Mental Health- The Medical Model

Question 1

Biological Explanations

What does somatogenic mean?

Answer 1

Originating in the cells of the body: of organic, rather than of mental origin

Question 2

Biological Explanations

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 2

Chemical messengers in the body

e.g. dopamine

Question 3

Biological Explanations

What are neurons?

Answer 3

Brain cells that send electrical signals

Question 4

Biological Explanations

What is a synapse?

Answer 4

The gap between the neurones overwhich neurotransmitters must pass

Question 5

Biochemical Explanations

What is the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 5

The theory states that schizophrenia occurs due to an excess of dopamine in the brain (in the limbic system)

Question 6

Biochemical Explanations

What does the new version of the dopamine hypothesis state?

Answer 6

There is an excess of dopamine (D2) receptors on the postsynaptic neurons

Question 7

Biochemical Explanations

What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 7

Extra/ added symptoms in the mesolimbic system (not usually observed)

Question 8

Biochemical Explanations

What are negative symptoms?

Answer 8

Missing behaviours and symptoms in the mesocortical system (not usually observed)

Question 9

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 9

Associated with behaviour control- damaged= less self-control, impaired emotional processing

Question 10

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What is the function of the limbic system?

Answer 10

Responsible for processing emotion and stress responses- made up of various structures

Question 11

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What is the function of amygdala?

Answer 11

Responsible for feelings of fear and also stores emotional memory

Question 12

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What is the function of the hippocampus?

Answer 12

Navigational memory- processing memory as a whole

Question 13

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What role does the amygdala have in depression?

Answer 13

Depression is caused by activity in this region- antidepressants reduced it

Question 14

Brain Abnormality Explanation

What role does the hippocampus have in depression?

Answer 14

The area is significantly smaller in volume in those who suffer with depression- severe symptoms= smaller volume

Question 15

Genetic Explanation

What does proband mean?

Answer 15

A person serving as the starting point for the genetic study of the family

Usually person with MH disorder

Question 16

Genetic Explanation

What do the family studies involve when conducting genetic explanations?

Answer 16

• Comparing the proband to a family member
• Compare behaviours of each family member to see if DNA % increases the likelihood of similar behaviours

Question 17

Genetic Explanation

What do the twin studies involve when investigating genetic explanations?

Answer 17

• Both twins presumed to share same environment
• if mental health is genetic then both twins should have condition

Question 18

Genetic Explanation

What is the difference between monozygotic (MZ) twins and dizygotic (DZ) twins?

Answer 18

• Monozygotic- 100% shared DNA (same egg and sperm)
• Dizygotic- 50% shared DNA (2 eggs/ 2 sperm cells)

Question 19

Genetic Explanation

What are the adoptive studies when investigating the genetic explanations?

Answer 19

• Compare proband to adoptive parents and bioological parents to see a difference
• if MH is genetic there should be no correlation

Question 20

Genetic Explanation

What is the role of the family studies in regards to schizophrenia?

Answer 20

• No parents diagnosed= 1% general risk
• One parent diagnosed= 7%

Question 21

Genetic Explanation

What is the role of the twin studies in regards to schizophrenia?

Answer 21

Both twins develop SZ depending on shared level of DNA
* MZ- 46%-53% if twin has SZ
* DZ- 15% if twin has SZ

Question 22

Genetic Explanation

What is the role of the adoptive studies in regards to schizophrenia?

Answer 22

Finnish Adoptive Study by Tienari
* Lifetime risk is 9.4% if biological mother had SZ
* Lifetime risk is 1.2% if biological mother did not have SZ

Question 23

Gottesman

What was the aim of the research, given he focused on genetics of offspring?

Answer 23

To investigate the likelihood of offspring being diagnosed with SZ, bipolar etc, if one or both parents have previously been diagnosed

Question 24

Gottesman

What method was used, in terms of data too?

Answer 24

• Correlational anaylsis
• Using secondary data

Question 25

# Gottesman Where did the sample (the secondary data) come from?

Answer 25

* The Danish Civil Registration- all chosen were born from 1968-1997 * The Danish Psychiatric Central Register- psychiatric admissions between 1970-2007 * Total= 3.4 million from Denmark

Question 26

# Gottesman How was the study carried out (procedure)?

Answer 26

* Data on the offspring linked with parents' psychiatric history

Question 27

# Gottesman Which registration was used to establish who their parents were?

Answer 27

The Danish Civil Registration, then the Psychiatric registartion was checked to see if they were there

Question 28

# Gottesman What did researchers identify once they were on psychiatric registration?

Answer 28

Any person with schizophrenia

Question 29

# Gottesman- Results Which offspring was at a 27.3% chance of being diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Answer 29

If both parents had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia

Question 30

# Gottesman- results What was the risk for offspring with one parent diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Answer 30

7%

Question 31

# Gottesman- results What is the risk for offspring if neither parent has any diagnosis?

Answer 31

1%

Question 32

# Gottesman- results What was the risk for offspring who had one parent diagnosed with SZ and one diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

Answer 32

15%

Question 33

# Gottesman- conclusions What was concluded if both parents have mentsl illnesses?

Answer 33

Significantly greater risk of offspring developing mental illness

Question 34

# Gottesman- conclusions Why do the risks support the genetic explanation for mental illness?

Answer 34

it supports that mental health can be genetically transferred/ inherited

Question 35

# Gottesman- conclusions Why is it important to consider how the relationship is not 100%?

Answer 35

There is still environmental impact

Question 36

# Gottesman- conclusions Why are the results useful?

Answer 36

* Offspring are more likely to investigate * Parents can seek genetic councelling

Question 37

# Biological Treatment Which biological explanation does elecroconvulsive therapy rely on?

Answer 37

Brain Abnormality

Question 38

# Biological Treatment How does ECT work?

Answer 38

Research suggests that electric current changes the activity of neurotransmitters | e.g. dopamine and serotonin

Question 39

# Biological Treatment What are the two types of ECT?

Answer 39

* Bilateral- two electrodes attached to both temples * Unilateral- one elctrode attached to one temple (not as effective, used less in UK)

Question 40

# Biological Treatment How is ECT administered?

Answer 40

* patient anaesthetised (prevent physical injury) * small amounts (0.6v) of electric current passed through brain at 0.5 a second * treatment for 3-4 weeks

Question 41

# Biological Treatment Why is ECT useful?

Answer 41

* Found to reduce depression for those who can't wait/ have serious symtpoms

Question 42

# Biological Treatment What are the side effects of ECT?

Answer 42

* headache * muscle ache * dizziness * distress * memory loss