What is Learned helplessness

Psychology 242

Chapter 2

Question 2: Describe Learned helplessness. How it is developed in laboratory animals and how does it help us to understand human depression?

Learned Helplessness was established though experimental tests on rats in Lab controlled environment. The scientist would shock the rats to see what the patterned of behaviors was. When the rats would realize that they had no control over their environment they would become “depressed.”

This experiment led to the conclusion that people reacted the same way. When faced with the experience of helplessness they tend to become depressed, Just like the rats did. The real breakthrough in Psychology was when Seligmen realize that different people have different views of the same situation, meaning that what one person views as a workable situation another may see it as an impossible situation to cope with and therefore become depressed.

Chapter 3

Question 1: The DSM-IV is based on a multiaxial system. Explain the content of each axis and its contribution to understanding the patient?

The DSM-IV system was an upgrade of the DSM-III. It brought about certain changes to the old coding system, For example the in the new DSM only personality disorders and mental retardation is coded in Axis II. “Pervasive developmental disorders that were previously in coded on Axis II are now in Axis I.” Certain disorders that had not been useful were replaced, or completely deleted from the DSM, while other disorders where added to it.

This new DSM helps psychologists diagnose certain disorders in a more efficient manner. For example according to the book there is a case of a patient whom they call “Frank.” In his case

“Initial observation indicates an anxiety disorder on Axis I, specifically obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, he might also have long standing personality traits that lead him systematically to avoid social contact. If so, there might a diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder on Axis II. Unless Frank has an identifiable medical condition, there is nothing on Axis III. Job and marital difficulties would coded on Axis IV where we note psychosocial or environmental problems that are not part of the disorder but might make it worse.”

This patient has a little bit of everything in the Mix, but nothing so severe that he would be diagnosis with anything in the new DSM the reason being that in the DSM one must first rate the severity of the disorder before they are given a label.  

Chapter 4

Question 1: Explain the unique ways that monozygotic twins raised in separate environments help us to understand the genetic influences of psychopathology?

By studying Monozygotic twins one can distinguish whether or not certain disorders are genetic or a product of our environment. After several studies Michael Lyons came to the conclusion that in juvenile anti-social behavior would be the result of environments not genetic factors.  Yet in adulthood, anti-social behavior is greatly due to genetic factors.  This leads to the assumption that in early stages of development, behavior is due the environment, and not genetics.  Whereas in adulthood, it is the genetic factor that influences one’s psychological disorder to develop. 

Question 2

Describe the procedures of the cross-sectional and longitudinal research methods.  What are the uses and limitations of these methods?

Cross-sectional design is when researchers take a sample population of different age groups and compare them on some characteristics.  What this means is that they will take a group of people who are around or about the same age and question them on a subject to find their opinions.  They can then use this information to develop a hypothesis.  This method of research is preferred by most academics, because it can be done in short amount of time.  However, this method cannot answer how the individuals came about their opinion or how they will develop because of that opinion.  Longitude designs is when researchers follow one group over time and record all of the changes and experiences the members go through in the years.  This method can be very accurate in asserting why certain members of the group develop certain disorders which can lead to a hypothesis.  Unfortunately, this type of research can take up to 25 years.  And not many institutions can be the financial burden that goes along with longitudinal. 

Chapter 5

Question 3

Discuss panic disorder including symptoms, cause, and treatment. What is panic attack? Explain the differences between the three types of panic attacks.

There are three types of panic attacks that are described in the DSM/IV:  The first is situational bound.  In this case you will only have the symptoms of the panic attack in certain situations or places, but not anywhere else.  However, in unexpected panic attacks, you will never know when or where your next attack will happen.  Standing in the middle is the third type of panic attack which is situational predisposed. 

Panic attacks are defined by a sudden sense of fear which is usually accompanied by heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes dizziness.  The only way to treat panic attacks is by confronting the fears and anxieties of the patient in a controlled environment so the patient can be aware that there is nothing to be afraid of. 

Chapter 7

Question 3

Compare and contrast the clinical symptoms of major depression and mania. Explain what is meant by mixed mania.

Major depression is characterized by cognitive symptoms that last at least two weeks or more.  This means that the subject will experience the feeling worthlessness, indecisiveness, and helplessness.  Most times they will also disturbed physical functions such as altered sleeping patterns, changes of appetite, losses and gain of weight, and/or loss of energy.  Subjects that experience a depressive episode will typically lose interest in the most common household tasks, and the inability to enjoy life, whereas mania is characterized by a feeling of euphoria.  Subjects experiencing mania can find joy in the most mundane of tasks.  Some patients go as far as comparing “their daily experience of mania to a continuous sexual orgasm.”  Some of the physical elements of mania can be:  Requiring very little sleep, rapid incoherent speech, and the feeling that they can do anything.

The combination of both a manic and depressive episode contributes to what is known as a mixed mania.  When an individual can “experience manic symptoms but feel somewhat depressed or anxious at the same time.”

Chapter 8

Question 1

In what ways do anorexia and bulimia patients tend to be similar and in what ways do they differ?  Make certain to include the similarities and differences in the symptoms of the disorders as well as the dysfunctional thoughts typically associated with each disorder.

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by the subject eating large amounts of food and then purging.  Purging can include self-induced vomiting, or the use of laxatives and diuretics, as well as excessive exercise.  Some subjects will fast for long periods before succumbing to another out-of-control binge.  The most important characteristic present in bulimia is the feeling that self-esteem will only be determined by the subject’s weight.  The same is true for subjects who suffer from anorexia.  Both anorexia and bulimia subjects have a powerful and controlling fear of gaining weight and losing control over eating.  In the case of anorexia, subjects will cease to eat.  With anorexia the subjects experience a feeling of control over their bodies and their diets, which is not true for subjects suffering from bulimia.  Subjects with bulimia usually have a history of anorexia where they use fasting to lose weight. Anorexia usually develops when a subject chooses to loose weight and succeeds. The subject then develops a fear of gaining weight and does anything to keep that from happening.

Question 3: What are the differences between nightmares and sleep terrors? Describe what we know about sleep terrors, including the ages at which it generally occurs and how it has been treated?

There is not a lot of research on nightmares or sleep terrors; some of the things that are known are that in both cases the subjects are children. Nightmares are characterized as very bad dreams that makes the subject awaken from his or her sleep, while night terrors are usually bad dreams which the subject does not remember, the subject would have screamed, Usually his or her heart will be palpitating and they will be sweating but they will not remember why. Another distinction is that Nightmares occur during REM sleep while night terrors occur during NREM sleep.

The first prescription for this type of cases is time, Doctors will usually ask the parents to wait and see if the nightmares or night terrors disappear on their own. If night terrors persist then the Doctors might ask the parents to awaken the child half an hour prior to the time when the night terror usually occurs, this will occur every night making it a little bit later every night until the child finally gets to sleep all night. Although the effects have not been researched or proven there are times when someone experiencing this symptoms might be prescribed antidepressants.

Question 4: Describe the Diagnostic criteria, neurological elements, and treatment for circadian sleep disorder?

To be diagnosed with circadian sleep disorder the subject would have to contains several criteria’s, one of which is that the developmental stages of the disorder begins by having interrupted sleep which brakes the normal sleep pattern, this interruption to sleep must create a disruption in the subjects life or social environment, it must also not be in conjuncture to any other mental or sleep disorder.

Our brain has ways of letting us know when it is time to go to sleep. Our biological clock is in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleous in the Hypothalamus which is connected to our eyes. Essentially what happens is that our eyes perceive darkness (Night) and let our brain know that it is time to sleep, the Brain then produces melatonin to help us go to sleep. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland. It is when a subject suffers from a disruption in this process that he or she develops Circadian Sleep Disorder.

There are several ways to treat Circadian Sleep Disorder; one of them is the use of several drugs. Among these drugs are Benzodiazepine, Trizolm and Zolpidem and more. Drugs are used for short term treatment and are not suggested for long term treatment, the reason being that drugs can develop a dependency. Environmental treatments might include using a bright light. In this case the subject would sit in front of a bright light for a couple of hours so that the brain can receive the correct message and reset the internal clock. Other treatments might involve the forcing of the subject to go to sleep earlier, or later, this depends on which one is the problem, until the subject is back to a normal rhythm.