    quality and extent of our social relationships
  • Research having a pet has been shown to lower
    heart rate and blood pressure

30
The Role of Social Stigma
  • The stigma of labels can affect individuals
    affected by mental health problems
  • Beliefs about moral weakness and
    unpredictability/aggression

31
Developmental Considerations
  • Developmental stages and prior experience shapes
    the experience of psychopathology
  • Equifinality the notion that there are multiple
    pathways and interacting factors that influence
    the development of psychopathology

32
Conclusions
  • New research findings are changing our
    understanding of psychopathology
  • A multidimensional perspective is needed to
    understand the development of psychological
    disorder
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