PSYCHOPATHOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bina has been diagnosed with depression. Her doctor says that depression is a
common problem but Bina is miserable. She cannot be bothered to get washed in the
morning and her manager is unhappy that she is taking a lot of time off work. When she
does go to work she is irritable, has temper tantrums and is rude to customers
Using your knowledge of three definitions of abnormality, explain whether or not Bina's
behaviour might be considered to be abnormal. [6 marks] - Correct Answers -Statistical
infrequency- the doctor said depression is quite normal, meaning Bina's behaviour
should not be considered abnormal
FFA- Bina is neglecting personal hygiene and takes time off work- behaviour can be
considered as abnormal
Deviation from ideal mental health- Bina is miserable- behaviour can be considered as
abnormal
Deviation from social norms- Bina has temper tantrums/is rude to customers which goes
against normal working norms and respect- behaviour can be considered as abnormal
Outline one behavioural and one cognitive characteristic of OCD
(4 marks) - Correct Answers -Behavioural- compulsions- where behaviour is performed
repeatedly to reduce anxiety
Cognitive- obsessions- this is when the pp suffers from irrational, unwanted thoughts
Describe one drug therapy that has been used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). Identify one limitation of drug therapy. [4 marks] - Correct Answers -Use of
SSRI's- eg fluoxetine
Acts to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain
-enables serotonin to remain active in the synapse
One limitation of drug therapy is side effects. This can de-motivate individuals to take
the drugs daily, meaning their symptoms will not decrease.
, Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to treating depression (8 marks) - Correct
Answers -A01
Features of Beck's CBT therapy
-focus on present experience
-identify negative irrational thoughts
--test validity of thoughts- realise they don't match reality
Challenging neg thoughts
-hypothesis testing via HW- patient as scientist
Ellis REBT
-development of ABC model
D= Dispute
-therapist disputes patients thoughts
empirical + logical arguments
E= Effect
-reduction of irrational thoughts
- Restricted beliefs (B) lead to better future consequences (C)
A03
+Supporting research
March- compared CBT, drug therapy or combined.
After 36 weeks:
-CBT and drug therapy had effectiveness of 81%
-combined= 86%
CBT reduces suicide rates better than drugs
+Role of patient- engaged and active rather than passive
Patient doesn't have to rely on biological intervention- drugs
-Severely depressed cannot engage in process and need medication
-time and commitment
Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions (2 marks) - Correct Answers -
Obsessions= internal components- thoughts
Compulsions= external components- behaviours
Researchers analysed the behaviour of over 4000 pairs of twins. The results showed
that the degree to which obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is inherited is between
45% and 65%.
With reference to the study described above, what do the results seem to show about
possible influences on the development of OCD? [4 marks] - Correct Answers -Results
indicate development of OCD is at least partly genetic.
Findings suggest heredity is high- between 45%-65%
This means there must be other explanations- otherwise inherited would be 100%
Environment must also be involved.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Bina has been diagnosed with depression. Her doctor says that depression is a
common problem but Bina is miserable. She cannot be bothered to get washed in the
morning and her manager is unhappy that she is taking a lot of time off work. When she
does go to work she is irritable, has temper tantrums and is rude to customers
Using your knowledge of three definitions of abnormality, explain whether or not Bina's
behaviour might be considered to be abnormal. [6 marks] - Correct Answers -Statistical
infrequency- the doctor said depression is quite normal, meaning Bina's behaviour
should not be considered abnormal
FFA- Bina is neglecting personal hygiene and takes time off work- behaviour can be
considered as abnormal
Deviation from ideal mental health- Bina is miserable- behaviour can be considered as
abnormal
Deviation from social norms- Bina has temper tantrums/is rude to customers which goes
against normal working norms and respect- behaviour can be considered as abnormal
Outline one behavioural and one cognitive characteristic of OCD
(4 marks) - Correct Answers -Behavioural- compulsions- where behaviour is performed
repeatedly to reduce anxiety
Cognitive- obsessions- this is when the pp suffers from irrational, unwanted thoughts
Describe one drug therapy that has been used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). Identify one limitation of drug therapy. [4 marks] - Correct Answers -Use of
SSRI's- eg fluoxetine
Acts to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain
-enables serotonin to remain active in the synapse
One limitation of drug therapy is side effects. This can de-motivate individuals to take
the drugs daily, meaning their symptoms will not decrease.
, Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to treating depression (8 marks) - Correct
Answers -A01
Features of Beck's CBT therapy
-focus on present experience
-identify negative irrational thoughts
--test validity of thoughts- realise they don't match reality
Challenging neg thoughts
-hypothesis testing via HW- patient as scientist
Ellis REBT
-development of ABC model
D= Dispute
-therapist disputes patients thoughts
empirical + logical arguments
E= Effect
-reduction of irrational thoughts
- Restricted beliefs (B) lead to better future consequences (C)
A03
+Supporting research
March- compared CBT, drug therapy or combined.
After 36 weeks:
-CBT and drug therapy had effectiveness of 81%
-combined= 86%
CBT reduces suicide rates better than drugs
+Role of patient- engaged and active rather than passive
Patient doesn't have to rely on biological intervention- drugs
-Severely depressed cannot engage in process and need medication
-time and commitment
Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions (2 marks) - Correct Answers -
Obsessions= internal components- thoughts
Compulsions= external components- behaviours
Researchers analysed the behaviour of over 4000 pairs of twins. The results showed
that the degree to which obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is inherited is between
45% and 65%.
With reference to the study described above, what do the results seem to show about
possible influences on the development of OCD? [4 marks] - Correct Answers -Results
indicate development of OCD is at least partly genetic.
Findings suggest heredity is high- between 45%-65%
This means there must be other explanations- otherwise inherited would be 100%
Environment must also be involved.
