Causes Flashcards
multidimensional integrative approach means that no single pathway can account for behavior
biological: great grandmother has OCD
psychological: mother was clean and worried about illness
social: friend recently became sick
developmental: under lots of stress at home
if disorder y occurs, then cause x must have preceded it (NEVER THE ANSWER)
necessary cause
if cause x occurs, then disorder y will occur
sufficient cause
if x occurs, then the probability of disorder y increases (mostly the answer)
contributory cause
THIS IS THE RULE, NOT THE EXCEPTION IN EXPLAINING HUMAN BEHAVIOR
multiple causation
many causes lead to the same disorder
equifinality
one cause leads to multiple disorders
multifinality
distant, earlier causes
things that happened in childhood, demographics
distal causal factors
trigger
proximal (immediate) causal factors
diathesis - inherited vulnerability/susceptibility
stress - environmental factors
diathesis - stress model
biological causes (NIMH strategic plan)
focus on basic science required for understanding mental illnesses
describe molecules, cells and neural circuits associated with complex behaviors
identify the genomic and non-genomic factors associated with mental illnesses
map the connectomes for mental illnesses
understand the “pure” causes by focusing on brain circuits associated with complex behaviors
reductionism
basic genetics
dna: physical basis for the transmission of genetic information
genes: biological units of heredity, contains instructions for producing proteins, found on chromosomes
human behavior genetics
evaluates the genetic components of individual differences in behaviors and traits
heritability (0 to 1)
adoption studies and twin studies (monozygotic = 100% and dizygotic = 50%)
communicates genetic predisposition - does not mean that this is their likelihood of getting the disorder
heritability
genetic endowment
environment interactions can make individuals more sensitive depending on different kind
genotype
how a genotype is expressed
phenotype
the association between the genotype a child inherits from his or her parents and the environment in which the child is raised
passive effect of genotype-environment correlations
occurs when an individual possesses a heritable propensity to select environmental exposure
active effect of genotype-environment correlations
an individual’s (heritable) behavior evokes an environmental response.
evocative effect of genotype-environment correlations
genes = predisposition
genes do not equal disorder
ability to successfully adapt to very difficult circumstances
resilience
influences that modify person’s response
protective factors
study of mechanisms that switch genes on and off
influences by ago, environment, lifestyle and disease
epigenetics
all cells have the same genes but they form different cells because there is software telling the computer when to work and how to work
epigenome
the role of the nervous system in disease and behavior
the field of neuroscience
main influences of neuroscience
role of neurotransmitters on psychopathology and role of brain regions on psychopathology
limbic system - forebrain
motivated behavior
hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate gyrus