Wender: Biological Depression

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To investigate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology (cause of disorder by medical diagnosis) of mood disorders.

Question 2

PPs?

Answer 2

• Adoptive and biological relatives of 71 adult adoptees, mean age 43.7 who had a mood disorder
• 71 adult adoptees, mean age 44 who were physically normal
• adults had been removed from mothers at a young age
• all from Holland

Question 3

Procedure?

Answer 3

Psychiatric evaluations of relatives were made by independent blind diagnoses of mental hospital and other official records.

Question 4

Results?

Answer 4

• 8 fold increase in unipolar depression among bio relatives
• 15 fold increase in suicide among bio relatives of adopted adults

Question 5

Conclusions?

Answer 5

There is a significant genetic link between unipolar depression and suicide.

Question 6

Background?

Answer 6

Kety’s theory: 3 neurotransmitters involved in depression
•noradrenaline
•serotonin
•dopamine

Depression= low levels of serotonin which would prevent adequate control of other neurotransmitters

Question 7

Strengths?

Answer 7

• independent blind= no researcher bias
• supports nature side of nature/nurture
• useful in explaining depression

Question 8

Weaknesses?

Answer 8

• unsure of how many relatives= unreliable sample
• bio depressed because of adoption?
• reductionist
• ethnocentric
• all quantitative data