Psychological problems — AQA GCSE Psychology Revision

    This topic explores the nature of mental health, the impact of psychological problems on individuals and society, and provides a detailed study of clinical

    Topic Synopsis

    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.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Psychological problems

    AQA
    GCSE

    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.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    13
    Mark Points

    Topic Overview

    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.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Depression: A mood disorder characterised by persistent low mood, loss of interest (anhedonia), and other symptoms like changes in appetite, sleep, and concentration. The AQA specification focuses on the cognitive explanation (Beck's negative triad) and the biological explanation (low serotonin levels).
    • →Addiction: A condition where a person is dependent on a substance (e.g., nicotine, alcohol) or behaviour (e.g., gambling). Key features include tolerance, withdrawal, and craving. The specification covers the learning explanation (operant conditioning) and the biological explanation (dopamine reward pathway).
    • →Treatments: For depression, CBT (changing negative thought patterns) and SSRIs (increasing serotonin). For addiction, CBT (changing triggers and coping strategies) and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking. You need to evaluate their effectiveness and side effects.
    • →Evaluation skills: You must be able to compare biological and psychological explanations, and treatments, using strengths and weaknesses. For example, biological explanations are scientifically testable but reductionist; psychological explanations consider individual experiences but may lack biological evidence.

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Characteristics of mental health and cultural variations in beliefs
    • Impact of modern living on mental health
    • Individual and social effects of mental health problems
    • Characteristics of clinical depression (unipolar vs bipolar vs sadness)
    • Use of ICD for diagnosing unipolar depression
    • Biological explanation of depression (neurotransmitters)
    • Psychological explanation of depression (negative schemas and attributions)
    • Treatments for depression (antidepressants and CBT)

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Characteristics of mental health and cultural variations in beliefs
    • Impact of modern living on mental health
    • Individual and social effects of mental health problems
    • Characteristics of clinical depression (unipolar vs bipolar vs sadness)
    • Use of ICD for diagnosing unipolar depression
    • Biological explanation of depression (neurotransmitters)
    • Psychological explanation of depression (negative schemas and attributions)
    • Treatments for depression (antidepressants and CBT)
    • Effectiveness of treatments and reductionist vs holistic perspectives
    • Characteristics of addiction (dependence syndrome)
    • Biological explanation of addiction (genetic vulnerability)
    • Psychological explanation of addiction (peer influence)
    • Treatments for addiction (aversion therapy and self-management programmes)

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Ensure you can apply the ICD criteria for diagnosing depression and addiction
    • 💡Be prepared to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments using evidence like Wiles' study
    • 💡Practice linking biological and psychological theories to specific treatments
    • 💡Use clear terminology when discussing the impact of mental health on society and the economy
    • 💡When evaluating explanations, always use the 'PEEL' structure: Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. For example, 'One strength of the biological explanation of depression is that it has supporting evidence (Point). For instance, research shows that SSRIs, which increase serotonin, can reduce depressive symptoms (Evidence). This suggests that serotonin levels play a causal role (Explanation). Therefore, the biological explanation has practical applications (Link).'
    • 💡For 8-mark 'compare and contrast' questions, aim for three similarities and three differences, or four of each. Use comparative language like 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'similarly'. For example, 'Both depression and addiction involve biological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalances, whereas psychological factors differ: depression involves cognitive biases, while addiction involves conditioning.'
    • 💡Don't forget to mention ethical issues and cultural considerations. For example, when discussing treatments, note that CBT may not be suitable for all cultures, and drug therapies can have side effects. This shows higher-level thinking and can earn you extra marks.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing unipolar depression with bipolar depression
    • Failing to distinguish between addiction/dependence and substance misuse/abuse
    • Confusing biological (nature) and psychological (nurture) explanations
    • Misunderstanding the difference between reductionist and holistic perspectives in treatment evaluation
    • Misconception: Depression is just feeling sad. Correction: Depression is a clinical disorder with a range of symptoms lasting at least two weeks, including physical changes (e.g., fatigue, weight changes) and cognitive distortions (e.g., negative thinking). It is not the same as temporary sadness.
    • Misconception: Addiction is a choice or a lack of willpower. Correction: Addiction involves changes in the brain's reward system, making it a chronic condition. While initial use may be voluntary, continued use is driven by biological and psychological factors, not just willpower.
    • Misconception: CBT is the same as talking about your problems. Correction: CBT is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours. It is not just general conversation; it involves homework and specific techniques like cognitive restructuring.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Research methods: Understanding of experiments, correlations, and ethical guidelines is essential for evaluating studies on psychological problems.
    • •The brain and neuropsychology: Knowledge of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) and brain structures (e.g., reward pathway) is needed for biological explanations.
    • •Learning theories: Operant conditioning and classical conditioning are key to understanding addiction from a psychological perspective.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Describe
    Explain
    Evaluate
    Discuss
    Outline
    Apply

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