P3 - M.H. - The Medical Model Flashcards
Physical Malfunctions lead to Mental Illness (etc.)
Overview of BIO Explanations of M.H.
- Biological explanations suggest ALL Mental Illnesses arise from physical processes.
- 3 explanations are: Genetics, Brain Structure, and Biochemical (neurotransmitter) Activity.
You can use EITHER depression or schizophrenia as examples in your work but you MUST talk generally about ALL mental illness.
Genetic Factors of Schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia has a genetic basis but is Polygenetic (multiple genes involved).
- No single gene causes schizophrenia; multiple genes increase risk.
- Research identified 108 gene loci linked to the disorder.
- More research is needed for the Specific Genes
Genetic Factors of Depression
- Depression - 1 Gene called the Serotonin Transporter Gene, but also Interaction with Other Genes.
- Short / Short version of the S.T. Gene = highest risk for the development of depression.
- Long / Long version = lowest risk.
Genetics - Family Studies Evidence
- Family studies show Higher Rates of Schizophrenia among relatives
- Concordance rates help measure this Relationship
- Identical Twins (MZ) have a Higher Concordance Rate than Non-Identical Twins (DZ)
- Similar in Depression, but not as high
- INTERACTIONIST Results
Concordance Rates Explained
- Concordance Rate indicates how often both Individuals Share the Condition.
- Example - Schizophrenia: 48% in MZs vs. 17% in DZs
- General Population Rate for Depression: 1%, ~43% in MZs and 36% in DZs
- Schizophrenia Very Genetics Related
(Higher % of general population than Schizophrenia)
Genetics - Adoption Studies Evidence
- Adoption studies show Children of Schizophrenic Mothers have Higher Risk
- 5.8% of children raised in Healthy Environments developed Schizophrenia
- 36.8% developed it in dysfunctional families, highlighting Environmental Influence
Adoption studies on Depression have found similar results, but not as high as the Schizophrenia Results.
INTERACTIONIST
Limitations of Genetic Studies
- A 100% Concordance Rate is expected for purely genetic traits, but it never is
- Environmental factors also play a role in Schizophrenia and Depression Development (Adoption Studies)
- Genetic Predisposition does not guarantee any disorder will manifest at any point in life
Genetics in DSM
- DSM-1 & DSM-2 made definitions of M.Illmess from how it effects patients
- DSM-3 Defined it through what causes it aswell
- Robert Spitzer
Genes, DNA & Chromosomes
- 23 pairs of chromosones
- 10,000s of Genes
- DNA < Genes < Chromosomes < Cells
Genetics - Current Understanding
- Human Genome discovered from 1990-2003
- Genetics is the most recent of the Background areas (Biochemical is oldest)
- Still at early stages of Understanding - not yet falsifiable
Genetics - Shizophrenia Research Definitions
- Inheritance - A Trait passed on down from prevous generations of BIO family
- MZ - Identical Twins
- DZ - Non-Identical Twins
- Polygenic - A condition cuased by Many Genes
- Predisposed - Genetic Increased chance to develop a Condition
- Environmental Influence - Features of an individual’s environment that can provoke the development of a Condition
- Relatives - Individuals connected by Blood and Marriage
- General Population - The average amount of people who have no relatives with a condition without relation to a given condition
- Concordance rate - measure of the proportion of pairs that share a given trait (only including pairs w/ one that has the given trait)
BIOCHEM - Schizophrenia Hypothesis
Positive Symptoms - DAI
* Dopamine
* Acetylcholine
* Inflammation
Negative Symptoms - SGG
* Seretonin
* Glutamate
* GABA
Cognitive Symptoms - SGA
* Seretonin
* Glutamate
* Acetylcholine
GOTTESBERG - Aims
- How vulnerable are the children of two parents with mental illnesses?
- Specifically schizophrenia suffering parents and bipolar disorder suffering parents
- Rist of developing mental illness from 10-52
GOTTESBERG - Background
Research into Duel Mating studies previously had small samples
GOTTESBERG - Method & Procedure
- Cohort study; a cogort of the population born before ‘97
- ICD used to Diagnose - children & parents with Sz, Bplr or related Psychotic conditions
GOTTESBERG - Findings: Schizophrenia
Risk MUCH higher for children with TWO parents diagnosed
* 27.3% children had developed it themselves by age 52
* 39.2% children had schizophrenia related conditions
* 67.5% children has SOME form of mental illness
ONE parent
* 7% children had schizophrenia by age 52
* 11.9% had SOME mental illness
NO PARENTS
* 1.1% of general population had developed it by 52