Download - Psychological Approaches to Psychopathology
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Psychological Approaches to Psychopathology
Variety of approaches which make assumptions about the
cause of abnormality Biological – biological factors Cognitive – thought processes underlying the process Behavioural – learning experiences are critical in
understanding abnormality Psychodynamic – early experience and unconscious
processes are the key influences on behaviour (normal and abnormal)
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abnormality
the biological approach
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Lesson objective
To understand how the biological approach views
mental disorders
NB Biological Approach is also known as the Medical Model and/or Somatic* Model
* somatic = ‘of the body’
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Psychological disorders are physical illnesses...
When the same symptoms frequently occur together, they represent a syndrome or disorder. The cause, or ‘aetiology’ may be one or more of the following:
Brain injury Infection Neurotransmitters Genetics
ThinkBING !
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Brain injury
Remember Phineas Gage?
Accidental Brain damage can lead to psychological disorders.
After the accident, Phineas Gage was described as impulsive, disordered and having a different personality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXiM-nDYzX0
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Brain damage A degeneration or malformation of brain
cells can cause memory loss often present in Alzheimer’s disease.
Korsakoff’s syndrome occurs when drink and drugs damage part of the brain involved in memory.
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Infection
Sometimes an infection that causes one illness can lead to a secondary illness that has psychological symptoms.
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Infection Syphilis bacterium causes a sexually
transmitted disease known as syphilis. It causes short-lived sores followed by general paresis
- forgetfulness, mental deterioration and delusions of grandeur and persecution.
The influenza virus has been linked to schizophrenia.
Brown et al (2004) found that 14% of schizophrenic cases may be linked to
the foetus being exposed to the ‘flu virus in the womb during the first trimester.
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Neurotransmitter Imbalance
Certain neurotransmitters have been thought to contribute to many psychological disorders
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that carry information around the nervous systeme.g. Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA
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Neurotransmitter Imbalance
One of the factors involved in schizophrenia is an excessive amount of dopamine
High levels of serotonin have been thought be involved in the manic state of bi-polar depression.
Too much or too little of a particular neurotransmitter can lead to
psychopathology
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Genetics Individuals may inherit a
predisposition* to certain illnesses. These are carried on genes, through DNA, which pass from one generation to the next
*PREDISPOSITION = Increased vulnerability to a particular disease based on genetic factors
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Genetics Every human has 46 chromosomes (DNA)
divided into 23 pairs. During reproduction, 23 chromosomes
from mum and 23 chromosomes from dad are combined to make an embryo (cells before a baby)
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Genetics This is how we get our characteristics
from both of our parents.
If a disorder is caused genetically then we would expect individuals who are closely related to be more likely to have it
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Genetics How do we measure this?
Concordance rate: measures how often two individuals who are closely related have the same disorder.
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Genetics Research Twin Studies:
Twins can be identical (monozygotic,MZ) or fraternal (dizygotic, DZ).
Monozygotic (MZ) twins have identical DNA
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McGuffin et al (1996) Studied twins where one of the pair
already suffered from depression. Assessed the co-twin and found…
46% concordance rate for depression (MZ)
20% concordance rate for depression (DZ)
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Gottesman (1991) Meta-analysis of about 40 twin studies
Found concordance rate for schizophrenia of 48% in monozygotic twins and 17% in dizygotic twins
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Kendler, Masterson and Davis (1985)
Relatives of schizophrenics were 18 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than we would normally expect.
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Strengths of biological approach
Techniques have shown that there are biological components. Brain scanning has improved our ability to see this.
Research shows that there can be a genetic link
Drugs can work as treatment options When it explains things, it is scientific No blame
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Weaknesses of biological approach
Reductionist Genetics don’t provide a complete
explanation, e.g. diathesis-stress Drugs won’t work for everyone Focus of curing symptoms, not cause Might encourage patients to be passive