Welcome to the World of Mental Health Psychology!
Hello there! Welcome to one of the most fascinating parts of your OCR A Level Psychology course. In this chapter, we are going to explore Mental Health. Have you ever wondered why we consider some behaviours "normal" and others "abnormal"? Or why some doctors use medicine to treat the mind while others prefer "talk therapy"?
Don't worry if some of this seems complex at first—we're going to break it down step-by-step. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand how our views on mental health have changed over time, how we diagnose illnesses today, and the different ways we can help people feel better.
1. What is Mental Health?
Before we can treat mental illness, we have to define what it actually is. This isn't as easy as it sounds! What is considered "normal" in one country might be seen as "strange" in another.
Three Historical Views
Humans haven't always understood the brain. Here are three ways people used to view mental illness:
1. Supernatural View: In the past, people often believed mental illness was caused by evil spirits or "demons." Treatments were often harsh, like trepanning (drilling a hole in the skull to let the spirits out!).
2. Humoural View: The ancient Greeks (like Hippocrates) believed the body had four liquids called "humours" (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm). If these were out of balance, you became mentally ill.
3. The Hospital Movement: Later, society began moving people into "asylums." While this was meant to be for "care," these early hospitals were often more like prisons where people were hidden away from society.
Four Ways to Define "Abnormality"
How do psychologists decide if someone needs help? They use these four definitions:
• Statistical Infrequency: If a behaviour is rare (like a very low IQ), it is considered abnormal. Think of a bell curve: if you are on the very tiny edges, you are "statistically" rare.
• Deviation from Social Norms: Every society has unwritten rules. If someone breaks these rules (like shouting in a library), they might be seen as abnormal.
• Failure to Function Adequately: This looks at whether a person can cope with everyday life. Can they hold a job? Can they look after themselves?
• Deviation from Ideal Mental Health: Instead of looking at what is "wrong," this looks at what a "perfectly healthy" person looks like (e.g., having high self-esteem). If you lack these traits, you might be struggling.
Categorising Disorders: The DSM
Psychologists use a big "dictionary" of mental health called the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It helps doctors give the same diagnosis for the same symptoms. However, we must be careful of cultural bias—some symptoms might mean different things in different cultures!
Key Study: Neighbors et al. (2003)
The Aim: To see if there were racial differences in how depression and schizophrenia were diagnosed using the DSM.
What they found: They discovered that African Americans were sometimes more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and less likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to white Americans, even when symptoms were similar. This shows that clinical judgment can be influenced by a person's background.
Quick Review: We define abnormality in four ways (Social Norms, Functioning, Statistics, and Ideal Health). We use the DSM to diagnose people, but we must watch out for bias!
2. The Medical Model
The Medical Model treats mental illness just like a physical illness (like a broken leg or the flu). It assumes that the cause is "inside the body."
Biological Explanations
• Biochemical: This is the "chemical imbalance" theory. For example, low levels of serotonin are often linked to depression.
• Genetic: This suggests we inherit mental illness from our parents through our DNA.
• Brain Abnormality: This looks at the physical shape or activity of the brain. Some people with schizophrenia, for example, have larger fluid-filled spaces (ventricles) in their brains.
Key Study: Gottesman et al. (2010)
The Aim: To see if children are more likely to develop a mental disorder if both their parents have one.
The Logic: If mental illness is genetic, then having two "ill" parents should make the risk very high.
What they found: If both parents had schizophrenia, the child had a \(27.3\%\) risk of developing it. If only one parent had it, the risk dropped to \(7\%\). This strongly supports the idea that genes play a huge role in our mental health.
Practical Application: Drug Treatments
Because the Medical Model sees the cause as biological, the cure is usually biological too:
• Antidepressants: Used for depression (e.g., SSRIs to boost serotonin).
• Antipsychotics: Used for schizophrenia (to block dopamine).
• Anti-anxiety medication: Used for phobias and panic.
Key Takeaway: The Medical Model says: "The body is broken, so use medicine to fix it." It's very scientific, but some say it ignores a person's life experiences.
3. Alternatives to the Medical Model
Don't worry if the medical model feels a bit cold—many psychologists believe our environment and thoughts are more important than our genes!
Non-Medical Explanations
• Behaviourist: We "learn" mental illness. For example, a phobia is just a learned fear.
• Cognitive: Mental illness is caused by "faulty thinking." If you always think the worst will happen, you will feel depressed.
• Psychodynamic: This comes from Freud. It suggests mental illness comes from unconscious conflicts or bad experiences in childhood.
Key Study: Watson and Raynor (1920) - "Little Albert"
This is a famous (and slightly mean!) study. They showed a baby named Albert a white rat. Initially, he wasn't scared. Then, every time he reached for the rat, they made a LOUD BANG behind him. Soon, Albert became terrified of the rat. This shows that phobias can be learned through classical conditioning.
Practical Application: Psychological Therapies
• CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): This is the "gold standard" of therapy today. It helps people identify their "bad thoughts" and change them into "good thoughts."
• Systematic Desensitisation: A behaviourist treatment for phobias. You slowly face your fear (e.g., looking at a spider, then touching a spider) until the fear goes away.
• Psychoanalysis: Talking about your childhood to find the "hidden" cause of your problems.
Quick Review: Alternatives focus on the mind and learning rather than just the brain. CBT is the most popular modern version of this.
4. Modern Approaches to Mental Health
Today, we are moving into a world where technology and wellbeing are the big focuses. Psychology isn't just about fixing what's "broken"; it's about helping everyone stay healthy.
The Role of Technology
Nowadays, we don't always need to see a doctor in person. Technology helps support mental health through apps and websites. This is great for people who feel shy or live far away from a hospital.
Key Study: Fulmer et al. (2018) - "Tess" the AI
The Research: They tested an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot named "Tess."
How it worked: Tess talked to students who were feeling anxious or depressed. It wasn't a real person, just a smart computer program.
What they found: Students who used Tess felt significantly better! Their symptoms of depression and anxiety went down. This shows that AI technology can be a cheap and effective way to help people 24/7.
Practical Applications Today
• Digital Media: Using social media or apps to promote wellbeing (like "mindfulness" apps).
• The Role of Professionals: Psychiatrists (who can give medicine) and Psychologists (who provide therapy) now work together more than ever.
Key Takeaway: Mental health is moving into the digital age. AI chatbots and apps are making it easier for people to get help whenever they need it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid!
• Mixing up Psychiatrists and Psychologists: Remember, Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe drugs. Psychologists focus on talk therapy.
• Thinking "Abnormal" is an Insult: In psychology, "abnormal" just means "deviating from the average." It’s a scientific label, not a judgment.
• Ignoring the "Middle Ground": Many disorders are caused by a mix of Nature (genes) and Nurture (upbringing). Don't feel you have to choose just one!
You've reached the end of the Mental Health notes! Great job. Keep reviewing the key studies (especially Gottesman and Fulmer) as they are common exam topics. You've got this!