The Etiology and Ttreatment of Mental Disorders Flashcards
(8 cards)
London recently has a baby. Now she is struggling to get out of bed, is sad or irritable most of the day, and doesn’t want to eat much or interact. London’s husband tells family members he’s worried she has a chemical imbalance and needs medication. Is this a good explanation for what is going on with London?
No. No form of mental disorder results from only one cause.
Alma inherited a tendency to be overly concerned with others’ perceptions of her, has been exposed by her peer group to dieting websites and peer expectations about body image, and often feels her life is out of control and so she overeats as a way to comfort herself. Is this a good example of then biophysical model as a way to explain how a person develops a mental disorder?
Yes. The explanation of Alma’s eating disorder includes aspects of biology/genetics, social/cultural forces, and psychological functioning (feeling out of control) that interact consistent with the BPS.
A therapist sits down with Courri’s parents to explain the likely reason that Courri developed social anxiety disorder. The therapist notes that Courri reacts impulsively around other kids, hitting them if he disagrees with them, calling them names, or becoming clingy to kids he barely knows. This has led to kids making fun of him, responding aggressively to him, and social isolation at school.
The therapist also notes the family has a history of anxiety disorders going back at least to Courri’s grandparents. This explanation best fits which model of the etiology of mental disorders?
Gene-Environment Correlation (rGE)
According to the biopsychosocial model, which of the following therapeutic approaches might be considered when addressing mental illness?
a. medication only, as it directly addresses the biological aspects of mental illness
b. cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) only, focusing solely on changing negative thought patterns
c. social support groups only, to improve the individual’s social environment and relationships
d. a combinations of medication, therapy, and social support, to address the biological psychological, and social aspects respectively
d. a combinations of medication, therapy, and social support, to address the biological psychological, and social aspects respectively
which of the following scenarios is an example of a social factor in the biopsychosocial model of mental illness?
a. a genetic predisposition to depression passed down from a parent to their child
b. the impact of a traumatic event, such as a car accident, on an individual’s mental health
c. the stress experienced due to unemployment and the lack of a supportive community
d. the use of medication to balance neurotransmitter levels in the brain
c. the stress experienced due to unemployment and the lack of a supportive community
According to the diathesis-stress model, why might two individuals exposed to a similar stressful life events have different responses, with one developing a mental disorder and the other not?
The individual who develops a disorder may have a lower threshold for stress due to their diathesis, making them more susceptible when faced with similar stressors
How does the gene-environment correlation model (rGE) explain the interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors?
The rGE model demonstrates that individuals’ genetic predispositions can influence the environments they’re exposed to or create, and these environments can, in turn, affect their behaviors, development, and mental health
Stephen has an identical twin, a little brother, and two older sister. Why is he more likely to develop schizophrenia if his identical twin develops the disorder than if his older sister develops the disorder?
Because he shares more of the genes that create vulnerability to schizophrenia with his twin than he does with his sister
