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| Question | Answer |
| The 4 approaches | different approaches within psychology have different views on the nature and causes of abnormal behaviour. An approach is based on different assumptions about the nature of human behaviour, and different views on the origins of psychopathology. As with the definitions covered earlier, none of the approaches offers a complete explanation of psychopathology, and none can explain the entire spectrum of abnormality. |
| The biological approach to psychopathology | a biological psychologist explains abnormal behaviour in terms of an abnormal biology, and therefore explains mental disorder as the consequence of malfunctioning of biological systems. It follows that treatment should repair these faulty systems, using somatic (i.e. focused on bodily processes) therapies such as drugs and ECT and psychosurgery. The biological model of abnormality is also called the medical model of abnomality because it treats abnormality as a physical condition. The medical model of abnormality is the most widely accepted modal of mental illness. In fact, that is why the term mental 'illness' is often used rather than mental 'disorder', because the dominant view in psychiatry is that mental problems are illnesses, to be treated much like physical illnesses. |
| 3 key explanations within the biological model of abnormality | 1. Genetic factors (McGuffin et al 1996) 2. Infection (Torrey 2001) 3. Biochemistry |
| Viral infection | research suggests that some disorders such as (schizophrenia) may be related to exposure to certain viruses in the womb. |
| Viral infection evidence | Torrey (2001)- found that the mothers of many people with schizophrenia had contracted a particular strain of influenza (flu) during pregnancy. The virus may enter the unborn childs brain. Where it remains dormant until puberty, when other hormones may activate it, producing the symptoms of schizophrenia. Therefore, this demonstrates a link between mental health and biology. |
| Viral infection- evaluation | its limited- it ignores important factors, e.g. people with schizophrenia often experience several stressful life events in weeks before the onset (Day et al 1987), it cant just be infection! |
| Genetic factors | we inherit mental illness in the same way that we inherit physical characteristics. Individuals may inherit predispositions to certain illnesses. These predispositions are carried by genes that pass from one generation to the next. It is unlikely to be a specific depression gene (i.e. a gene that means you will suffer depression), it is more likely to be the case that there are genes that predispose you to certain illnesses- i.e. make it more likely that you will suffer from the illness. |
| Investigation into the possibility of mental illness being inherited | -looking at patterns within families (family history studies) or within twin pairs. -if disorder is caused genetically, then we would expect individuals who are closely related (and so share many genes) to be more likely to have it. -problem here, as individuals within a family who are closely related are likely to experience more similar environments (e.g. living in the same home) than those who are not closely related. -this can make it hard to decide whether the presence of a given mental disorder in 2 closely related individuals is due to similarity of their genes or the similarity of the environment. -Kendler et al (1985) saw that relatives of schizophrenia were 18 times more likely to develop the disorder than a control group. |
| Biochemistry | this is the study of the chemical processes of living organisms. The third possible cause of abnormality from the biological approach outlines that the cause lies in the patient's biochemistry. -for this explanation- focus on NEUROTRANSMITTERS. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that brain cells use to communicate. Imbalances in these are said to cause mental illness. -several theorists have argued- one of the factors involved in schizophrenia is an excessive amount of dopamine, a chemical substance in the brain. -lowered levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been connected to depression. |
| Biochemistry evaluation | -research has only identified correlations (a relationship) between the disorder and the raised biochemical levels. So we cant be certain whether the excessive amount of dopamine is cause and effect. -it is possible that having schizophrenia causes dopamine levels to rise rather than excessive dopamine levels playing a role in the onset of schizophrenia. -some evidence that biochemical changes can have significant effects on the symptoms of abnormality comes from drug studies using patients. -e.g. it has been suggested that depression is associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. -prozac, a well known drug that increases serotonin activity, has been found to reduce significantly the symptoms of depression (Hirschfield, 1999). -this is consistent with the hypothesis that abnormal levels of serotonin play a role in producing depression. |
| Torrey (2001) | -supporting evidence of the genetics link between mental health and biology. -they found that mothers who had schizophrenia had contracted a particular strain of influenza during pregnancy, this then enters a childs brain and remains dormant until puberty. -this demonstrates a link between mental health and biology. |
| Kendler et al (1985) | -supporting evidence of the genetics link between mental health and biology - saw that relatives of schizophrenics were 18 times more likely to develop the disorder than a control group. -demonstrates a link between mental health and biology |
| McGuffin et al (1996) | -supporting evidence of the genetic link between mental health and biology -concordance rate for major depression was 46% for MZ twins and just 20% for DZ twins. -susceptibility to depression- significant genetic component. -demonstrates a link between mental disorders and genetics |
| Harrington et al (1993) | -supporting evidence of a genetics link between mental health and biology. -when adoptive child had depression, biological mother did 20% of the time. -compared with 5-10% of the adoptive mothers. -demonstrates a link between mental disorders and genetics |
| Hirschfield (1999) | -contradicting evidence of genetics link between mental health and biology -depression- associated with a low level of a neurotransmitter serotonin. Prozac (increases serotonin activity), reduces the symptoms of depression significantly. -abnormal levels of serotonin play a role in producing depression. |
| strengths of the biological approach to psycipathology | -studies show that mental illness can be passed down through genetics- schizophrenia- strand of influenza which the mother contracted during pregnancy- could enter unborns baby's brain. -some forms of mental illness/disorder can be understood from the perspective of the biological model. -drug therapies based on the biological model have often proved effective in at least reducing symptoms. |
| weaknesses of the biological approach to psychopathology | -only a loose analogy between physical and mental illness -easier to establish causes of physical illness than mental illness and symptoms of mental disorders are often more subjective. -applies much better to some mental disorders than other, like; schizophrenia- not phobias. -only have correlation evidence, we dont know whether the biological differences caused the mental disorder or whether the biological differences are a by-product of having the disorder -too narrow in its focus -ignores social and cultural factors. |
| Treating abnormality- biological treatments | -physical treatments -biological therapies target physiological processes, such as the functioning of neurotransmitters and parts of the brain. -the 2 main examples of biological therapies are; 1. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) 2. drug therapy |
| Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) | it is generally used in severely depressed patients for whom psychotherapy and medication have proved ineffective. -it is used when there is a risk of suicide because it often has much quicker results than antidepressant drugs. -the national institute for clinical excellence (2003) suggests that ECT is only used in cases where all other treatments have failed, or where the condition is considered to be potentially life threatening. |
| ECT- how does it work | -the patient lies on a bed, in lose clothes, and receives an anesthetic and muscle relaxant before treatment -the ECT treatment then involves passing a small electric current through the brain for approximately half a second. -this is done by fixing electrodes onto the patients temples. -the current produces a seizure lasting up to a minute long, which affects the entire brain. -once they come around from the anesthetic, many recall nothing about the procedure. -ECT is usually given 3 times a week, with the patient requiring between 3 and 15 treatments. |
| ECT- why does it work? | -Abrams (1997) has concluded, after studying ECT for 50 years, that we are no closer to understanding why it works. - most researcher agree that ECT causes changes in the way that the brain works, but there is disagreement about the exact affects that lead to improvement. -in severe types of depression, certain parts of the brain may not work normally, e.g. different parts of the brain may not be communicating properly with each other. - ECT alters the way the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are acting in the brain and so helps bring a recovery. |
| Evaluation of ECT- it can save lives | -helps people channel less depressing thoughts and keeps them living and happier to be living. -the patient could need more than 3 treatments. -65% to 85% have a positive outcome form treatment -reduce suicidal thoughts |
| Evaluation of ECT- effectiveness | -mostly effective for treating depression, it is less beneficial to schizophrenic patients -60 to 70% ECT patients improve thoughts and become more relaxed and happier in life after treatment |
| Evaluation of ECT- ECT may only act as a short-term treatment | -depression can return -treating symptoms not curing the cause of the problem -repetitive treatments on severe depression patients can reduce the severity of their depression -no full correction of mental illness |
| Evaluation of ECT- side effects | -seizures- broken bones -memory loss and patients scared to a high level from treatment -cognitive impairment -aching muscles -headaches -heart rhythm and blood pressure can be affected negatively |
| Evaluation of ECT- ehtical issues | -damaging health-seizures -if the exact effects of improvements are even worth the risk involved -depression comes back to people, so does it actually work- not a long term cure -negative side effects -informed consent- are severely depressed patients able to fully understand the treatment and possible side effects |
| chemotherapy (drug therapy) | it is the main treatment for mental disorders and is based on the assumption that chemical imbalance is at the root of the problem. -therapies of the biological/medical approach target the brain -drugs affect the activity of the neurotransmitters. |
| examples of drugs used for mental disorders- antidepressant drugs | -used for depression, sometimes used for panic disorder, some phobias and OCD. -major depressive disorder- sadness, depressed mood, tiredness, loss of interests -3 types of drugs 1. monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) 2. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) 3. tricyclic antidepressants -bipolar disorder-episodes of depressive and monic (elated) episodes. treatments with lithium -SSRIs- Prozac, paxil, zoloft, lexopro -MAOIs- broken down by an ezyme (breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters), e.g. dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin |
| examples of drugs used for mental disorders- anti psychotic drugs | -used to treat schizophrenia -many work by blocking the activity of the neurotransmitter-dopamine -more effective at treating positive symptoms, e.g. hallucinations, delusions etc. then negative symptoms -atypical anti psychotic drugs can also be effective in treating the negative symptoms |
| examples of drugs used for mental disorders- anti-anxiety drugs | -helps reduce the disability symptoms of anxiety disorders -e.g. valium -the most popular are benzodiazepines e.g. valium -increases the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, which inhibits bodily arousal and anxiety |
| evaluation of drug therapy- effectiveness | -not always effective and effects people in different ways -people's bodies get used to the drugs so need more of a dose to be effective -relapses are common -Barlow et al (2000)- tricyclic antidepressants -Comer (2001)- atypical anti psychotics |
| evaluation of drug therapy- ease of use | -no hassle of going to a place to have treatment. -easier than surgery or ECT treatments -take in own environment at home following the correct dosage required |
| evaluation of drug therapy- placebo effects | -positive responses to a drug or form of therapy based on the patient's beliefs that the drug or therapy will be effective, rather than on the actual make-up of the drug or therapy |
| evaluation of drug therapy- tackles the symptoms rather than the problem | -the actual cause of depression/mental illness isn't treated/overcome, the symptoms are only treated, so there is a risk of the drugs not working and depression/mental illness staying the same/worse off -case study; Virginia Woolf- instead of treatment, tackled weight (underweight from depression)- new diet |
| evaluation of drug therapy- side effects | -depression -dizziness -the side effects can range from dry mouth to central nervous system problems |
| 4 approaches | 1. biological 2. psychodynamic 3. behavioural 4. cognitive |
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