IMH Topic 2 - The medical model Flashcards
What is the biochemical explanation for depression?
An imbalance of chemicals in the brain
What neurotransmitter is linked to depression?
Serotonin
What do SSRIs do?
Increase the effect of serotonin
How do SSRIs work?
By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin
What neurotransmitter is believed to play a role in schizophrenia?
Dopamine
What is an overactive dopamine system linked to?
Symptoms of schizophrenia
How do anti-psychotic drugs work?
By blocking dopamine receptors
What is the aim of biochemical treatments?
Restoring normal levels of neurotransmitters
What is the genetic explanation for mental illness?
Mental illness can be passed from parent to child
What is the evolutionary explanation for phobias?
Inherited traits that gave survival advantages
What evidence supports the evolutionary explanation for phobias?
Ohman’s study on conditioned fear responses
What brain abnormalities are linked to schizophrenia?
Enlarged lateral ventricles and thinner para hippocampal cortices
What brain abnormalities are linked to depression?
Smaller hippocampal volume
What hormone is linked to hippocampal cell destruction in depression?
Cortisol
What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for biochemical explanations?
Chemical imbalances may be an expression of genetic basis
What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for genetic explanations?
Both genetic and environmental factors play a role
What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for brain abnormality explanations?
Brain abnormalities can be congenital or environmentally caused
What are the individual vs. situational considerations for biochemical explanations?
Drug therapy supports individual explanations
What are the individual vs. situational considerations for genetic explanations?
Genetic inheritance is primary
What are the individual vs. situational considerations for brain abnormality explanations?
Environments affect brain structure
What is the usefulness of biochemical explanations?
Drug therapy to restore neurotransmitter balance
What is the usefulness of genetic explanations?
Currently limited
What is the usefulness of brain abnormality explanations?
Can lead to drug therapy when linked to biochemical explanations
What was the aim of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
To investigate the probability of a child with 2 parents with a psychiatric illness being diagnosed with a mental disorder
What data was used in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Records from the population of Denmark using the Civil Registration System
How many couples were studied in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
1
What were the four groups in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Two parents diagnosed
What percentage of offspring were diagnosed with schizophrenia when both parents had schizophrenia?
0.273
What percentage of offspring were diagnosed with bipolar disorder when both parents had bipolar disorder?
0.249
What were the conclusions of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
There is a link between parental and offspring mental illness diagnoses
What are the nature vs. nurture evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Supports nature
What are the freewill vs. determinism evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Parents chose to have children
What are the sampling bias evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Very large sample
What are the ethnocentrism evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?
Conducted in Denmark
What is drug therapy for depression?
Using drugs to alter brain chemicals
What is electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)?
Passing an electric shock through the brain to induce a seizure
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?
Applying a magnetic field to the prefrontal cortex
What are the ethical considerations of SSRIs?
Risk of suicidal thoughts and side effects
What are the ethical considerations of ECT?
Consent issues and potential long-term impacts
What are the ethical considerations of TMS?
Less invasive
What is the reductionism vs. holism evaluation of biological treatments?
Focus on biological causes
