Biological Approach

Principles:

• Model assumes mental disorders related to change in your body. (like physical disorders) caused by:genes, biochemistry,neuroanatomy and viral infection
• genetic inheritance: Look at twins looking at if they both have disorder. provides concordance rate (individuals are similar on particular trait) Low=phobias, high=schizophrenia. Genes product of evolutionary adaptations of ancestors.
• Genes tell body to function. hormones and neurotransmitters is biochemistry, high seratonin and anxiety, low levels=depressed. Genes deterimine brain structure is neuroanatomy. Schizophrenics large ventricles in brain, showing shrinken brain tissue.
• Schizophrenia may be related to exposed viruses e.g.utero. TORREY (2001) mothers of schizophrenics had strain of influenza when pregnant. Virus entered child brain and effects during puberty, other…