Depression: Biological treatments - Abnormal Psychology Flashcards
Biomedical treatments is for what?
Biomedical approaches to treatment are based on the assumption that if the problem is based on biological malfunctioning, drugs should be used to restore the biological system.
MDD stands for?
Major Depressive Disorder
MDD
is assumed to involve an imbalance in neurotransmission, antidepressant medications are used to restore an appropriate chemical balance in the brain.
What does drug treatment do for MDD?
Medication/drugs for this are used to provide symptom relife not addressing the CAUSE of MDD.
Positive response
clear improvement
remission
near absence of symptoms
replase
symptoms reutrn after medication discontinued
how do neurotrasmitters cme into play?
Drugs affect nuerotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline). Anti-depressants aim to increase/decrease levels of available neurotransmitters in synaptic gap. Neurotransmitters are affected by reputake pumps. Once neurotransmitter released and binds to receptor on postsynpatic membrane, neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into terminal buttons.
SSRIs what does it stand for
Selective Serotonin Reputake Inhibitors
SSRIs
blocks binding of neurotrasmitters this process of reupake and allows higher levels of serotonin in synapse. Most common SSRIs is Prozac.
Pratt et al (2011)
AIM: Examine the prevalence of antidepressant use in the United States and its economic impact.
PROCEDURE:
Data analyzed from 2005–2008 on antidepressant usage among Americans aged 12 and older.
Examination of prescription data from 2010 to assess frequency and economic implications.
FINDINGS:
Over 1 in 10 Americans aged 12+ reported taking antidepressant drugs during the 2005–2008 period.
In 2010, antidepressants were the second most commonly prescribed medication (after cholesterol-lowering drugs).
Approximately 254 million prescriptions for antidepressants were written in 2010, amounting to nearly 10 billion dollars in costs.
evaluation points for pratt et al (2011)
Strengths:
Highlights the high prevalence of antidepressant use in the U.S., raising awareness of mental health treatment trends.
Demonstrates the significant economic impact of antidepressant prescriptions on healthcare systems.
Limitations:
Data does not include detailed demographics (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status) to understand variations in antidepressant use.
Does not account for reasons for prescription (e.g., depression, anxiety, off-label use).
Lacks information on effectiveness or long-term outcomes of antidepressant use.
Further research needed to explore underlying factors driving the high prescription rates and economic burden.
Leuchter et al (2002)
AIM: To see changes in brain function of depressed subjects during treatment with placebo
PROCUDURE:
-Brain function was examined in 51 patients with depression
-Patients recieved a placebo or active antidepressant medication
-EEG was used to compare brain function
-2 different SSRI’s (Selective serotonin EE-uptake inhibitor) were randomly allocated to participants
-Lasted 9 weeks
Double blind and lab experiment
FINDINGS:
-A significant increase in activity in the prefrontal cortex with placebo group
-Patients in both groups got better (placebo was just as effective)
evaluation points for leuchter
Strengths
-Brain scan gave quantitative data
-Double blind meant no researcher bias
Limitations
Deception
Strenghts of drug therapy
-Brain scan gave quantitative data
-Double blind meant no researcher bias
limitations of drug therapy
Limitations: 1. side effects of the drug itself. E.g. nausea, increased weight gain, loss of sexual desire, insomnia, blurred vision, constipation, dissiness, and anxiety. **some contribuite to lowering self-esteem or sense of autonomy – characteristics of people living with chronic depression. 2. Not sure how these drugs alleviate symptoms of depression and why its not effective for all patients. 3. Takes several week of treatment before benefits. 4. Not all patients respond. 5. Chance of replase is high. 6. Developing a dependence on the drug
Reductionist approach
Reliance on drug treatments → neglect of physiological/social factors that play a role in the disorder.
Becuase only for sympons, chance of relpase is high.
Discontinuation syndrome
aka withdrawal symptoms
if drug is discontinued, replase chances are extremley high
ethical considerations for biological treatment
unless its an emergency (e.g. client suicidal) then consent must be given by client (unless unable to) → client needs to be aware of all risks and drawbacks (fufills ethical criterion of inofrmed consent)
Strengths of biomedical treatments
Increased hte amount of outpateint care and decreased institutionalization
Shows results quickly (faster than psychological treatments)
Necessary step to engage in psychological therapy
Limitations of bimedical treatments
Neglects social and cognitive factors
Relapse rates are high when discontinues the drug
Failure to develop coping/social skills
Side effects
Misinterpreted as symptom of disorder
Iatrogenic effect
Addiction / withdrawal sympons
Negative effects when cominbed with other drugs or foods
Hollon et al (2005)
AIM: Compare relapse rates after discontinuation of antidepressants versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) following 16 weeks of treatment.
PROCEDURE:
Participants were treated for 16 weeks with either:
Antidepressant medication
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Relapse rates were measured after the discontinuation of treatment.
FINDINGS:
Antidepressant group:
76% of patients relapsed after discontinuing medication.
CBT group:
Only 31% of patients relapsed after discontinuing therapy.
Results indicate that CBT may provide more sustained benefits compared to antidepressant medication after treatment ends.
evaluation points of hollon et al (2005)
Strengths:
Provides evidence for the long-term effectiveness of CBT in preventing relapse.
Highlights potential drawbacks of relying solely on medication for depression treatment.
Promotes consideration of non-pharmacological approaches in treatment plans.
Limitations:
Study does not specify the sample size or characteristics of participants, limiting generalizability.
Relapse rates may depend on the severity of depression or other individual factors.
Results may not reflect real-world conditions where CBT and medication are often combined.
Further research is needed to examine long-term outcomes and effectiveness of CBT versus medication in diverse populations.
