Abnormal Psychology
Module 3: Etiology and Treatment of Mental Disorders
Multidimensional and Biological Methods and
Perspectives
Biopsychosocial Model Simplified
Biopsychosocial Model in Psychopathology
Biopsychosocial model (BPS): instead of the medical model that
emphasizes mental illness as disease, this model strives for a more
holistic approach by recognizing that each patient has their own
thoughts, feelings, and history
• Biological: genetic inheritance related to risk of developing a
disorder, malfunctions or disruptions of the system of neural
transmission between neurons in the brain
• potential damage to parts of the brain, infections or
diseases that might affect brain or nervous system
functioning, and hormonal influences or brain-hormone
interactions, etc.
• Psychological: thoughts, feelings, and behaviors including
learned behaviors (conditioning or observed behaviors),
thought patterns that increase or intensify emotions like sadness
or anxiety
• can include events occurring during key developmental
stages in life, strengths and weaknesses, inability to cope
with different life stressors, sense of confidence or selfefficacy, personality development, etc.
• Social/cultural: external situations that can shape how people
respond to events and other people, often by influencing the
degree of stress a person experiences in their life
Diathesis-Stress and Gene-Environment Models
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Diathesis-stress model: helps us understand why one
person might develop a disorder, or why two
people from similar backgrounds might develop
different disorders
• diathesis (usually genetic or biological) and
environmental stress, are necessary in the
development of a disorder
Threshold: a point at which the person's coping
abilities and social, psychological, and biological
defenses cannot manage their level of life stress
• when the combination of a
diathesis/vulnerability and life stress exceeds the
person's threshold, they will develop a disorder
that aligns with their vulnerability
Gene-environment correlation model (rGE): is
defined as the tendency of individuals to select and
generate their environment based on genetic
features that influence behavior, thoughts, and
feelings
Polygenic Inheritance and Genetic Heritability
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All mental disorders have polygenic inheritance; there
is no single gene that causes depression,
schizophrenia, or anorexia nervosa
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There are multiple (poly) genes that interact to
contribute to the development of mental disorders.
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Heritability is a statistic that estimates the degree of
variation of a phenotypic trait in a population, such as
the presence of a mental disorder, that is due to
genetic variation between individuals from that
population.
• calculated by comparing individual variation
among related individuals in a population using
various methods and is helpful in seeking to
understand the impact of genetics versus
environmental influences for a given disorder.
Biomedical Therapies and Brain Stimulation Treatment
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Lobotomy: a form of psychosurgery in which parts of
the frontal lobe of the brain are destroyed or their
connections to other parts of the brain severed
Biomedical therapy: medications used to treat mental
disorders are called psychotropic or psychoactive
medications
Psychotropic or psychoactive drugs are any type of
drug or chemical that alters the way a person thinks,
feels, or behaves
• Agonists: chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter
at the receptor site and, thus, strengthen its
effects.
• Antagonists: impede the normal activity of a
neurotransmitter at the postsynaptic receptor
Electroconvulsive therapy: the best-studied brain
stimulation therapy and has the longest history of use.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS):
uses a magnet to activate neurons in the brain
Deep brain stimulation (DBS): first developed as a
treatment for Parkinson's disease to reduce tremor,
stiffness, walking problems and uncontrollable
movements
Practice Question 1
Within assessment through diagnostic criterion, which of the following only
focuses on two elements: one being biological disposition and second external
factors?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Biopsychosocial Model
Diathesis-Stress Model
Gene-Environment Model
Biological Model
Key Concepts and Treatment Methods
Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Treatment
Psychotherapy: a type of treatment for mental
disorders that is mostly focused on psychogenic
models of the etiology of psychopathology
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Free association: the patient relaxes and
then says whatever comes to mind at the
moment without attempting to edit or worry
how the therapist might react
Dream analysis: dreams contain not only
manifest (or literal) content, but also latent
(or symbolic) content
Transference: the patient transfers all the
positive or negative emotions associated
with the patient’s other relationships to the
psychoanalyst
Psychodynamic perspective: approach to
therapy remains centered on the role of
people’s internal drives and forces, but
treatment is less intensive than Freud’s
original model
Humanistic Approach- Psychopathology
Existentialism: a philosophical approach emphasizing a holistic
view of human beings, validating the nature of human emotions,
thought, behavior, and choices
The goal of person-centered therapy (PCT), created by Carl
Rogers, is to create conditions under which clients can discover
their self-worth, feel comfortable exploring their own identity, and
alter their behavior to better reflect this identity
Unconditional positive regard: refers to the fact that the therapist
accepts their client for who they are, without condition
Nondirective therapy: the therapist does not give advice or
provide interpretations but helps the person to identify conflicts
and understand feelings so they can take responsibility for their
own direction in life and for their choices
Practice Question 2
Which of Freud’s Theories of Personality associates with the “pleasure principle”?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Id
Ego
Superego
Defense Mechanism
Cognitive and Behavioral Methods
Behavioral Approach
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Behavioral Approach: emphasize actual
behaviors by animals and human beings
rather than trying to study or evaluate things
that could not be seen or tested
Classical conditioning:
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): a stimulus that
elicits a reflexive response in an organism.
Unconditioned response (UCR): a natural
(unlearned) reaction to a given stimulus
• example: the dogs’ salivation
Neutral stimulus: presented immediately
before an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned (learned) stimulus (CS): a
stimulus that elicits a response after
repeatedly being paired with an
unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response (CR): the behavior
caused by the conditioned stimulus
Behavioral Approach (cont.)
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Operant conditioning: organisms learn to
associate a behavior with its consequence
Reinforcement/Reinforcer: consequences that
increase the frequency of a behavior
Punishment/Punishers: consequences that
decrease how often a behavior occurs
Observational learning: is essentially a
cognitive process involving perception and
interpretation of behaviors and is important
because not all forms of learning are
accounted for entirely by classical and
operant conditioning
Class Activity: Conditioning
• What is something you’ve learned through classical conditioning?
• What is something you’ve learned through operant conditioning?
Exposure Treatment and Systematic Desensitization
Counterconditioning: a client learns a new response
to a stimulus that has previously elicited an
undesirable behavior
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Aversive conditioning: uses an unpleasant
stimulus to stop an undesirable behavior
Exposure therapy: a therapist seeks to treat
clients’ fears or anxiety by presenting them with
the object or situation that causes their anxiety
with the idea that due to extinction they will
eventually get used to it
Extinction: the gradual disconnection of the
relationship between the unconditioned stimuli
and the conditioned stimuli
• or in operant conditioning, the disconnection
between the operant behavior and a
reinforcer
Systematic desensitization: wherein a calm and
pleasant state is gradually associated with
increasing levels of anxiety-inducing stimuli
Cognitive Approach to Psychotherapy
Rational-emotive-behavioral therapy (REBT): "irrational thinking" or irrational
thoughts to refer to dysfunctional thoughts that tended to produce significant
negative emotions and consequently, maladaptive behaviors
An REBT therapist would help the client analyze the situation this way, A -> B -> C:
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A = the Activating Event, the situation or stressor that triggered the emotion
B = the Beliefs or negative thought patterns (irrational thinking)
C = the emotional Consequence of the Belief
Aaron Beck used the term "automatic thoughts" to refer to the thoughts these
patients reported experiencing spontaneously
Cognitive therapy: a form of psychotherapy that focuses on how a person’s
thoughts lead to feelings of distress
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The self – "I'm worthless and ugly", "I wish I was different", or "I can't do anything
right"
The world – "No one values me", "people ignore me all the time", or "life is so
unfair"
The future – "Things will never change", "things can only get worse!" or "I'll never
feel good again”
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very large
group of psychotherapeutic approaches that help
clients examine how their thoughts affect their
behavior
• aims to change cognitive distortions and selfdefeating behaviors
• help people make adaptive, instead of
maladaptive, appraisals
• sessions are very interactive between the client
and the therapist, and treatment involves
between-session homework assignments
Persons with medical conditions may also benefit
from CBT
• use with chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, post
spinal cord injuries, insomnia, and pain
management in a variety of conditions including
breast cancer
Results of Psychotherapy and Integrative/Ecclectic
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): focuses on coping with
or improving relationships, dealing with grief, life transitions
such as retirement or divorce, and resolving conflict with
others
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Technical eclecticism: the specific and intentional use
of different psychotherapy techniques and methods,
seeking to match the client's unique struggles and
background with treatments that have been shown
to be effective in that context
Theoretical integration: this approach blends two or
more models of therapy, both theory and techniques,
in an attempt to find a more effective approach to
helping clients
Combination therapy: used to describe situations
where physicians or psychiatrists prescribe several
different medications in a patient's treatment
Mindfulness: a process that tries to cultivate a
nonjudgmental, yet attentive, mental state
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There are two important components of mindfulness:
(1) self-regulation of attention, and (2) orientation
toward the present moment
Emerging Forms in Psychotherapy
Internet- and mobile-delivered therapies make
psychological treatments more available, through
smartphones and online access using specific
technologies that encrypt communication and ensure
privacy.
Clinician-supervised online CBT modules allow patients
to access treatment from home on their own
schedule—an opportunity particularly important for
patients with less geographic or socioeconomic access
to traditional treatments
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Cognitive bias modification: patients are given
exercises, often through the use of video games,
aimed at changing their problematic thought
processes
CBT-enhancing pharmaceutical agents: drugs used
to improve the effects of therapeutic interventions
Practice Question 3
Counseling theories differ in their approach based on the client’s need. Which of
the following would be consistent with helping to “change cognitive distortions
and self-defeating behaviors”?
A.
B.
C.
D.
REBT
CBT
CT
IPT
Treatment Modalities in Psychopathology
Benefits of Different Treatment Modalities
Treatment modalities are not based on any specific theory or
model of psychotherapy; instead, they are different environments
in which treatment takes place
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Intake assessment: therapist gathers specific information to
address the client’s immediate needs and to arrive at a diagnosis,
such as the presenting problem, symptoms, the client’s support
system, and insurance status
Confidentiality: means the therapist cannot disclose confidential
communications to any third party without the client's consent
unless mandated or permitted by law to do so
Individual therapy: also known as individual psychotherapy or
individual counseling, the client and clinician meet one-on-one
Group therapy: a clinician meets together with several clients with
similar problems
Psychoeducation group: a group for children who have a parent
with cancer
• might discuss in depth what cancer is, types of treatment for
cancer, the side effects of treatments such as hair loss, as well
as ways to support the family member, and ways to cope
with the emotional impact on themselves
Couples therapy: involves two people in an intimate relationship
who are having difficulties and are trying to resolve them
Family therapy: a special form of group therapy, consisting of one
or more families
Impact of Culture on Treatment Availability
Cultural competence: the ability to understand and honestly and openly address issues of race, culture, and
ethnicity
Sociocultural perspective: accepts and integrates the impact of cultural and social norms, starting at the
beginning of treatment
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Therapists who use this perspective work with clients to obtain and integrate information about their
cultural patterns into a unique treatment approach based on their particular situation
Practice Question 4
Michelle and Jen have been having problems in their relationship for the past
several months. Michelle feels that Jen is not supportive enough and Jen feels
Michelle works too much. They both agree that they need to see a therapist to
help deal with their problems. Which type of therapy would be the best option
for them?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Group Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy