IMH Topic 2 - The medical model

Question 2

What is the biochemical explanation for depression?

Answer 2

An imbalance of chemicals in the brain

Question 3

What neurotransmitter is linked to depression?

Answer 3

Serotonin

Question 4

What do SSRIs do?

Answer 4

Increase the effect of serotonin

Question 5

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 5

By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin

Question 6

What neurotransmitter is believed to play a role in schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Dopamine

Question 7

What is an overactive dopamine system linked to?

Answer 7

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 8

How do anti-psychotic drugs work?

Answer 8

By blocking dopamine receptors

Question 9

What is the aim of biochemical treatments?

Answer 9

Restoring normal levels of neurotransmitters

Question 10

What is the genetic explanation for mental illness?

Answer 10

Mental illness can be passed from parent to child

Question 11

What is the evolutionary explanation for phobias?

Answer 11

Inherited traits that gave survival advantages

Question 12

What evidence supports the evolutionary explanation for phobias?

Answer 12

Ohman’s study on conditioned fear responses

Question 13

What brain abnormalities are linked to schizophrenia?

Answer 13

Enlarged lateral ventricles and thinner para hippocampal cortices

Question 14

What brain abnormalities are linked to depression?

Answer 14

Smaller hippocampal volume

Question 15

What hormone is linked to hippocampal cell destruction in depression?

Answer 15

Cortisol

Question 16

What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for biochemical explanations?

Answer 16

Chemical imbalances may be an expression of genetic basis

Question 17

What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for genetic explanations?

Answer 17

Both genetic and environmental factors play a role

Question 18

What are the nature vs. nurture considerations for brain abnormality explanations?

Answer 18

Brain abnormalities can be congenital or environmentally caused

Question 19

What are the individual vs. situational considerations for biochemical explanations?

Answer 19

Drug therapy supports individual explanations

Question 20

What are the individual vs. situational considerations for genetic explanations?

Answer 20

Genetic inheritance is primary

Question 21

What are the individual vs. situational considerations for brain abnormality explanations?

Answer 21

Environments affect brain structure

Question 22

What is the usefulness of biochemical explanations?

Answer 22

Drug therapy to restore neurotransmitter balance

Question 23

What is the usefulness of genetic explanations?

Answer 23

Currently limited

Question 24

What is the usefulness of brain abnormality explanations?

Answer 24

Can lead to drug therapy when linked to biochemical explanations

Question 25

What was the aim of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 25

To investigate the probability of a child with 2 parents with a psychiatric illness being diagnosed with a mental disorder

Question 26

What data was used in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 26

Records from the population of Denmark using the Civil Registration System

Question 27

How many couples were studied in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 27

1

Question 28

What were the four groups in Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 28

Two parents diagnosed

Question 29

What percentage of offspring were diagnosed with schizophrenia when both parents had schizophrenia?

Answer 29

0.273

Question 30

What percentage of offspring were diagnosed with bipolar disorder when both parents had bipolar disorder?

Answer 30

0.249

Question 31

What were the conclusions of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 31

There is a link between parental and offspring mental illness diagnoses

Question 32

What are the nature vs. nurture evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 32

Supports nature

Question 33

What are the freewill vs. determinism evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 33

Parents chose to have children

Question 34

What are the sampling bias evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 34

Very large sample

Question 35

What are the ethnocentrism evaluations of Gottesman et al. (2010) study?

Answer 35

Conducted in Denmark

Question 36

What is drug therapy for depression?

Answer 36

Using drugs to alter brain chemicals

Question 37

What is electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)?

Answer 37

Passing an electric shock through the brain to induce a seizure

Question 38

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

Answer 38

Applying a magnetic field to the prefrontal cortex

Question 39

What are the ethical considerations of SSRIs?

Answer 39

Risk of suicidal thoughts and side effects

Question 40

What are the ethical considerations of ECT?

Answer 40

Consent issues and potential long-term impacts

Question 41

What are the ethical considerations of TMS?

Answer 41

Less invasive

Question 42

What is the reductionism vs. holism evaluation of biological treatments?

Answer 42

Focus on biological causes