The Medical Model- Topic 2

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The Medical Model- Topic 2
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Biochemical approach
Neurotransmitters regulate different mental processes and mental illness is explained through abnormal transmitter levels.
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Monoamine hypothesis of Depression
Serotonin regulates the production of Noradrenaline (activity levels) and Dopamine (mood)
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Dopamine hypothesis of Schizophrenia
high dopamine levels- positive symptoms. Low dopamine levels- negative symptoms
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Brain abnormality
Structures within the brain develop at a different size and affect activity levels in the different brain regions.
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Brain abnormality in Depression
The frontal lobe in depressed patients is significantly smaller and does not draw on blood flow as they should normally.
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Brain abnormality in Schizophrenia
The left hemisphere of those with Schizo does not function normally. The Ventral Striatum has lower activity levels in those who experience negative symptoms.
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Genetic approach
It's unlikely that mental illness is purely genetic. However, it does appear that some people are more vulnerable to mental health problems as a result of their genetic make-up.
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Genetic explanations of Depression
There is no suggestion that depression is genetic. However, not everyone responds to stress in the same way; some are more resilient. The short-short serotonin gene leads to a lack of resilience to stress, making people more vulnerable to depression
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Genetic explanations of Schizophrenia
Believed to be a 'Schizogene' that made some people more vulnerable to Schizophrenia. Genes associated with increased vulnerability to schizo include those that code for dopamine neurotransmitters
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Gottesman- 2010
Severe mental disorders in offspring with two psychiatrically ill parents
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Gottesman- Aim
To investigate if mental illness is genetic and how vulnerable children are to developing the illness form their parents themselves
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Gottesman- Sample
A cohort of 2.7 million Danish people. From this- 196 schizo couples with 270 children. -83 BPD couples with 146 children.
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Gottesman- RM, IV&DV
RM- register-based cohort study. IV-the parental schizo or BPD. DV- a diagnosis of any mental illness.
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Gottesman- Procedure
Those who had a disorder were taken from a psychiatry register and compared. They compared children who had both parents who were psychiatrically ill, those with one parent who was and those with neither parent.
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Gottesman- Results for Schizo
27% chance of offspring with both parents having schizo getting it too. 7% chance of offspring with one parent having Schizo of getting it too. 0.86% chance of offspring with neither parent having Schizo of getting it too
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Gottesman- Results for BPD
25% chance of offspring with both parents having BPD getting it too. 4.4% chance of offspring with one parent having BPD getting it too. 0.48% chance of offspring with neither parent having BPD getting it too.
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Gottesman- Conclusions
Having both parents with a serious mental illness is associated with a higher risk of not only developing that illness but any mental illness in general. Having one parent with a mental illness carries a lower risk. Useful for genetic counselling
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Electroshock therapy
Administering an electric shock for a fraction of a second to the head, inducing a small seizure that lasts 15-60 seconds. It is bilateral but is more likely to lead to side effects; small shocks given under anaesthetic 6-12 times over three weeks
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Ethical issues
It is believed that drugs are often used in hospitals to calm the patients not for their benefit. There are also issues surrounding the side effects of drugs.
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Usefulness
The biomedical approach has given a range of treatments. There is a lot of evidence to support the idea that drugs are moderately effective in treating Schizo.
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Nature vs Nurture
Nature- emphasis on genetic vulnerability and biological factors such as brain structure.
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Freewill vs Determinism
Deterministic- symptoms are seen as determined by biochemical abnormality which is determined by genetic vulnerability. There is little room for freewill in this debate
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Reductionism vs Holism
Reductionist- mental illness is only explained through biology, genetics and brain abnormalities. It doesnt show how mental illness can be seen through things like the environment etc.
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Individual vs Situational
Individual- the role of genetics, brain chemistry, brain structure and the functions of individual differences between people, including mental illness.
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Psychology as a science
It is scientific due to the biology part of the approach; it is firmly based on research and is further supported by it. An emphasis on scientific techniques.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Biochemical approach

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Neurotransmitters regulate different mental processes and mental illness is explained through abnormal transmitter levels.

Card 3

Front

Monoamine hypothesis of Depression

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Dopamine hypothesis of Schizophrenia

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Brain abnormality

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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