topic 2 the medical model Flashcards
(18 cards)
outline what is meant by the biochemical explanation of depression
biochemical explanations of depression
-these suggest that the cause may be due to the chemicals in our brain that are used to transmit messages between (neurotransmitters) become unbalances - sometimes have too much and sometimes there is too little.
-One theory of the cause of depression is that it could be related to LOW LEVELS OF SERATONIN within the nervous system
-An impulse goes from the pre synaptic neurone into the synaptic cleft and then to the post synaptic neurone on receptor proteins on sodium ion gated channels.
If there is low seratonin levels this means that less will will be in the synaptic cleft, and it will likley be reabsorbed by the pre synaptic neurone, as a result it is unlikely for the nerve to fire as may not be able to reach threshold
how can a lack of seratonin be fixed biochemical explanation
Drugs called SSRI’s are used to increase the effect of seratonin. The SSRI’s prevent/inhibit the reuptake of seratonin into the presynaptic cell. This allows for the build up of seratonin so that the nerve cell will send an impulse and transmit the message and reduce the symptoms of depression
What are the biochemical explanations of schizophrenia
-Another neurotransmitter dopamine is believed to play a role in schizophrenia
It is suggested that HIGH LEVELS OF DOPAMINE may cause schizophrenia
To reduce this drugs that bind to dopamine receptors on the post synaptic membrane prevent an overload of dopamine reaching the post synaptic membrane which results in the neurone not firing the impulse
Outline what is meant by the genetic explanations of illness
genetics from parents
-some evidence that certain disorders are passed from parent to child through inheritance
-Only half the genes from each parent, meaning that it is possible for one sibling to show mental illness and anther not to
monozygotic- twins from one egg
dizygotic-two eggs twins
Gottesman
-increased risk if both parents were schizophreic or bipolar
58% concordance rate for monozygotic
12% concordance rate from dizygotic
Outline what is meant by the evolutionary theory by Charles Darwin
This is the idea that certain genetic traits are passed on via evolution, if they were advantageous to our survival
- An explanation of a phobia of spiders are more phobic than , for example cars. We are pre-programmed to fear certain objects that may be potentially harmful. This is explained by the fact that our ancestors were threatened by many dangers, and being sesitive to these dangers increased their chances of survival. As a result we have evolved to associate certain stimuli with danger.
Outline what is meant by brain abnormality as an explanataion of illenss
Research has found some differences in brain structure and people with schizophrenia
-Post Mortem studies of the brain of patienta with schizophrenia against patients with affective disorder. With age,sex and year of birth controlled for, the brains patients with schizophrenia were 6% lighter enlarged lateral
-Weinberger used MRI scans of twins wo were identical but one had schixophrenia. He found differences in the prefromtal cortex and the hippocampal volume
Outline the brain abnormailty explanations of depression
-Research has shown that patients with depression can show smaller hippocampus volume than people not experiencing depression
What may be happening is people with depression have experienced stress which has lead to the release of cortisol. There is evidence that cortisol can destroy hippocampal cells and this would mean that these cells couuld not respond to seratonin in the way a normal cell would
What is a treatment of brain abnormality for schizophrenics and depressed
Drug therapy may be the most likely form of treatment, although in some cases surgery may be used
What is the name of the key research in topic 2 mental health
Gottesman et al - disorders of offspring with two psychiatry ill parents
What was the aim of the key study by Gottesman
To investigate a large sample the probability of a child being diagnosed with a mental disorder if either or both parents had this disorder
What was the sample of te key study by Gottesman
Anyone in Denmark aged between 10 years and 52 years in janruary 2007 and with a clear link to their biological parents . This meant that a sample of almost 2.7 million people and their parents being studied
What was the procedure of the key study by Gottesman et al
Using data from the psychiatric central register, Gottesman identified four groups of peiple.
-2 parents admitted to a psychiatric hospital with diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression
-One parent admitted to psychiatric hospital witha diagnosis of schizophrenia bipolar disorder or depression
-Neither parent with a diagnosis of a disorder
-The general public
what were the quantitative findings from the key research by gottesman on schizophrenia
both parents admitted with the disorder 27.3%
one parent admitted with disorder 7%
neither parent with the disorder 0.8%
general population admitted with this disorder 1.12%
what were the quantitative findings from the key research by gottesman on bipolar
both parents admitted with the disorder 24.9%
one parent admitted with the disorder 4.4%
neither parent admitted with the disorder 0.48%
general population admitted with the disorder 0.63%
What were some of the other important findings from Gottesman on overlap of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
There seemed to be some genetic overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
-if both parents are schizophrenic, 10.8% of offspring would be admitted with BIPOLAR
-if both parents had bipolar disorder, then 4.8% of offspring would be admitted with SCHIZOPHRENIA
-if one parent was schizophrenic and one parent was bipolar there is a 15.6% chance of offspring being schixophrenic and a 11.7% chance of being admitted to hospital with bipolar
Are there any links between parents going to psychiatric hospital and offspring being admitted their with ANY disorder
-if both parents had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, there was an ncrease in the likelihood of being admitted with ANY disorder
-if both parents were schizophrenic 67.5% were admitted
-if both parents had bipolar disorder 44.2% of offspring were admitted
-neither parents had been admitted to hospital 11.9%
The average across the ‘general population’ was 14.1%
What are the conclusions and comments made by Gottesman after carrying out his research
-Where both parents were admitted to psychiatric hospital with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, their offspring are at ‘super high risk’ of being admitted with a disorder themselves
-Uses of this study could incolve personal decision making with marriage, child bearing, adoption and ones own prospect for the future, Counsellors implemented to consult these couples
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