Chapter 2 - Biological paradigm Flashcards by Deleted Deleted

Paradigm - their role

set of basic assumptions - about how to conceptualize/study a subject ( a model of reality)

• Dictates how work on a subject is to be conducted (Thomas Kuhn’s view, 1962)
○ However, injects biases and affects interpretation

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When was the biological paradigm dominant?

Dominant from late 1800s to middle 20th century, as psych was medical at 1st

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Behaviour genetics

• Study of individual differences in behaviour that are attributable in part to differential genetic makeup

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Phenotype

interaction between genotype and environment (though genotype is not fixed)

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Genotype

○ Genotype of a disorder can be inherited, but not the phenotype

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Diathesis

predisposition

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4 methods to study behaviour genetics

Family history method
Twin Method
Adoptees method
Shared vs nonshared environmental influence in siblings

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Family method - index cases/probands

study genetic predispositions among family members

○ Index cases / probands: individuals who have the disease investigated (Evaluation of their first degree relatives (50% shared genes) and second degree relatives (25%) is made)

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Twin method - concordance

Comparing mono and di zygotic twins
○ Search for disorder in the other twin
○ Concordance: when twins have similar diagnosis (+ frequent in MZ)

Epigenetics might make MZ not 100% genetically identical

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Equal environment assumption

assumption that environment factors are = influential in MZ/DZ pairs

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Adoptees method

studies adopted children
○ Removes concern for rearing by disabled parents

Child who has genetic predisposition form their parents; will be raised by other parents (or the other way around)
-We will see if they develop the disease anyways

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Polygenic

Cumulative effect of different genes causes a disorder

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Linkage analysis

Link marker genes with genes responsible for the disorder in order to locate them

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Molecular genetics

Tries to specify WHICH gene is involved in the appearance of the disorder

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Genetic polymorphism

variability that occurs among members of the species

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Gene-environment interactions

gene + environment = disease

More and more explored

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Constitutional liability

detrimental characteristics either innate or acquired so ealry and in such strength that it is functionnally similar to many genetic characteristics - confusing when studying genetics

Temperament

differences in reactivity/self-regulation

Easy child / Difficult child / Hard to warm up child
Resilient ado / overcontrolling ado / under controlling ado

Constitutional liability

Neurotransmitter-related causes

Suggest that a given disorder is cause by too little or too much of one transmitter
• Problems with creation of neurotransmitters, or reputake, are possible (amount of neurotransmitters)
• Receptors might also be at fault (too much, too easily excited) (receptor sensitivity)
Also synapse deactivation mechanisms might be at fault

Hormonal imbalance causes for psychological disorder

Neuroendocrine system dysfunction (can make hormones to be unbalanced)

HPA axis and stress response

Baby blues /PP depression (depression = NOT a risk factor)

Biological treatments

• Deep brain stimulation MIGHT be useful for depression, not sure
○ Neuroimaging is useful to see the efficacy of treatments

Drugs can significantlt impact the severity/course of certain mental disorders - sometimes psych intervention has a similar effect to drugs

Brain dysfunction / neural plasticity

Subtle deficiencies of brain functions are implicated in many mental disorders

Neural plasticity: deficiencies are not necessarily impossible to manipulate - networks can rearrange themselves

Functions of the brain are an interesting avenue to explore (ex: concentration problems -> frontal lobe)

Physical deprivation or disruption

Insufficient rest, inadequate diet, working too hard, etc

can interfere with a person’s equilibrium

Evaluation of the biological paradigm

Helps improve treatments

Caution against reductionism

What constitutes a mental disorder still relies on subjective opinion

Not always due to neurological defects

Psych intervention can sometimes have a similar effect on the biology as medication *

Reductionism

View that the elements studied must be reduced to their simplest - WRONG * Whole > sum of parts * We need to understand abnormal psych in multiple levels

Etiology

Cause

Necessary cause

Something HAS to occur for the disorder to be developed in the person Complex trauma = + than 1 type of trauma (ex: physical + sexual)

Sufficient cause

Person can experience something that will lead to the disorder, but not everyone who experienced this will develop the disorder, and not everyone with the disorder experienced this

Contributory cause

contributes to possibility of having the disorder (ex: genetic predisposition coupled with stressor)

Proximal risk factor

something that triggers the disorder right away (proximity in time)

Distal risk factor

triggers the disorder after a while (more distance in time)

Reinforcing risk factor (vs contributory)

Smoking pot increases psychosis ("keeps you there") *While contributory cause is a one-time thing

Shared vs nonshared environmental influence

What is the influence of the environment on the development of illnesses in siblings? study of the difference

Constitutional liability

Detriemental characteristic either innate or acquired so early - often prenatally - and in such great strength that it is functionally similar to many genetic characteristics Makes it hard to determine if the trait is a characteristic of a symptom of illness and if the trait influenced the disorder or the other way around

Occipital lobe function

Vision

Temporal lobe function

Discrimination of sounds

Frontal lobe function

Reasoning | Other higher metnal processes (regulation of fine voluntary movement)

Left hemisphere function

Speech Analytical thinking in right-handed ppl 2 hemispheres constantly communicate with each other

Right hemisphere function

Discerns spatial relations and patterns Involved in emotion/intuition 2 hemispheres constantly communicate with each other

Impact of biological viewpoint

Drugs can dramatically impact the severity/course of a mental illness Psych causes can be distinguished from bio causes only prior to their entry into the CNS

Other names for this paradigm

Medical or disease model

Possible biological problems/causes for ADHD

* Problems in fronto striatal circuitry possible * Delays in cortical maturation (lateral prefrontal cortex) * Dopamine/noradrenaline systems problems * And others... Lack of biological frameworks for ADHD study is criticized