Chapter 2 An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology OneDimensional

Chapter 2 An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology

One-Dimensional vs. Multidimensional Models • One-dimensional Models – Explain behavior in terms of a single cause – Could mean a paradigm, school, or conceptual approach – Tend to ignore information from other areas

One-Dimensional vs. Multidimensional Models • Multidimensional Models – Interdisciplinary, eclectic, and integrative – “System” of influences that cause and maintain suffering – Draw upon information from several sources – Abnormal behavior results from multiple influences

Multidimensional Models of Abnormal Behavior • Major Influences – Biological – Behavioral – Emotional – Social & cultural – Developmental

Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology • Phenotype vs. genotype • Nature of genes – Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – the double helix – 23 pairs of chromosomes – Dominant vs. recessive genes – Development and behavior is often polygenetic • Genetic contribution to psychopathology – Less than 50%

The Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Effects • Eric Kandel and gene-environment interactions • The diathesis-stress model – Examples: Blood-injury-injection phobia, alcoholism

The Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Effects • Reciprocal gene-environment model – Examples: depression, impulsivity • Epigenetics and the Non-genomic inheritance of behavior – Genes are not the whole story – Environmental influences may override genetics

Neuroscience Contributions to Psychopathology • The field of neuroscience – The role of the nervous system in disease and behavior • Branches of human nervous system – The central nervous system (CNS) • Brain and spinal cord – The peripheral nervous system (PNS) • Somatic and autonomic branches

Neuroscience and the Central Nervous System • The Neuron – Soma – cell body – Dendrites – branches that receive messages from other neurons – Axon – trunk of neuron that sends messages to other neurons – Axon terminals – buds at end of axon from which chemical messages are sent – Synapses – small gaps that separate neurons

Neuroscience and the Central Nervous System • Neurons operate electrically, but communicate chemically – Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers

Overview: Neuroscience and Brain Structure • Two main parts – Brainstem and forebrain • Three main divisions – Hindbrain – Midbrain – Forebrain

Neuroscience and the Divisions of the Brain • Hindbrain – Medulla – heart rate, blood pressure, respiration – Pons – regulates sleep stages – Cerebellum – involved in physical coordination • Midbrain – Coordinates movement with sensory input – Contains parts of the reticular activating system (RAS)

Neuroscience and the Divisions of the Brain • Forebrain – Most sensory, emotional, and cognitive processing – Two specialized hemispheres

Neuroscience and Brain Structure • Limbic system – Thalamus – receives and integrates sensory information – Hypothalamus – eating, drinking, aggression, sexual activity

Neuroscience and Brain Structure • Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex – Frontal – thinking and reasoning abilities, memory – Parietal – touch recognition – Occipital – integrates visual input – Temporal – recognition of sights and sounds, longterm memory storage

Neuroscience: Peripheral Nervous and Endocrine Systems • Somatic branch of PNS – Controls voluntary muscles and movement • Autonomic branch of the PNS – Sympathetic and parasympathetic branches – Regulates cardiovascular system & body temperature – Also regulates the endocrine system and aids in digestion

Neuroscience: Peripheral Nervous and Endocrine Systems • The Endocrine System – Hormones • The�Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenalcortic axis (HPA axis) – Integration of endocrine and nervous system function

Neuroscience: Functions of Main Types of Neurotransmitters • Functions of Neurotransmitters – Agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists – Most drugs are either agonistic or antagonistic

Neuroscience: Functions of Main Types of Neurotransmitters • Main types of neurotransmitters – Serotonin (5 -HT) – Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) – Norepinephrine – Dopamine

Implications of Neuroscience for Psychopathology • Relations between brain and abnormal behavior – Example: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Psychosocial influences – Can change brain structure and function

Implications of Neuroscience for Psychopathology • Therapy – Also can change brain structure and function – Medications and psychotherapy • Psychosocial factors – Interact with brain structure and function

The Contributions of Behavioral and Cognitive Science • Conditioning and cognitive processes – Respondent and operant learning – Learned helplessness – Social learning • Modeling and observational learning – Prepared learning

The Contributions of Behavioral and Cognitive Science • Cognitive science and the unconscious – Implicit memory – Blind sight – Stroop paradigm

The Role of Emotion in Psychopathology • The nature of emotion – To elicit or evoke action – Action tendency different from affect and mood – Intimately tied with several forms of psychopathology

The Role of Emotion in Psychopathology • Components of emotion – Behavior, physiology, and cognition – Example of fear • Harmful side of emotional dysregulation – Anger, hostility, emotional suppression, illness, and psychopathology

Cultural, Social, and Interpersonal Factors in Psychopathology • Cultural factors – Influence the form and expression of behavior • Gender effects – Exert a strong and puzzling effect on psychopathology • Social effects on health and behavior – Frequency and quality important – Related to mortality, disease, and psychopathology

Social Stigma of Psychopathology • Culturally, socially, and interpersonally situated

Life-Span and Developmental Influences Over Psychopathology • Life-span developmental perspective – Addresses developmental changes – Influence and constrain what is normal and abnormal • The principle of equifinality – From developmental psychopathology – Several paths to a given outcome – Paths vary by developmental stage

Summary of the Multidimensional Perspective of Psychopathology • Multiple causation – The rule, not the exception • Take a broad, comprehensive, systemic perspective – Biological – Psychological – Social, cultural, and developmental factors

Summary of the Multidimensional Perspective of Psychopathology • Comprehensive approach – Understanding the causes of psychopathology – To best alleviate and prevent psychopathology