Biological Measures and Research Methods Flashcards
Neuro-feedback
EEG Biofeedback
Patients modify OWN brainwaves
- Connected to EEG with electrodes
- Shown measure of brain activity
- Patients learn how to voluntarily INCREASE or DECREASE freq. of brainwaves
Advantages and Disadvantages of Neurofeedback
+ Non-invasive
+ Inexpensive
+ ONLY one that CAN be used on epileptic patients
- Sig. no not show any benefit
- Sig. no can’t achieve required level of control
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Applies changing electromagnetic fields to induce electrical currents
- When applied can INCREASE or DECREASE cortical excitability
Low freq. = Inhibit
High freq. = Activates
Disadvantages of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Discomfort
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Electrodes on scalp
- Device delivers constant current
- Electrode can INCREASE or DECREASE neuronal excitability
Disadvantages of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Skin irritation
- Cognitive impairments
- No long term effects identified, patients need more or longer treatments
Mantovani et al case study for TDCS
52 year old woman
Treatment resistant depression
Only TDCS to pre-frontal cortex = improved symptoms BUT not last
Most effective was combination of CBT and TDCS
Deep Brain Stimulation
- ‘Brain Pacemaker’ implanted
- Internal pulse generator implanted under skin
- These send electrical signals to the part of brain that needs to be stimulated
- Arrives at lead (wire with electrodes in ‘to be stimulated region’)
How does Deep Brain Stimulation treat Depression?
INCREASE NT release = INCREASE neuro-plastic changes = Alters action of the region
Advantages and Disadvantages of DBS
+ Successful long term reduction of symptoms
- Invasive
- Expensive
- Risk of wound infection
Electroconvulsive therapy
For psychiatric disorders
- Patient anaesthetised
- Electrodes on scalp
- Triggers seizure
Disadvantages of Electroconvulsive therapy
+/- more effective when used with antidepressants
- Brain damage
- Retrograde amnesia
- Epileptic fits can be dangerous
What is the Biopsychosocial model?
Disorders caused by combination of biological, psychological and social factors.
What is the Diathesis-stress model?
A predisposition to an illness
Weak predisposition = Need greater stressor
Childhood trauma research and MHC?
- Children maltreated by parents = INCREASE risk of psychotic symptoms
- Parent with psychosis = INCREASE likelihood of maltreatment = INCREASE SUSCEPTIBILITY
What is phenomenology of a disorder and how can it be measured?
How it is experienced
Interviews
+ Good for assessing quality of life
+ Detailed info
- Small samples
How to research potential causes of a disorder?
Retrospective Questionnaires - question current disorder then life events
- memory bias (MHC can affect accuracy of memory)
Experimental psychopathology - can symptoms be induced? Fear around animals can be INCREASED if shown a disgusting video of them
Analogue samples - Non clinical individuals NOT over clinical threshold = factors affecting them will likely affect the clinical
Examples of Research methods in Clinical Psychopathology
Genetic Association studies
Twin studies
Post mortem studies
Brain Imaging studies
Animal studies
