Unit 2 Topic 4 - Psychological Disorders and Treatments

Question 1

Describe the biopsychosocial approach to understanding psychological disorder (2.4.1.1)
(George Engel, 1980)

Answer 1

general model or approach that examines how the following factors may contribute to situations:
- biological: genes, nutrition, etc
- psychological: personality, thoughts, emotions, etc
- social: socio-economical, -environmental, cultural

Question 2

Summarise biological, psychological and social risk factors for psychological disorder (2.4.1.2)

Answer 2

Biological:
genes - mental illness is heritable, gene variations
medication - some people respond better than others
sleep - chronic sleep problems effect mental health
substance use - long term is linked to mental health

Psychological:
rumination - excessive thinking or worrying about past
impaired reasoning + memory - not goal directed
stress - can effect mental health if not managed

Social:
disorganised attachment - no attachment figure
significant relationships - losing people, etc.

Question 3

Describe the impact of stigma on help-seeking behaviours (2.4.1.4)

Answer 3

• the stigma on seeking help is negative, especially in men
• not considered societal norm (different)
• labels
• embarrassment

Question 4

Compare the following treatments for psychological disorders (2.4.1.5)
- Psychotherapy
- Psychopharmices
- ECT

Answer 4

therapy: most common, non-invasive, personalised
pharmices: can be invasive, medication main treatment
ect: invasive, electric current through brain, brain activity

Question 5

Explain the placebo effect (2.4.1.6)

Answer 5

• non-invasive
• medication with no physical effects (fake)
• convinced that the medication is real
• patient is unaware the placebo effect is occuring
• not ethical