Models of Psychopathology

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Models of Psychopathology

• Unidimensional Models
• One Cause of a Disorder
• Multidimensional Models
• Multiple, Linear Causes
• Diathesis-Stress Model
• Reciprocal Models
• Reciprocal Gene-Environmental Model

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Contributing Factors

• Biological Factors
• Genetics
• Other organic factors
• Psychological Factors
• Cognition
• Behavior
• Emotion

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Contributing Factors (2)

• Social Factors
• Interpersonal
• Familial
• Siocioeconomic
• Cultural Factors
• Norms
• Beliefs
• Developmental Factors

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Biological Factors

• Neuronal Structure and Function
• Brain Structure and Function
• Nervous System Structure
• Fight or Flight Reaction

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Neurons

• Structure of Neurons
• Soma
• Dendrites
• Axon
• Axon terminals
• Synapses
• Electrochemical Communication
• Action Potential
• Neurotransmitters

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Neurotransmission
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How Neurotransmitters Work
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Neurons
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Function of Neurotransmitters (and Medication)

• Agonists, Antagonists, Inverse Agonists
• Serotonin (Many, SSRIs)
• Widespread, esp. in cortex
• Behavior, mood, thought
• GABA (Benzodiazepines)
• Anxiety and stress reduction
• Muscle relaxation
• Reduced arousal and emotion (increased passivity)

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Function of Neurotransmitters (and Medication) (2)

• Norepinephrine (Autonomic Functions)
• aka noradrenaline
• Indirect effects
• Dopamine
• Overlap with Serotonin Circuits
• Motor behavior
• Exploratory, Pleasure-Seeking
• Schizophrenia (too much)
• Parkinsons Disease (too little)

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Brain Structure

• Three Main Divisions
• Hindbrain
• Midbrain
• Forebrain

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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)
• Location of most sensory, emotional, and
  cognitive processing
• Two hemispheres joined by the corpus callosum

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Brain Structures
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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

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Cerebral Cortex Lobes
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Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
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Peripheral Nervous System

• Somatic Branch of PNS
• Controls voluntary muscles and movement
• Autonomic Branch of the PNS
• Sympathetic
• Parasympathetic

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Autonomic Nervous System
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The Endocrine System

• Hormones
• The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenalcortical Axis
  (HYPAC axis)
• Integration of endocrine and nervous system
  function

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Implications of Neuroscience for Psychopathology

• Connection Between Neurological Processes and
  Abnormal Behavior
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Schizophrenia
• Others
• All Disorders?

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Implications (cont.)

• Causal Connection?
• Experience Can Change Brain Structure and
  Function
• Medications and Psychotherapy Can Change Brain
  Structure and Function
• Filling Fallacy
• Cavities caused by lack of metal in tooth
• Headache caused by lack of aspirin
• Beware of the typical assumption

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Beyond Biological Factors

• Cultural Factors
• Influence the form and expression of normal and
  abnormal behavior
• Culture-bound Syndromes
• Amok, Koro, Witiko, Hikikomori , Latah
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Gender Effects
• Exerts a strong and puzzling effect on
  psychopathology

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Beyond Biological Factors (2)

• Social Relationships
• Frequency and quality related to mortality,
  disease, and psychopathology
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• Psychopathology Is Culturally, Socially, and
  Interpersonally Situated

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Beyond Biological Factors (3)

• Life-Span Developmental Perspective
• Addresses developmental changes
• Such changes influence and constrain what is
  normal and abnormal

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The Comprehensive Model

• Genobiochemiconeuropsychocogno-behavioroemotionofa
  miliosocio-environmentopoliticoeconomico-culturode
  velopmental Model