Biological approach to abnormality
- Created by: CharlotteR
- Created on: 24-04-14 13:03
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- Biological approach to abnormality
- causes
- genes
- mental illness = passed from parent to child through genetic inheritance
- twin studies
- pairs of identical twins are compared to see if one twin has a disorder that the other one share
- this gives a concordance rate (shows how often both have condition)
- low concordance rates = phobias
- high concordance rates = schizophrenia
- twin studies
- mental illness = passed from parent to child through genetic inheritance
- neuroanatomy
- structure of the brain = responsible for mental illness
- research
- people with schizophrenia have large holes (ventricles) in their brain compared to people who are well
- research
- structure of the brain = responsible for mental illness
- neurotansmitters
- chemical imbalance
- low levels of serotonin found in depressed people
- chemical imbalance
- genes
- evaluation
- strengths
- ethically acceptable
- change in perceptions
- more ethically acceptable view of people with mental illness
- before = blamed, judged, "possessed"
- now = not held responsible
- medal model offers potential treatments
- change in perceptions
- evidence from effectiveness of drugs
- biological process involved in mental health
- effectiveness of these biological therapies
- gives support for the neurotransmitter explanations
- drugs that increase serotonin levels in the brain help people feel less drepressed
- drugs that decrease dopamine levels help people with schizophrenia
- ethically acceptable
- weaknesses
- focused on nature side of nature nurture argument
- just physical causes and not experiences
- identical twin studies
- both members don't always develop a mental illness when one does
- identical twin studies
- individuals inherit a biological vulnerability that puts them at risk of developing illness
- BUT only if they are exposed to particular life conditions / experiences
- just physical causes and not experiences
- difficult to determine cause and effect
- between an individual's biology and mental illness
- we do not know if the biological approach can explain abnormality
- focused on nature side of nature nurture argument
- strengths
- treatments
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- control feelings of extreme anxiety
- by reducing level of brain activity
- bringing about feelings of being calm
- BZ's increase GABA which lowers noradrenalin and serotonin for a calming affect
- evaluation
- stength
- More effective than taking a placebo
- BZ's make people feel even better than when they just think they've had treatment
- actual therapeutic process taking place in altering brain activity
- = effective treatment
- weakeness
- only good for short term use (a few weeks)
- longer use causes additcion
- can only reduce anxiety for a short time
- stength
- control feelings of extreme anxiety
- Anti-depressant drugs
- Increase serotonin levels to make depressed people feel more cheerful
- drug prevents the serotonin from being reabsorbed/ removed from the system
- leaving more serotonin to pass around the neurones
- drug prevents the serotonin from being reabsorbed/ removed from the system
- evaluation
- strength
- Better than placebo ONLY in severe cases of depression
- weaknesses
- didn't improve moderately depressed peoples mood
- SSRI's = only effective in severely depressed people
- risk of suicide linked with taking SSRI's
- twice as likely to attempt suicide as those taking placebos
- risk increased with adolescents and decreased in adults over 65
- not appropriate for young people
- didn't improve moderately depressed peoples mood
- strength
- Increase serotonin levels to make depressed people feel more cheerful
- Anti-psychotic drugs
- evaluation
- strengths
- people who take these drugs = lower rate of replapse than placebos
- effective therapy proven by studies for psychotic conditions
- weakness
- Bad side effect
- uncontrollable movements of body parts (reversible)
- Bad side effect
- strengths
- evaluation
- ECT
- helps severe cases of depression
- creates an induced seizure by the electric current (70-130 volts)
- to re-establish the ability of the brain to control mood by correcting neurotransmitter level & blood flow to the brain
- creates an induced seizure by the electric current (70-130 volts)
- evaluation
- strengths
- effective in treating severe depression and can prevent suicide
- more effective- better recovery rates
- weaknesses
- 60% relapsed within a year (doesn't cure depression)
- serious side effects (memory loss, headaches, permanent fear & anxiety (30%)
- ETHICAL ISSUES: need fully informed consent.
- strengths
- helps severe cases of depression
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- causes
- high levels of dopamine in schizophrenia
- chemical imbalance
- low levels of serotonin found in depressed people
- chemical imbalance
- BZ's
- not useful for long term
- can only reduce anxiety for a short time
- SSRI's
- to control the hallucinations and delusions experienced in these illnesses
- Anti-psychotic drugs
- evaluation
- strengths
- people who take these drugs = lower rate of replapse than placebos
- effective therapy proven by studies for psychotic conditions
- weakness
- Bad side effect
- uncontrollable movements of body parts (reversible)
- Bad side effect
- strengths
- evaluation
- reduce amount of dopamine that flows around neurons in brain
- drug blocks the dopamine receptops on the neurones
- less dopamine is carried around the brain
- Anti-psychotic drugs
- drug blocks the dopamine receptops on the neurones
- less dopamine is carried around the brain
- not useful
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