...Describe and evaluate the biological method of psychopathology (12 Marks) By Amy Smith The biological model (which is also known as ‘the somatic model’) assumes that all psychological disorders are physical illnesses. This model of psychopathology labels mental disorders like this and therefore has both positive and negative outcomes. The biological model states that the causes of mental disorders are normally down to one or more of the following four; genetics, neurotransmitters, infections and brain injury. Neurotransmitters are when there is too much or too little of a particular neurotransmitter such as an increased level of dopamine can lead to schizophrenia. People can increase their dopamine levels by taking drugs such as cocaine which therefore is why schizophrenia is linked so much with cocaine. A piece of research which I have studied is the Gottesman study. This was the study of the meta-analysis twins. Gottesman studied approximately 40 twins (monozygotic and dizygotic twins) and found that the monozygotic twins had a 48% chance of developing schizophrenia if one twin had schizophrenia already, however in dizygotic twins there was only a 17% chance. This piece of research proves that genes are a reason for developing psychological illnesses. The treatments associated with the biological method are drugs such as medication to change the neurotransmitter levels in the brain which can therefore relieve symptoms of the mental illnesses. Another treatment is psychosurgery...
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
...Cognitive Behavior Therapy Developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck, Cognitive Therapy (CT), or Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), is a form of psychotherapy in which the therapist and the client work together as a team to identify and solve problems. Therapists help clients to overcome their difficulties by changing their thinking, behavior, and emotional responses. A System of Psychotherapy Cognitive therapy is a comprehensive system of psychotherapy, and treatment is based on an elaborated and empirically supported theory of psychopathology and personality. It has been found to be effective in more than 400 outcome studies for a myriad of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse, among others, and it is currently being tested for personality disorders. It has also been demonstrated to be effective as an adjunctive treatment to medication for serious mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Cognitive therapy has been extended to and studied for adolescents and children, couples, and families. Its efficacy has also been established in the treatment of certain medical disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, fibromyalgia, post-myocardial infarction depression, noncardiac chest pain, cancer, diabetes, migraine, and other chronic pain disorders. In the mid-1960s, Dr. Aaron T. Beck developed cognitive therapy as a time-sensitive, structured therapy that uses an information-processing...
Words: 1334 - Pages: 6
...employed as a community psychiatric nurse whose remit is to work with those clients with serious and enduring mental illness, the majority of whom have a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia and related psychosis. Over the past 10 years there's been a growing movement towards diverse treatments for schizophrenia other than the acknowledged role of medication as a treatment modality (Birchwood and Tarrier 1993). Developments in psychological theory have led to a number of innovative psychological treatments drawn from human experimental psychology such as behavioural and social psychology and cognitive science. Therapies based on cognitive behavioural theory have been rapidly developing, initially for the so called ‘neurotic disorders’ but in recent years evidence has accumulated to suggest that these cognitive behavioural approaches can be effective for those people suffering from psychosis ( Williams 1995). The aim of this assignment is to explore the basis of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and review its’ therapeutic application to schizophrenia. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is an evolutionary paradigm that came about a from the merging of the established paradigm of behavioural therapy and contemporary cognitive therapy (Clarke and Fairburn 1997). Behavioural therapy historically focused on anxiety, phobic and obsessional disorders. Treatments were aligned to the learning theories of Pavlov and Skinner, anxieties and phobias were conceptualise...
Words: 6475 - Pages: 26
...Syllabus Course Description This course provides an overview of basic psychological principles that underlie human behavior and reactions to everyday life. Students are provided an opportunity to apply critical-thinking skills to psychological problems and issues. The basic tenets of psychology are presented from a historical perspective, with attention to research-based behavioral science. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: · University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. · Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Carpenter, S., & Huffman, K. (2010). Visualizing psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Introduction to Psychology Details Due Points Objectives 1.1 Describe the development of the discipline of psychology. 1.2 Compare and contrast research methods used to examine psychological phenomena. 1.3 Explain biological influences on the human brain. Readings Read...
Words: 2233 - Pages: 9
... (b): Describe models of abnormality. [8] A: There are four type of models: Medical model (or Biological method), Psychodynamic model, Behavioral model and the Cognitive model. Medical model (or Biological model) is a view of abnormality that sees mental disorders as being caused by abnormal physiological processes such as genetics, brain damage and chemical imbalance. Abnormality according to this model is seen as an illness or disease. They treat mental disorders with the help of chemotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and psycho surgery. According to Psychodynamic model, abnormal behavior is caused by underlying psychological forces of which the individuals is probably unaware. It focuses on unconscious mind primarily and according to Sigmund Freud, if a child does not successfully complete any of the psychosexual stages, it will cause abnormality. It is treated by talk therapies and test like the rorshack and free-word association. The Behavioral model has a view that abnormal behavior are maladaptive, learned responses in the environment which can be replaced by more adapted behaviors. These disorders emerge due to classical conditioning, operant conditioning or social learning. It can be treated with positive and negative reinforcement such as token economy. Lastly, the cognitive model has a view that stresses the role of cognitive problems such as illogical or irrational thought processes in abnormal functioning. According to Beck, talk therapies that restruct...
Words: 1256 - Pages: 6
...PUEBLO COMMUNITY COLLEGE NURSING NUR 211 Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Supplemental Learning Guide Course Objectives * Relate the minimum requirements for the course. * Illustrate the use of competencies for learning. * Formulate own needs and responsibilities relative to meeting course competencies. * Relate course/clinical assignments and evaluation * Distinguish how the major concepts (see Nursing Student Handbook) of the program are affected by the variety of conditions and diseases within this course for all age groups. Outline A. Orientation to course 1. Course descriptions 2. Course outcomes/competencies 3. Textbooks B. Course Requirements 1. Student assignments and responsibilities 2. Minimum level of achievement 3. Evaluation tools C. Course/ Clinical Assignments and Evaluation D. Major Concepts 1. Caring 2. Clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and nursing judgment 3. Clinical microsystem 4. Collaboration 5. Critical thinking 6. Cultural competence and Diversity 7. Ethics 8. Evidence-based care 9. Healthcare environment 10. Human flourishing 11. Informatics and Information management 12. Integrity 13. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes 14. Leadership 15. Nursing and Nursing Process 16. Nursing-sensitive indicators 17. Patient and Patient-centered care 18. Personal and Professional development 19. Professional identity ...
Words: 13462 - Pages: 54
...there are some negative outlooks of psychotherapy such as societies' negative views, effectiveness and availability. Research has also been done on whether religion or lack thereof can be a co-factor in depression. There are many methods to treating depression, psychotherapy being one of the most effective and efficient known treatment. Over the years, there has been extensive research done to find and understand different treatments for depression, although many have been lost through the ages. There are ways we can try and incorporate aspects of some older treatments into our more newly developed treatments to treat patients more effectively. For example, James Overholser mentions his research of a variety of treatments such as sleep therapy, hydrotherapy, drug treatment, treatment by surgery, etc that were more commonly used near the 1800s (Overholser. J, 2002). The treatments that are provided today are not as effective as doctors would like, and there is still plenty of research being done to find cheaper and more efficient ways to treat depression. One setback of this is that researchers do not have enough information to determine exactly what is wrong with the treatments used today. Comparing recent treatments to some of the older treatments can help to understand some of the changes between the two and how they have slowly but surely advanced...
Words: 3158 - Pages: 13
...Evidence-Informed Practice: An Evaluation of the David Bennett Inquiry Report In this essay I will evaluate the David Bennett Inquiry Report, which was set up by the North, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority (NSCSHA) to investigate the death of Mr David Bennett. I will define evidence-informed practice (EIP) and summarise the inquiry report. I shall highlight and critically analyse some of the key issues raised in the report in relation to ethnic minority issues. Finally, I will discuss the implications of evidence-informed practice for social work as well as my own future practice. EIP in social work began in the early 1990s when contemporary writers Geraldine MacDonald and her colleagues wrote articles very much in contrast to earlier reviews; they looked at results from studies such as quasi-experimental studies and client opinion studies about the effectiveness of social work practice. This led to good outcomes for social work practice (Webber, 2011) [Online]. Evidence-informed practice in social work has been described as: ‘Evidence based social care is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions regarding the welfare of those in need of social services.’ (Sheldon and Chilvers, 2000, p.5, adapted from Sackett et al., 1996 cited in Webber, 2011, p.3) Webber (2011) and Sheldon and Chilvers (2000, p.5, adapted from Sackett et al., 1996 cited in Webber, 2011, p.3) both define EIP as using effective interventions...
Words: 3522 - Pages: 15
...Evaluate the claim that Person Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that he/she will need to treat clients This essay will evaluate the claim that Person- Centred Therapy (PCT) offers the therapist all that he or she will need to treat clients. I will define PCT, its origins and the theoretical constructs and philosophical influences that set it apart from other psychological theories, as well as explore how its founder viewed personality development, and psychological disorders. I will then weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of PCT, drawing upon criticisms by other writers, in order to conclude whether or not it can be used as a stand-alone tool for all clients. Person-Centred Therapy is also know as Client-Centred Therapy, or the Rogerian approach after its founder, Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987), who was an influential American psychologist and one of the founders of humanistic psychology. Developed in the 1950s, PCT is a non-directive form of psychotherapy within the humanistic approach, which is itself often referred to as the third force of psychology – the first two being psychoanalysis and behaviourism. In addition to humanistic philosophy, Rogers was influenced by existentialism, or free will, and phenomenology, or human judgement and emotion. Self-actualisation: Person Centred Therapy centres around the belief that human beings have one basic tendency, and that is to “actualize, maintain and enhance” (Rogers, 1951, p487). Person-Centred Therapy is therefore...
Words: 2857 - Pages: 12
...Schizophrenia Stephanie Renee Huston PSY 326 Research Methods Instructor: Keisha Keith 11/23/2015 Schizophrenia Introduction Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that gives a misleading or false account of the way a person thinks, behave, communicate their feelings, realize or understand, and relates to others. Schizophrenia has been considered as one of many chronic and disabling conditions for people that suffers with a major mental illness. People with schizophrenia often have problems fulfilling a task in the general population, at work, at school, and in relationships leaving an individual not wanting to communicate with other people and frightened. Schizophrenia suffers will live with it the rest of their life, it cannot be cured but treatments are available and controllable with proper and advance treatments. Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not a split or multiple personality. Schizophrenia is a psychosis, a type of mental illness in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. In writing this paper on Schizophrenia I will show how popular belief, has an antithesis of what is really Schizophrenia? Is it really a split...
Words: 3391 - Pages: 14
...abstract, which is used to briefly convey the information used throughout the article before reading through the whole thing. It gives a clear idea of what the article is about and what to look forward to before going any further into the research process. Next is the introduction, and that is used to point out what the focus is on and the main points of the article/paper. The introduction in “OCD and Cognitive Illusions” describes cognitive illusions thinking and how that may be contribute to understanding the origin of maintenance of obsessional thoughts. It covers the meaning of cognitive illusions and what they include, current studies pointing to cognitive biases/deficits in OCD, the nature of cognitive illusions and the relations to OCD thinking, and clinical implications/suggestions for further research. Other parts of a research article may include methods/methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and summary, and references/sources. Not all articles are the same, but generally this is how one would be set up. What are the steps to critically evaluate research articles and how does the scientific method help you do this? The first step to critically evaluating a research article is the research question. The research must be clear when informing the desired audience of its aim, and terms must be clearly defined. It is important that the reader pays close attention to errors in logic. The second step is sample, and the sample needs to be adequate and representative in...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5
...PYC4802/101/0/2015 Tutorial letter 101/0/2015 Psychopathology PYC4802 Year module Department of Psychology IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This tutorial letter contains important information about your module. CONTENTS Page 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Turorial material ....................................................................................................... 4 2. PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ......................................... 4 2.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 4 3. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ............................................................ 6 3.1 Lecturer(s) ............................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Department .............................................................................................................. 7 3.3 University ................................................................................................................. 7 4. MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES ....................................................................... 7 4.1 Prescribed book.....
Words: 20674 - Pages: 83
...growth, and cognitive abilities. Interest in this field has been very important to researchers because they want to know what happens during child development as well as the influences on development. There are a few theorist who have their views on child development and they are Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget. Understanding child development has become very important today as we all want to Know what a child actually goes through during their development, and later on in life because most of these things will affect them later on in life. Many people don’t realize the many different stages a child goes through from birth and into early adulthood. Some of the major theories of development describes every aspect of development, by using stage approach, and other theories focus on cognitive and social growth, and with social development, some theorists have considered how the challenges as an individual matures; With this being said, psychoanalyst Erik Erikson developed a comprehensive theory of development and his view was that developmental changes...
Words: 3015 - Pages: 13
...PSYCH-205, Abnormal Psychology. PART 1: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE WHAT IS ABNORMAL? * It is behavior, specifically persistent behavior associated with cognitive, emotional, or perceptual distortions that are not socially acceptable, and are potentially dangerous. Many behaviors fit the criteria, but are not considered abnormal. Astronauts for example are not considered to be psychologically abnormal despite engaging in dangerous and persistently deviant behaviors. Legal insanity is different from a clinical diagnosis, although a clinical diagnosis will determine whether or not a person can be judged insane by a court. To define behavior as abnormal, it must meet the following standards. 1. Distressful – It is upsetting for self and others. 2. Dysfunctional – It is maladaptive, inhibits personal goals or ability to function on own. 3. Dangerous – Potentially to self or others. 4. Deviant – Is not tolerated by cultural norms and/or is statistically odd, keeping in mind context of behavior. (Religious practice gets a pass.) 5. *Duration – Behaviors, Affects and/or Cognitions are persistent regardless of circumstance over time. 6. *Detachment – Person holds beliefs or acts in ways that do not correspond to reality. (Religious practice gets a pass.) TYPES OF RESEARCH- One and two apply only to the social sciences, whereas three, four and five apply to both natural and social sciences, with exception to history, which relies solely on case studies and...
Words: 7008 - Pages: 29
...‘’Evaluate the claim that Person-Centred Therapy offers the therapist all that he/she will need to treat client’s’’. When looking at Person-Centred Therapy the name that most commonly pops up is that of Carl Rogers. Rogers believed that people continually strive ‘to become a person’. He was convinced that a strict upbringing resulted in the repression of emotions. Love is an important emotion to aid our survival, particularly from those that are around us with whom we depend upon for survival. He argued that in infancy we developed positive, self- regard and needed this in order to survive. Carl Rogers Theory of the self-concept Carl Rogers theory of the concept of self relates to the individuals perception or image of themselves which is based on life experience. So if a child’s first experiences are negative, Rogers believed it likely that by the time they became an adult, the child would have a poor self-concept. The theory includes the organismic self (or self-actualising tendency) and self-concept. The organismic self is with us from birth and strives to mature and achieve self-actualisation. The self-concept is acquired in early childhood, it is shaped by positive attitudes we receive from important others (usually parents). The self-concept usually comes into play due to secondary needs, positive regard from others and positive self-regard. An example of positive regard from others would be of a parent not paying much attention to their child telling them about their...
Words: 2416 - Pages: 10