Topic 2: the medical model

Question 1

how is the biochemical explanation mental illness linked to nature explanation

Answer 1

• as genes act by directing biochemical events. If mental disorders have a genetic bssis to them to them then chemical imbalances in neurotransmitters would be an expression of this

Question 2

how is the biochemical explanation mental illness linked to the individual debate

Answer 2

• insofar as depression can be treated through drug therapy (e.g. SSRIs), this mau suggest support for individual explanations of the disorder
• however, if drug therapy is ineffective in alleviating symptoms if depression, this may suggest more of a situational explanatiom for the disorder

Question 3

how is the biochemical explanation of mental illness useful

Answer 3

• This can lead towards drug therapy, aiming to restore normal levels of neurotransmitter action (e.g. blocking reuptake of serotonin for people with depression or blocking dopamine receptors for people with schizophrenia)

Question 4

how is the genetic explanation of mental illness linked to nature

Answer 4

• Schizophrenia seems to have a strong genetic basis to it as your chances of having it are 58% if you have got an identical twin with it
• However, as the chances of an identical twin getting it are not 100% this suggests that environmental factors (perhaps to do with how you are brought up) play a part, too

Question 5

how is the genetic explanation situational

Answer 5

• the situation of a person is in seems to play less of a role than individual genetic inheritance when it comes to the chances of developing schizphrenia
• it can play a role in triggering a phobia that evolution has ‘biologically prepared’ us for.

Question 6

how is the genetic explanation useful

Answer 6

• this may help to explain the developmental of mental disorders but it currently lacks usefulness as we dont yet have sufficient knowledge to support treatments targeting those genes that might be carriers of mental disorders

Question 7

how is the brain abnormality explanation linked to nature

Answer 7

• people may be born with brain abnormalities or they may be the consequence of environmental factors such as oxygen stravation during birth, prenatal exposure to the flu virus, or childhood head injuries

Question 8

how is the brain abnormality explanation linked to the situational debate

Answer 8

• brain plasticity studies suggest that environments can affect brain structure.
• that said, if environmental factors played a really significant role in influencing brain structure then wed expect to see people brought up in the same environments all developing and the same brain abnormalities and this doesnt seem to happen.

Question 9

how is the brain abnormality explanation useful

Answer 9

• in some instances, this may lack usefulness (e.g. it is unclear whether the size of brain ventricles could be reduced in people with schizophrenia and whether this would have any therapeutic benefit anyway) However, when it can be linked