The Biological Approach

Question 1

How does the biological approach view abnormality?

Answer 1

Biomedical or medical models see mental disorders as caused by abnormal physiological processes

> Psychological abnormality is an illness or disease according to this model

Question 2

What does the biological approach do?

Answer 2

It studies the relationship between behaviour and the bodies physiological system – the most important is the nervous system, especially the brain

Question 3

What is behaviour according to the biological approach?

Answer 3

> According to this approach: ‘all behaviour is caused by an underlying physiological process in the body and is down to a specific cause – either a malfunction in the body’s systems or a genetic factor (organic basis)’

> ’remove the root and the body will return to normal’

Question 4

The biological approach agrees that, no identifiable physical cause = functional disorder - who is trained to decide this?

Answer 4

Psychiatrists

Question 5

What are Psychiatrists?

[biological]

Answer 5

medically qualified practitioners who uphold this approach

Question 6

What are the three stages to diagnosing abnormalities?

[biological]

Answer 6

• CLASSIFY – recognise the syndrome by symptoms and signs (patient report and doctors observations
• IDENTIFY – the underlying cause, e.g. genetics/brain damage/infection/ biochemistry
• PRESCRIBE – appropriate treatment or therapy

Question 7

What does the biological approach believe and assume?

Answer 7

• It believes abnormality is caused by physical factors
• It assumes that all mental disorders are related to change in the body’s normal functioning

Question 8

What 4 factors does the biological approach believe causes mental illness?

B.I.N.G.

Answer 8

Neuroanatomy (brain damage)

Genetics

Infection

Biochemistry

Question 9

How does Neuroanatomy cause mental illness?

[biological]

Answer 9

Abnormal behaviour may occur if the brain is damaged in some way
-Once disease or brain damage has caused deterioration there is little chance of reversal

> E.g. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: caused by malformation and loss of cells in a number of areas in the nervous system
-Excessive alcohol and drugs can damage brain, resulting in hallucinations or other symptoms of mental disorder

> E.g. Korsakoff’s syndrome = profound impairment of memory, most commonly caused by alcohol abuse

Question 10

How does Infectioncause mental illness?

[biological]

Answer 10

Infection can give rise to mental illness: flu has been linked to schizophrenia – 14% of schizophrenia cases have been linked to exposure to flu in the womb (Brown 2004)

 - Syphillis, caused by microorganism, was identified in the 19th Century as a cause of brain damage = symptoms of general paresis (mental illness)

Question 11

How does Genetics cause mental illness?

[biological]

Answer 11

research shown possibility of some people being genetically at risk of developing mental disorder

• The only strong evidence relates to Bipolar depression and Schizophrenia: It has been demonstrated that a first degree relative of someone suffering schizophrenic symptoms has about a 10% chance of developing the illness (in addition to the 1% risk to the general population)
  
  • showing that the degree of risk of developing schizophrenia increases with the degree of relation

– In order to investigate genetic links = family, twin and adoption studies to investigate concordance rate

(A02= strong genetic evidence for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar depression – higher concordance rate between monozygotic twins (48%) than Dizygotic Twins (17%)

Question 12

How does Biochemistry (neurotransmitters) cause mental illness?
[biological]

Answer 12

neurotransmitters are thought to be out of balance in the nervous system of people with certain psychological disorders
>E.g. Schizophrenia is associated with a high amount of dopamine
> Depression is associated with the decreased availability of Serotonin
- PET scanners provide images of the brain and an assessment of the actions of neurotransmitters – hormones have been implicated in the origins of some mental health issues: e.g. depression = higher levels of cortisol

Question 13

What are neurotransmitters?

[biological]

Answer 13

Chemicals that transmit nerve impulses from one cell to another

Question 14

Evaluate the Biological approach

Answer 14

Stigma :-(
Szaz (1972) mental illness is something people fear (more than physical illness.) People do not know how to respond to someone who is mentally ill

No Blame :-)
Biological implies that the person is not responsible for their mental illness. Seen to be a sympathetic response as the person is in need of help NOT punishment

Reductionist :-(
Attempts to explain complex mental illnesses in terms of the activity of brain cells. However, psychological disorders are more likely to be caused by an interaction of many factors; e.g. learnt behaviour, way of thinking, and emotional experiences, as well as biological factors

Research Support :-)
A lot of research has been carried out that has increased the understanding of biological factors that underpin psychological disorders. McGuffin et al 1996 found a 46% concordance rate in MZ and 20% in DZ twins for depression, out of 109 patients, suggesting a genetic link. However research is inconclusive and difficult to interpret.
- Family and twin studies: is it genes or the shared environment? – very difficult to establish cause and effect. E.g. raised dopamine may be a consequence of schizophrenia rather than a cause

Relinquishing Responsibility :-(
Patients encouraged to be passive – responsibility for the recovery is in the hands of a professional