Psychological Problems

What Psychological Problems covers

Psychological Problems is examined in Paper 2, Social context and behaviour. It covers an introduction to mental health, effects of mental health problems, clinical depression, explaining and treating depression, addiction and treating addiction.

The 6 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• An introduction to mental healthThe characteristics of good mental health, cultural variation, the rising incidence of mental health problems, social stigma, isolation and the effects of social media.Open →
• Effects of mental health problemsHow significant mental health problems affect relationships, day-to-day life, physical wellbeing and work, and their wider effects on social care, the economy and crime.Open →
• Clinical depressionUnipolar and bipolar depression, how the International Classification of Diseases is used to diagnose it, and its effects on sleep, appetite and energy.Open →
• Explaining and treating depressionThe biological explanation and neurotransmitters, negative schemas and attributions, antidepressants and cognitive behaviour therapy, and Wiles' study of CBT.Open →
• AddictionAddiction and substance misuse, dependence syndrome, genetic vulnerability and Kaij's twin study, and peer influence as a psychological explanation.Open →
• Treating addictionAversion therapy for alcohol addiction, self-management programmes, self-help groups and 12-step recovery, and the reductionist and holistic view of each treatment.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Psychological Problems further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Unipolar depression vs Bipolar depression

  Unipolar depression: low mood without any episodes of mania. Bipolar depression: low mood alternating with periods of mania.

• Addiction vs Substance misuse

  Addiction: a strong, hard-to-control need that continues despite harm. Substance misuse: occasional or harmful use without dependence.

• Antidepressants vs Cognitive behaviour therapy

  Antidepressants: medication that raises serotonin at the synapses. Cognitive behaviour therapy: a talking treatment that challenges negative thoughts.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is mental health?

   Model answer

   Mental health is a person's emotional and psychological wellbeing. Good mental health lets a person cope with everyday life and make the most of it.

2. 2

   What are the characteristics of good mental health?

   Model answer

   A mentally healthy person engages positively with society, for example through work, friendships and community life. The person also copes effectively with challenges and setbacks.

3. 3

   What is a significant mental health problem?

   Model answer

   A significant mental health problem is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feelings or behaviour enough to disrupt daily life. Depression and addiction are examples.

4. 4

   How do beliefs about mental health problems vary between cultures?

   Model answer

   Cultures differ in how they explain and respond to mental health problems. Some see them as medical conditions, while others explain them in spiritual or supernatural terms.

5. 5

   How can culture affect whether a person seeks help for a mental health problem?

   Model answer

   In cultures where mental health problems carry shame, a person may hide symptoms rather than seek help. Some cultures express distress mainly through physical complaints, which can delay diagnosis.

6. 6

   What does the incidence of a mental health problem mean?

   Model answer

   Incidence is the number of new cases of a problem recorded in a population over a set period. Changes in incidence show whether a problem appears to be becoming more or less common.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Psychological Problems revision questions

What does Psychological Problems cover in AQA GCSE Psychology?

6 subtopics: an introduction to mental health, effects of mental health problems, clinical depression, explaining and treating depression, addiction and treating addiction. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Psychological Problems organised?

By the AQA 8182 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.