The Biomedical Model Flashcards
1
Q
What is the biomedical model
A
- There is no distinction between mental and physical disease
- Mental disorders are biologically based
- Underlying causes are organic
2
Q
Neurotransmitter Imbalance
A
- Altered production: over or under stimulating target neuron
- Altered reuptake: Increasing or decreasing concentration at synapses
- Alterations of neurotransmitter receptors: abnormally sensitive or insensitive
3
Q
Psychotropic Drugs
A
- Agonist: bund to receptor and produce a similar response to the intended chemical receptor
- Antagonist: drug that binds to the receptor to stop the receptor from producing a response
- treat mental disorder by influence synaptic transmission
4
Q
Amine Hypothesis of Depression
A
- Patients given drugs for blood pressure which lead to them experience depressed mood, the drugs were found to be depleting nerve cells of amine neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin)
- Iproniazid was produced and used to treat depression by increasing amine neurotransmitters
- Depression caused by deficiency of amine neurotransmitters
- Anti depressants work as they increase brain amine levels
- Most anti depressants are SSRIs, block reuptake of serotonin to help increase concentration at synapses in the brain. (Sertraline is most popular)
5
Q
Criticisms of Amine Hypothesis
A
- we might not actually have a deficiency of amine.
- oversimplification by saying ‘correct a chemical imbalance’
- inconsistent findings
6
Q
Types of mental health disorders
A
- Depression: Amine deficiency. Treated with noradrenaline and serotonin
- Schizophrenia: hallucinations and delusions are due to excess brain dopamine
- OCD: dysfunction in brain pathways regulated by serotonin
7
Q
Are biological models complex
A
- dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is simplistic and misleading
- biological disease models are highly complex and sophisticated, there is a lot of extensive research
8
Q
Hormones in mental disorders
A
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis
- over active in stress states, including chronic psychological stress
- Leads to persistent elevation of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream
- Implicated in several psychological, disorders (e.g. depression and anxiety)
9
Q
Generic Vulnerability
A
- Chromosomal abnormalities, Down syndrome
- Single gene defects, abnormalities in particular genes
- Vulnerability to mental disorder is polygenic (influenced by multiple genes)
10
Q
Epigenetic’s
A
- Genetic code is fixed at birth but genes can be switched on and off = epigenetic
- Adverse life experiences can lead to epigenetic changes that influence risk of mental health disorders in adulthood
- However, psychiatric disease risk depends on both genetic and environmental factors
11
Q
Insulin shock therapy
A
- 1940s - 1950s for schizophrenic
- insulin is used to induce coma (repeatedly over weeks or months)
- Risks, obesity, seizures, brain damage or death (mortality 5%)
12
Q
Prefrontal Leukotomy
A
- cutting white matter in the prefrontal brain
- prefrontal ( part of the brain involved in personality and behaviour)
- Drill while in head and swing blade to cut through nerve fibres
13
Q
Frontal Lobotomy
A
- Put instrument into eye socket
- Wiggle the instrument around to separate frontal lobe from rest of the brain
- ‘ice pick’ procedure
14
Q
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
A
- Controlled induction of convulsive seizures under general anaesthesia
- Safe and effective in several disorders (depression and psychosis)
- High relapse rate
- NICE say it is a ‘last resort’ for severe depression
15
Q
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
A
- Stimulation of area 25 in the limbic lobe of the brain associated with dramatic mood improvement in severe depression
- Sudden calmness or lightness
- Used for severe treatment resistant conditions (e.g. Depression, OCD)
- Effective but expensive and carries risks
- Last resort
