DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC DISORDER: CONTRIBUTING BIOLOGICAL FACTORS Flashcards
Biological factors: = Role of GABA = Stress response = Role of TLP = Genetic predisposition Psychological factors = Behavioural model (CC + OC) = Cognitive model = Psychodynamic model Sociocultural factors = Environmental triggers = Stigma and seeking out treatment
1
Q
DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC DISORDER
A
- Phobias are the result of the interaction between biological, psychological and social factors
2
Q
CONTRIBUTING BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
* Role of GABA
A
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Inhibiting role in the regulation of anxiety, arousal and sleep
- Low levels of GABA = higher anxiety. Not enough GAMBA to regulate anxiety and arousal levels
3
Q
CONTRIBUTING BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
- Stress response
- Sweating
- Tremor
- Dizziness
A
- Controlled but he sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system
- Activation: stress hormones (adrenaline) are released in the bloodstream
- With a phobic disorder = increased stress response and adapt more slowly to repeated stressors
4
Q
CONTRIBUTING BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
- The role of amygdala and LTP
- Example: fear of dogs: It is a learnt fear response.
- Consolidation theory: The initial learning will form a new memory. 30 minutes of uninterrupted consolidation in the hippocampus.
A
AMYGDALA
- Fear = important for our survival
- Fear of snakes or spiders is a learnt response
- Amygdala = adds emotional significance to the new memory
- Amygdala: responsible for the formation and storage of classically conditioned fear
LTP
- The strengthening of synapses based one event patterns of activity
5
Q
CONTRIBUTING BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
* Genetic predisposition
A
- Can lead to genetic vulnerabilities (being born with low levels of GABA)
- The vulnerabilities can also be expressed in a person’s personality (More nervous or anxious)
- NOT always lead to presence of phobias. This disposition can be triggered by psychological, social or environmental influences
