Mental health topic 2 = The medical model

Question 1

Medical models explanation of mental illness list

Answer 1

Biochemical explanation
Genetics explanation
Evolutionary theory
Brain abnormality

Question 2

What neurotransmitter is associated with depression?

Answer 2

Serotonin - levels too low

Question 3

Biochemical explanation for depression

Answer 3

Low conc of serotonin means re absorption into presynaptic neurone
So impulse is not transmitted over synaptic cleft
So body cannot respond in appropriate way to stimulation = results in depressive mood

Question 4

What neurotransmitter is associated with schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Dopamine - levels too high

Question 5

Biochemical explanation of schizophrenia

Answer 5

Excess dopamine transmitted across synapse = too much reaches post synaptic neurone
Causing positive symptoms of delusions

Question 6

Treatment based on biochemical explanations of mental illness

Answer 6

Restore normal levels of neurotransmitter action
Depression -SSRIs
Schizophrenia - antipsychotics

Question 7

SSRIs

Answer 7

Blocks reuptake of serotonin into pre synaptic neurone
So there is enough serotonin to be transmitted in nervous system to carry appropriate response to stimuli, improves depressive mood

Question 8

What does SSRIs stand for,

Answer 8

Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 9

Antipsychotics

Answer 9

Treat schizophrenia by blocking receptors to dopamine in post synaptic neurone so no overload of dopamine in nervous system- less positive symptoms

Question 10

Genetic explanation for mental disorders

Answer 10

Certain alleles of genes may be the cause of mental disorders so can be transferred from parent to child

Question 11

Gottesman and Shields research into genetics of schizophrenia

Answer 11

If one twin has schizophrenia there is a 58% chance an identical twin with same DNA also has it
But for non identical twin, only 12% chance

Question 12

Conclusion of Gottesman and Shields research into genetics of schizophrenia

Answer 12

The pass on rate isn’t 100% so causes of mental illness isn’t due to genetics alone
Environmental and individual effects (???)

Question 13

Evolutionary theory of mental illness: phobias

Answer 13

Over time, humans inherited traits with Evolutionary advantage eg phobia of snakes, spiders etc, enable them to survive, reproduce and be passed on (genetic basis) to children
Less likely to be killed by these things

Question 14

Who came up with evidence for evolutionary theory of mental illness?

Answer 14

Ohman

Question 15

Ohman’s research into biological preparedness procedure

Answer 15

Gave participants electric shocks at the same time they saw pictures of snakes/ houses/ human faces

Question 16

Conclusion of Ohmans research into biological preparedness

Answer 16

Easier to condition a fear response to snakes than houses or human faces suggesting a possible biological predisposition to fear of snakes more as this provides evolutionary advantage

Question 17

Treatment for genetic explanation of mental illness

Answer 17

Embryo’ DNA manipulation of supposed alleles responsible for physical disorders to reduce their occurrence by using genetic material from parents
could be used for mental disorders in the future?

Question 18

Research into brain abnormality explanations of schizophrenia

Answer 18

Brown et Al
Weinberger

Question 19

Brown et Al’s research into brain structure differences in schizophrenia

Answer 19

Post morgen studies on patients with schizophrenia vs affective (mood) disorder

Question 20

Findings of Browns post mortem research into brains of schizophrenics vs with affective disorder: brain lightness

Answer 20

Brains of schizophrenics 6% lighter Than those with affective disorder

Question 21

Findings of Browns post mortem research into brains of schizophrenics vs with affective disorder: lateral ventricles

Answer 21

Schizophrenics had enlarged lateral ventricles, (more hollow areas of brain) loss of brain matter linked to auditory processing
Compared to those with affective disorder

Question 22

Findings of Browns post mortem research into brains of schizophrenics vs with affective disorder: para hippocampal cortices

Answer 22

Significantly thinner in schizophrenics compared to those with affective disorder
Which is involved in episodic memory, visuopatial processing and scene perception (negative symptoms)

Question 23

Weinberger research into non concordant identical twins with schizophrenia (one has it and other doesn’t)

Answer 23

MRI scans of twins revealed there were differences in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus volume

Question 25

Research into brain abnormality explanations of depression

Answer 25

Sheline

Question 26

Main idea behind brain abnormality causing depression

Answer 26

People with depression show a smaller hippocampus volume than people without

Question 27

How does depression lead to smaller hippocampus volume?

Answer 27

Stress> release of cortisol > destroys cells in hippocampus > neurones can’t respond to serotonin in the normal way > diminished happiness

Question 28

Shelines research into brain abnormalities in depression

Answer 28

Elderly women who’s depression was in remission that hippocampus is smaller in these women than women who aren’t depressed of the same age

Question 29

Treatment for mental illness based on brain abnormalities

Answer 29

Drug therapy to reduce effect of brain damage Surgery in case of a tumour

Question 30

Application of the medical model

Answer 30

Treatment: Drug therapy (SSRIs) Brain stimulation techniques Electro convulsive therapy (ECT) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Question 31

Example of drug therapy

Answer 31

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 32

How do SSRIs work?

Answer 32

Block reuptake of serotonin by presynaptic neurone > greater amount of serotonin in synapse > increases likelihood of enough reaching post synaptic receptor sites > trigger impulse in nervous system to respond appropriately to stimuli

Question 33

What do SSRIs treat?

Answer 33

Depression, so brain can respond to stimuli associated with happiness more adequately = less depressive mood

Question 34

How does ECT work,

Answer 34

Electrodes placed on temples > pass electric shock into brain > trigger epileptic seizure to jumpstart brain and relieve symptoms of severe disorder

Question 35

What disorder does ECT target

Answer 35

Severe depression or psychotic episode

Question 36

How is ECT administered?

Answer 36

To a patient with electrodes at their temple under anaesthesia

Question 37

Transcranial magnetic stimulation set up

Answer 37

Electromagnetic coil is held against patients forehead targeting left prefrontal cortex who is alert and awake Creates a magnetic pulse that travels through skull

Question 38

How does TMS work

Answer 38

Magnetic pulse creates small electric currents in brain that spread to underlying emotional/ mood regulation structures Normalise neural networks

Question 39

What does TMS treat?

Answer 39

Depression

Question 40

Is SSRI ethical? (Evaluation)

Answer 40

Yes safe for those physically ill (protection from harm)+ few withdrawal effects No, takes 12 weeks to be fully effective, may put patient at risk in that time And has side effects eg sexual dysfunction

Question 41

Evaluate ECT

Answer 41

Unethical has physical health risks eg heart problems Expensive so not available for all But yes can be because it’s quick and works

Question 42

Evaluate TMS

Answer 42

Effectiveness wears off quickly so requires constant treatment and is expensive