Chapter 2 An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology

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Chapter 2An Integrative Approach to
Psychopathology
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One-Dimensional vs. Multidimensional Models

• One-Dimensional Models
• Explaining behavior in terms of a single cause
• Could mean a paradigm, school, or conceptual
  approach
• Problem Other information is often ignored
• Multidimensional Models
• Interdisciplinary, eclectic, and integrative
• System of influences that cause and maintain
  suffering
• Uses information from several sources
• Abnormal behavior as multiply determined

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Multidimensional Models of Abnormal Behavior

• Biological Factors (genetics, physiology,
  neurobiology)
• Behavioral Factors
• Emotional Influences
• Social Factors
• Developmental Factors

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Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology

• Gregor Mendel's Work in the 19th Century
• 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

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The Interaction of Genetic and Environmental
Effects

• Eric Kandel and Gene-Environment Interactions
• The Diathesis-Stress Model
• Examples include blood-injury-injection phobia
  and alcoholism
• Reciprocal Gene-Environment Model
• Examples include depression, divorce, and
  impulsivity
• Non-Genomic Inheritance of Behavior
• Environmental influences may override genetic
  influences
• Genes are not the whole story

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Neuroscience Contributions to Psychopathology

• The Field of Neuroscience
• The role of the nervous system in disease and
  behavior
• Branches of the Human Nervous System
• The central nervous system (CNS)
• Brain and spinal cord
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS)
• Somatic and autonomic branches

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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
• Neurons Function Electrically, but Communicate
  Chemically
• Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers

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Overview Neuroscience and Brain Structure

• Two Main Parts
• Brainstem and forebrain
• Three Main Divisions
• Hindbrain
• Midbrain
• Forebrain

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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)
• Forebrain (Cerebral Cortex)
• Most sensory, emotional, and cognitive processing
• Two specialized hemispheres

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Major Structures of the Brain

• Figure 2.7b Major Structures of the Brain.

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Neuroscience and the Brain Structure

• Lobes of Cerebral Cortex
• Frontal Thinking and reasoning abilities,
  memory
• Parietal Touch recognition
• Occipital Integrates visual input
• Temporal Recognition of sights and sounds and
  long-term memory storage
• Limbic System
• Thalamus Receives and integrates sensory
  information
• Hypothalamus Eating, drinking, aggression,
  sexual activity

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Neuroscience Peripheral Nervous and Endocrine
Systems

• Somatic Branch of PNS
• Controls voluntary muscles and movement
• Autonomic Branch of the PNS
• Sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the
  ANS
• Regulates cardiovascular system body
  temperature
• Regulates the endocrine system and aids in
  digestion
• The Endocrine System
• Hormones
• The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenalcortical Axis
  (HYPAC axis)
• Integration of endocrine and nervous system
  function

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Neuroscience Functions of MainTypes of
Neurotransmitters

• Functions of Neurotransmitters
• Agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists
• Most drugs are either agnostic or antagonistic
• Main Types and Functions of Neurotransmitters
• Serotonin (5HT)
• Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and
  benzodiazepines
• Norepinephrine and beta blockers
• Dopamine and L-Dopa

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Neuroscience Functions of MainTypes of
Neurotransmitters (cont.)
Figure 2.11 Major serotonin pathways in brain.
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Neuroscience Functions of MainTypes of
Neurotransmitters (cont.)

• Figure 2.12 Manipulating serotonin in the brain.

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Implications of Neuroscience for Psychopathology

• Relations Between Brain and Abnormal Behavior
• Example obsessive compulsive disorder
• Example schizophrenia
• Psychosocial Influences
• Can change brain structure and function
• Therapy
• Also changes brain structure and function
• Medications and psychotherapy
• Example Depression
• Psychosocial Factors
• Interact with brain structures and function

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The Contributions of Behavioral and Cognitive
Science

• Conditioning and Cognitive Processes
• Respondent and operant learning
• Learned helplessness
• Modeling and observational learning
• Social learning
• Prepared learning
• Cognitive Science and the Unconscious
• Implicit learning
• Blind sight
• Stroop paradigm

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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
• Components of Emotion
• Behavior, physiology, and cognition
• Example of fear
• Harmful Side of Emotional Dysregulation
• Anger, hostility, emotional suppression, illness,
  and psychopathology

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Emotions influence on body
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Emotion

• Figure 2.16 Emotion has three important and
  overlapping components behavior, cognition,and
  physiology.

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Cultural, Social, and InterpersonalFactors in
Psychopathology

• Cultural Factors
• Influence form and expression of behavior
• Gender Effects
• Exerts a strong and puzzling effect on
  psychopathology
• Social Effects on Health and Behavior
• Frequency and quality are important
• Related to mortality, disease, and
  psychopathology
• Stigma of Psychopathology
• Culturally, socially, and interpersonally situated

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Life-Span and DevelopmentalInfluences Over
Psychopathology

• Life-Span Developmental Perspective
• Addresses developmental changes
• Such changes influence and constrain
• What is normal and abnormal
• The Principle of Equifinality
• Concept in developmental psychopathology
• Several paths to a given outcome
• Paths can vary by developmental stage
• Example Autism

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Summary of the MultidimensionalPerspective of
Psychopathology

• Multiple Causation
• Is the rule, not the exception
• Helpful in explaining normal and abnormal
  behavior
• Take a Broad, Comprehensive, Systemic Perspective
• Biological
• Psychological
• Social, cultural, and developmental factors
• Useful
• To understand causes of psychopathology
• How best to prevent and alleviate psychopathology