Topic 2 - The Biological Explanation of Mental Illness

Question 1

What is depression related to?

Answer 1

Low levels of Serotonin within the nervous system

Question 2

What is serotonin?

Answer 2

A neurotransmitter

Question 3

What happens if levels of serotonin are low?

Answer 3

Then the serotonin molecules may be absorbed back into the pre-synaptic nerve cell too soon. This would mean that the message may not get passed effectively across the gap

Question 4

What is the bio-chemical explanation of depression?

Answer 4

It could be caused by a lack of serotonin and it happens because of the body not responding in the appropriate way to the serotonin it receives.

Question 5

What is schizophrenia related to?

Answer 5

High levels of dopamine within the nervous system with this causing na excess of dopamine to reach post-synaptic nerve cells

Question 6

What is dopamine?

Answer 6

A neurotransmitter

Question 7

How can you treat depression?

Answer 7

Blocking the re-uptake of serotonin to ensure there is enough serotonin available for messages to get carried along the nervous system

Question 8

How can you treat schizophrenia?

Answer 8

Blocking receptors in post-synaptic nerve cells to prevent an overload of dopamine reaching the post-synaptic nerve cell.