Mental health topic 2 Flashcards
Outline the biochemical explanation of Schizophrenia
could be related to high levels of dopamine, causing an excess of dopamine to reach post-synaptic nerve cells
Outline the biochemical explanation of depression
related to low levels of serotonin - means the molecules may be absorbed back into the presynaptic nerve cell too soon so the message may not get passed effectively across the gap, so the body does not respond in the appropriate way to the stimuli it receives.
What would treatment be aiming to do in the biochemical explanation of mental illness?
focused on restoring normal levels of neurotransmitter action
Treating depression by blocking reuptake of serotonin
Treating Schizophrenia by blocking receptors in postsynaptic nerve cells
What format of treatment is in the early stages of research in terms of the genetic explanation of mental illness
Embryo manipulation to reduce the inheritance of mental disorders by using genetic material from third parents
Outline evolutionary theory of mental illness
We have inherited traits that have a positive effect on our chances of survival - a possible explanation of phobias, with people being more cautious of certain things such as snakes surviving more than those without.
Outline the genetic explanation of mental illness
certain disorders could be passed from parents to children through genetic transmission
Gottesman showed increased risk if children have two parents have either bipolar or depression.
But as transmission rates are not 100%, there have to be environmental or individual effects that make some people more prone to diagnoses of mental illness than others.
What are the likely treatments of brain abnormality as an explanation of mental illness?
Drug therapy, but in some cases surgery may be used
Outline the brain abnormality explanation of schizophrenia
difference in brain structure
brown (1989) showed schizophrenia brains were 6% lighter and had enlarged lateral ventricles and thinner para-hippocampal cortices
Weinberger (1992) found there was a difference in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus volume in identical twins, where one had schizophrenia and the other did not
outline the brain abnormality explanation of depression
Patients with depression can show smaller brain volume. This might be because they have experienced trauma, leading to the release of cortisol, which can destroy brain cells. This could mean that these hippocampal cells don’t respond to serotonin in the way they normally might, leading to depression
Sheline (1995) found the hippocampus was smaller in women with depression in remission than those who had never experienced it.
what was the aim of Gottesman’s study?
To investigate in a large sample the probability of a child being diagnosed with a mental disorder if either or both of their parents had the disorder.
What was the sample of Gottesman’s study?
Anyone in Denmark with a clear link to their biological parents who were between 10 and 52 in January 2007 - nearly 2.7 million people and their parents
What were the four conclusions of Gottesman’s study?
Offspring “super high risk” of being admitted with the same disorder as parents if both are admitted
Must not be ignorant of the Nazi use of genetic explanation for the eugenic policies - dangerous
Will influence personal decision making with regard to marriage, child bearing and adoption
May lead to a large step forwards in the understanding of the etymologies of major mental disorders.
What were the percentages of people being admitted with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or bipolar if both parents were admitted, compared to one parent and the general population?
Schizophrenia -
Both - 27.3%, one - 7%, general - 1.12%
Bipolar -
Both - 24.9%, one - 4.4%, general - 0.063%
Outline SSRIs and how they work
Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors
They block the reuptake of serotonin which results in a greater amount of serotonin within the synapse, increasing the likelihood of sufficient serotonin reaching the post-synaptic receptor sites.
Outline ECT
Electro compulsive Therapy
Electrodes placed on their temples; an electric shock passed to the brain. The aim is to trigger an epileptic seizure to try and jump start the entire brain - patient is anaesthetised
Outline TMS
an electromagnet coil is held near the forehead of the patient, and an electric current creates a magnetic pulse which is targeted to the left prefrontal cortex - patients remain alert and awake during treatment
Outline the ethical considerations of application of the medical model
SSRIs - safe - can’t overdose and can’t get withdrawal effects or develop a dependency - but can take 12 weeks to work fully and can be expensive - can be some minor side effects
ECT - risk of memory issues and heart problems - can be expensive
How are the applications of the medical model reductionist?
reductionist to suggest mental disorders are only treated in a biological way - without looking at external factors
How does the biochemical explanation link to the nature nurture debate?
Nature - your chemical imbalance - biological process
Nurture - taking drugs - potential for environmental influence
How does the genetic explanation link to the nature nurture debate?
Nature - DNA- biological affects of Schizophrenia
Nurture - in twin studies there isn’t 100% concordance - suggesting some external impact
How does the brain abnormality explanation link to the nature nurture debate?
Nature - if you’re born with differences in your brain - or genetic component
Nurture 0 brain can be altered by experiences e.eg. altered by experiences e.g. head injury or alcohol during pregnancy
How does the biochemical explanation link to the Individual/situational debate?
Individual - unique way their brain chemicals function - can be treated with drug therapy because the drugs just affect that one person
How does the biochemical explanation link to the Usefulness debate?
Treatments work - Drug therapy can restore levels of neurotransmitters
Less useful - we don’t really know the causes in the first place - why brain chemicals work that way in a person
How does the genetic explanation link to the Usefulness debate?
useful - advise potential parents - if they have a condition
Less useful - gene therapy treatment is not very well developed yet - socially sensitive for parents
How does the Brain abnormality explanation link to the Usefulness debate?
Useful - still options for drug treatment and surgery
Less useful - more difficult to change the structures of the brain could lead to labelling
How does the genetic explanation link to the Individual/situational debate?
Individual - someone’s DNA and genetics which influence the brain - genetic makeup
Situational - could be triggers e.g. we don’t experience a pre-disposed phobia until we experience that thing
How does the brain abnormality explanation link to the Individual/situational debate?
Individual - is their own makeup - biological
Situational - environment may have affected their brain
Outline sampling bias in terms of Gottesman’s study?
Large sample size - way it was chosen means there is little opportunity for bias because everyone was included
However, all participants had received a diagnosis so doesn’t include any undiagnosed people
Only at a particular time
(1955-1997) - call those who knew their biological parentage
Outline Nature/nurture with regard to Gottesman’s study?
Nurture - is not automatic that a child will develop the same disorder as their parents so environmental factors must play a part
Nature - Looks at the probability of a mental illness in children with 2 parents with a disorder - shows risk with 2 parents
Outline Freewill/determinism with regard to Gottesman’s study
Freewill - is not automatic - may be issues of environment or free will to explain those - choice to avoid triggers
Determinism - Bological - genetic vunerability
