Topic 2: The Medical Model Flashcards
Brain Abnormality as an explanation of Mental Illness
What did Swayze (1990) find when he reviewed 50 studies of schizophrenia?
Most schizophrenics had large amount of liquid in the cavities of the brain which caused them to enlarge.
What are some other structural abnormalities for schizophrenics?
- Large corpus callosum
- high density of white matter in the right frontal and parietal lobe
- Small amount of grey matter in the temporal lobes
- A change in blood flow in the cerebral hemisphere
- Hippocampus and Thalamus are affected.
Explain what Purdon et al found about Schizophrenic patients as evidence of altered brain structure.
They found that schizophrenics had problems in the left hemisphere of the brain when they compared the force applied in the right and left hand of 21 Schizophrenic patients. 11 of them were untreated and their right hand was significantly weaker than their left. 10 of them were treated with antipsychotics and both hands were normal.
How is the schizophrenia symptom, loss of motivation, associated with brain abnormalities according to Jucket et al?
Jucket found that in there were lower levels of activity in the Ventral Striatum of Schizophrenic individuals and a negative correlation between the severity of symptoms and activity levels in the Ventral Striatum.
How is the schizophrenia sympotom, hallucinations, associated with brian abnormalities according to Allen et al?
Allen studies the brains of individuals who experienced auditory hallucinations while they completed a was of identifying whether pre-recorded speech was their own voice or someone else’s. These results were compared to a control group and it was found that the activation levels in the superior temporal gyrus and anteriot cingulate gyrus was low.
What did Coffey et al find regarding frontal lobes in depressed patients?
Using MRI scans, they found that the mean volume of the frontal lobe was smaller in depressed patients than non-depressed patients.
What did Milo et al find regarding frontal lobes and blood flow in depressed patients?
Using PET scan-studies, they saw hypoperfusion occured.
How was hypoperfusion cured?
Using ECT’s (use of electric currents to create a seizure in a person’s brain) to normalise bloodflow.
What is the role of the frontal lobe?
The front part of the brain associated with controling abilities such as movement, language, organisation.
What is hypoperfusion?
It is a condition when blood does not flow to certain parts of the body and doesn’t reach the correct organs.
