psych problems - studies

Question 1

caspi study name year

Answer 1

caspi et al (2003): influence of life stress on depression and moderation by variations in the 5-HTT gene

Question 2

caspi aims

Answer 2

> To investigate why stressful life events led to depression in some people and not in others.

> To investigate whether people with a certain variation of the 5-HTT gene were more likely to get depression after stressful life events.

Question 3

caspi participants

Answer 3

847 participants who were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Society and were part of a longitudinal study
Caucasian non-Māori

Question 4

caspi procedure

Answer 4

> participants were divided into 3 groups depending on gene pair
longitudinal study: each participant completed a questionnaire on stressful life events between their 21st and 26th birthday
they were given another questionnaire about whether they had any depressive symptoms in the year before their 26th birthday
an informant (close friend/family member) was also given the depression survey to cross check responses
Gave researchers quantitive data in terms of a ‘depression score’.

Question 5

caspi groups percentages

Answer 5

1: 2 (s) allele > 17%
2: 1(s) 1(l) allele > 51%
3: 2(l) allele >31%

Question 6

caspi findings

Answer 6

> if at least one (s) allele and been through stressful life event: showed significant increase in depression symptoms
short gene: more likely to be DIAGNOSED with depression than those with two long versions
short gene were more likely to develop suicidal thoughts after stressful life events
2(s): MOST likely to report severe depressive symptoms if they had suffered stressful life events (suicidal thoughts/attempts if 3 or more life events)
Stressful life events predicted informant reports of depression among carriers of
an (s) allele

Question 7

caspi how did the alleles effect the impact of stressful life events

Answer 7

(s): moderated the effects
(l): reduced their impact

Question 8

caspi conclusion

Answer 8

> there is an interaction between stressful life events and genetic influences
both nature and nurture work together to increase likelihood of a person developing depression. A person needs both stressful life events AND the short gene to become depressed.

Question 9

caspi strengths

Answer 9

> very large sample size: generalisable
information from study could be useful for doctors: may be another cause to their depression such as stressful life events and genetic explanations

Question 10

caspi weaknesses

Answer 10

> self report data which might not be reliable (downplay or exaggerate)
stressful life event is subjective (people perceive stressful differently)
Some people are naturally more likely to put themselves in situations where stressful life events may occur

Question 11

young study name, year

Answer 11

Young (2007): CBT with Internet Addicts: Treatment Outcomes and Implications

Question 12

young aims

Answer 12

To investigate the effect of using CBT to treat a group of patients diagnosed with internet addiction
>see how problem behaviours improved over time both during therapy and after they ended.

Question 13

young participants

Answer 13

> 114 participants were recruited from the Online Centre for Internet Addiction and were diagnosed as having an internet addiction.
42% female
84% caucasian
^mean age of 38 and 46 for males and females
61% had a bachelor’s degree

All participants had been screened using the Internet Addiction Test with some participants excluded beforehand for showing high-risk behaviours
>96% of people said that the biggest problem was online apps
>30% males addicted to porn
>30% females addicted to online chat rooms

Question 14

young procedure

Answer 14

> Given a course of online CBT sessions. The first (functional analysis) focused on finding out information about how the symptoms started

> There was skills training (helped come up with strategies to treat symptoms) e.g. using an app to lock social media on their phone

> Also worked to solve other issues contributing to their excess internet use such as problems at school, home or work

Question 15

how did young measure results

Answer 15

> patients given an outcome questionnaire on the 3rd, 8th, and 12th session, then a 6 month follow up
12 questions on a 5-point Likert scale
assessed:
-how effective counselling was at helping the clients achieve the targeted treatment goals, and the quality of the counselling relationship
-motivation to quit abusing the internet
-ability to control offline activities- improved relationship functioning
- improved offline sexual functioning (if applicable)

Question 16

young findings

Answer 16

> Rating of therapist participant relationship increased over the 12 session period.
showed continuous improvement by session 3 and effective symptom management by sessions 8 and 12, with overall improved symptom maintenance by the 6-month follow-up
No significant drop in results six months later

Question 17

young conclusion

Answer 17

> CBT can be an effective treatment for internet addiction because clients reported a decrease in problem behaviours
long term benefits: clients reported similar ratings of control after 6 months

Question 18

young strengths

Answer 18

> CBT for internet addiction can be effective
line CBT might encourage more people to access treatment (less embarrassment)
data is consistent and reliable: standardised

Question 19

young weaknesses

Answer 19

> self reporting might be inaccurate (demand characteristics)
no differentiation between outcomes for different types of internet addiction