Title 02 AbPsy - An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology.pdf ✅

02 – An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology ABPSY | 2024 - 2025 | NOT FOR SALE OUTLINE 1. One-Dimensional vs Multidimensional Models 2. Genetic Contributions to Psychopathology 3. Neuroscience and Its Contributions to Psychopathology 4. Behavioral and Cognitive Science 5. Emotions 6. Cultural, Social, and Interpersonal Factors 7. Life-Span Development ONE-DIMENSIONAL VS MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODELS ONE-DIMENSIONAL VS MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODELS One-Dimensional – looking for a single cause Multidimensional – looking for a systemic cause Multidimensional Integrative Approach – combination of biological, psychological, emotional, and developmental influences ● One-Dimensional Approach: attempts to trace the origins of behavior to a single cause ● This perspective on causality is systemic; implies that any particular influence contributing to psychopathology cannot be considered out of context ● No factor contributes to psychopathology can be considered independent ● Abnormal behavior does not originate from on single cause GENETIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY THE NATURE OF GENES Genes – long molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ● Some characteristics are strongly determined by one or more genes ○ Except for identical twins, every person has a unique set of genes ● Each normal human cell has 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs ● One chromosome in each pair comes from the father and one from the mother ○ Autosomes: 22 pairs of chromosomes provide programs or directions for the development of the body and brain ○ Sex Chromosomes: last pair of chromosomes that determines an individual’s sex ○ Abnormalities in the sex chromosomal pair can cause ambiguous sexual characteristics ● Dominant Gene: strongly influences a particular trait, only one is needed ● Recessive Gene: must be paired with another recessive gene to determine a trait ● Gene Dominance: occurs when one member of a gene pair is consistently expressed over the other ● Polygenic: influenced by many genes; development, behavior, personality, and intelligence ● Human Genome: an individual’s complete set of genes; consists of more than 20,000 genes ● Quantitative Genetics: sums up all the tiny effects across many genes ● Molecular Genetics: focuses on examining the actual structure of genes ○ DNA Microarrays: allow scientists to analyze thousands of genes at once and identify broad networks of genes that may be contributing to a particular trait ● Half of a person’s personality traits and cognitive abilities are caused by genetics but account for less than half in disorders ● Environmental factors may trigger specific genes to turn off or on INTERACTIONS OF GENES AND THE ENVIRONMENT Genetic-Environment Paradigm – shows how behavior and psychopathology are influenced by the interaction of genes and the environment ● An individual’s sensitivity or reaction to an environmental event is influenced by genes ● Many studies show that heredity is an important predisposing causal factor for certain disorders (ex. Depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism) ● However, genetic influences are rarely expressed in a simple straightforward manner and do not dictate behavioral outcomes ● Multigenic Determinism: affects psychological disorders Eric Kandel – proposed the idea that the environment may occasionally turn on certain genes ● This may lead to changes in the number of receptors at the end of a neuron ● Which, in turn, would affect biochemical functioning in the brain ● The brain and its functions are plastic Diathesis-Stress Model – people inherit tendencies to express certain traits which may be activated under certain conditions of stress 1 | @studywithky
● Diathesis: a condition that makes someone susceptible to developing a disorder ○ Also called vulnerability ○ Ex. tendency to faint at the sight of blood ● ↑ vulnerability = ↓ stress needed Gene-Environment Correlation Model – genetic endowment may increase the probability that an individual will experience stressful life events ● The inherent vulnerability is accompanied by an increased probability that the individual will create the necessary environmental influences needed to trigger their genetic vulnerability ● Also called reciprocal gene–environment model ● ↑ vulnerability = ↑ chance to encounter triggers EPIGENETICS AND THE NON-GENOMIC “INHERITANCE” OF BEHAVIOR ● Genetic influences are less powerful than what is commonly believed ● Environment cannot change the DNA, it can only change the gene expression ● Genes are turned on or off by an epigenome ● Epigenome: a material that is located outside the genome ● External factors affect the epigenome and can be passed down to generations ● The genome itself is not changed; the epigenome will fade away if the external influences disappear ● The complex interaction of both nature and nurture influences the development of behavior and personality NEUROSCIENCE AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Neuroscience Paradigm – examines the contribution of brain structure and function to psychopathology THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Central Nervous System - consist of the brain and the spinal cord; processes all the information received from our sense and organs ● Spinal Cord: facilitates the sending of messages to and from the brain ● Neurons: specialized cells that transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the body ○ Nucleus: found in the cell body and responsible for neural processes ○ Dendrite: has receptors that receive chemical impulses which is then converted to electrical signals (action potential) ○ Axons: sends out received signal to other neurons ■ Carrier of action potential ■ Terminal Buttons: end of an axon ○ Synapses: connection between nerve cells ○ Synaptic Cleft: small space between the end of each neuron through which impulse must pass ● Neurotransmitters: chemicals that allow neurons to send a signal to another neuron ○ Chemicals that are stored in the terminal buttons Peripheral Nervous System: coordinates with the brain stem to make sure the body is working properly ● Somatic Nervous System: controls the muscle ● Autonomic Nervous System: regulates the cardiovascular system and the endocrine system 2 | @studywithky