Miller (2010) described the case study of 'John' who received impulse control therapy. John was a 35-year-old successful banker, but had a long history of gambling problems. In 10 years, John lost more than $1 000 000 playing poker.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
2. The 'feeling state' is when positive feelings are linked with specific events and form a 'state-dependent' memory.
3. Marks: 1 mark 'positive feelings linked to an event' 2 marks 'form a state-dependent memory'.
4. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
5. EMDR is involves in reducing the negative beliefs caused by traumatic events (such as PTSD). ICDP involves trying to reduce the positive beliefs associated with a feeling state.
6. EMDR effectiveness can be assessed using the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale. (SUDS). The effectiveness of ICDP can be assessed using the Positive Feeling Scale (PFS).
7. Marks: 2 marks for difference (i.e. both sides must be stated for full marks) 1 mark if both sides are not stated or merely described × 2
8. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
9. Covert sensitisation (Glover, 2011), is where an imagined (and so covert) aversive stimulus (such as being caught or feeling nauseous) is paired with an undesirable behaviour so that behaviour is not repeated.
10. Imaginal desensitisation (Blaszczynski and Nower, 2002), involves teaching progressive muscle relaxation with the person visualising themselves being exposed to the situation that triggers the drive to carry out the impulsive behaviour.
11. Marks: 1 mark basic answer (identification), 2 marks detailed answer / elaboration x 2.
12. Note: 0 marks for aversion therapy (a behavioural therapy) or token economy.
13. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion.
14. 1 mark for each advantage / disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max. for two strengths / weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion.
15. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
16. Strengths:
17. The general principles of the therapy can apply to other people
18. A case study gives in-depth detail showing how therapy can work in specific cases.
19. If many case studies produce similar results, it is possible to generalise.
20. Weaknesses:
21. No standardised measurement was taken,
22. The therapist was the assessor,
23. The case study may not generalise to other people with gambling problems or other types of impulse-control problems,
24. No objective behavioural assessments were conducted,
25. A longer term follow-up is necessary to determine if the impulse-control problems return.
26. Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a 'decision reached by reasoning' and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks.