The Medical Model

Question 1

Gottesman sample

Answer 1

Participants were drawn from a population of approximately 2.7 million Danish born before 1997 with an identifiable mother and father. Data was sampled in 2007 so the minimum age was 10

Question 2

Biochemical explanation assumption

Answer 2

Assumes mental disorders have a physical cause and are the result of an imbalance in chemicals

Question 3

Duke findings

Answer 3

Mice with a tendency towards serotonin deficiency showed symptoms of depression after experiencing social stress
(What is social stress for a mouse? Deciding whether to share cheese?)

Question 4

What are neurotransmitters

Answer 4

Chemical messengers used by the nervous system to regulate many functions and processes in our bodies such as sleeping and metabolism
The messages the nerve cells send through synapses also play a role in mood regulation

Question 5

How do SSRIs work

Answer 5

Block the reputable process, therefore prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed into the pre synaptic cell
This means that more serotonin is available in the synaptic gap to pass further messages between nearby cells and stimulate the post-synaptic cell
Therefore they alter the balance of serotonin levels in the brain

Question 6

Cipriani research

Answer 6

Over 500 trials and 100,000 ppts
All studies looked for data 8 weeks into taking anti-depressants or a placebo pill
The research found that all 21 types of anti-depressants were more effective at treating depressive symptoms in adults compared to the placebo pill
Some were more effective than others

Question 7

Strengths and weaknesses of antidepressants

Answer 7

+ easy to take
+ economical
+ effective
+ well-studied and safe
- side effects such as reduced libido, weight gain, sleep issues and headaches
- can initially increase suicide risk

Question 8

Assumption of genetic explanation

Answer 8

Assumes that mental disorders are inherited through genetic transference from parents to offspring

Question 9

Gottesman aim

Answer 9

To investigate the probability of offspring also being diagnosed with a mental disorder - is it inherited?

Question 10

Gottesman sample

Answer 10

Over 2.7 million people from Denmark (ethnocentric but more valid)
Born during or after 1968 with a registered link to their biological parents
Aged 10 or older in January 2007

Question 11

Gottesman procedure

Answer 11

Data taken from two registers
Danish civil registration system and psychiatric central register to identify people with schizophrenia and bipolar. Statistics were in the public domain and anonymous so no consent needed.

Question 12

Gottesman findings

Answer 12

Schizophrenia
Both parents - 27%
One parent - 7%
Neither parent - 0.86%
General population - about 1%

Bipolar
Both parents - 25%
One parent - 4.4%
Neither parent - 0.48%
General population - less than 1%

Question 13

Gottesman conclusions

Answer 13

Evidence that mental disorders are genetic
Concordance rates are not 100% so environmental factors also come into play

Question 14

Advantages and disadvantages of genetic explanation

Answer 14

+ Supported by Gottesman
+ Scientific - assumes we can quantify mental illness and is replicable
+ Can show cause and effect for mental illness
- Reductionist to assume this is the only cause
- Socially sensitive to suggest it is down to factors that cannot be changed
- Less useful for treatments, cannot change genes

Question 15

Assumption of brain abnormality explanation

Answer 15

Assumes mental disorders are the result of abnormal brain structures

Question 16

Brown findings

Answer 16

People with schizophrenia had brains that were 6% lighter with larger ventricles

Question 17

Sheline findings

Answer 17

Depressed older women has smaller hippocampus than non-depressed women of the same age