biological approach

all mental disorders are caused by a physical change in the body such as genes, infection, neurotransmitters and neuroanatomy

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Genes

  • abnormal genes may lead to abnormal neural development (schizophrenia and ventricles) or abnormal levels of neurotransmitters
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Infection

  • exposure to viruses in the womb can lead to schizophrenia in later life as the virus may lie dormant until the person reaches purberty
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neurotransmitters

  • chemical transmitters at the synapse that transport a electrical signal from one side of the neuron to the other
  • depression can be caused by a lack of serotonin, so positive electrical signals aren't able to cross the synapse and get to the conscious part of the brain
  • schizophrenia can be caused by having too much dopermine causing electrical signals not to reach the synapse. the increase in dopermine creates false signals leading to hallucinations
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neuroanatomy

  • can cause mental illnesses such as schizophrenia
  • spaces in the brain are called ventricles and if these are bigger, then the brain has less brain cells, meaning the person may not be able to do as much as others can
  • could lead to negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as avolition, algoia and affective thinking
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