This topic explores the nature of mental health, the impact of psychological problems on individuals and society, and provides a detailed study of clinical depression and addiction, including their characteristics, biological and psychological explanations, and associated treatments.
Psychological problems refer to mental health conditions that affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. In the AQA GCSE Psychology specification, this topic focuses on two main disorders: depression and addiction. You will explore their characteristics, explanations (biological and psychological), and treatments. Understanding psychological problems is crucial because mental health issues affect millions of people worldwide, and studying them helps reduce stigma and improve support.
This topic builds on your knowledge of the brain, neuropsychology, and research methods. You will learn how biological factors (e.g., genetics, neurotransmitters) and psychological factors (e.g., cognitive biases, learning) contribute to these disorders. You will also evaluate treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and drug therapies. By the end, you should be able to compare explanations and treatments for depression and addiction, and critically assess their effectiveness.
Psychological problems are a key part of the 'Cognition and behaviour' section of the course. They link to topics like memory, perception, and social influence, as these can all be affected by mental health. Understanding this topic will also help you in later studies of individual differences and clinical psychology.
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