Abnormality - Biological

Mental disorders are thought to be related to the physical structure and functioning of the brain. 

Approach

1) Classify disorder by identifying symptoms.
2) Identify underlying cause.
3) Prescribe a treatment/therapy.

Causes of Mental Disorder:

1) BRAIN DAMAGE
2) INFECTION
3) BIOCHEMISTRY
4) GENES

BRAIN DAMAGE

- Abnormal behaviour can occur if the brain structure has been damaged.
- Once damage has caused mental deterioration, there't not much that can be done to treat it. e.g. Alzheimer's
- Excessive use of alcohol or drugs can cause brain damage.

INFECTION

- Barr et al found a high amount of schizophrenics' mothers were ill with the flu when pregnant.
- Brown et al found that 14% of schizophrenia could be linked to exposure to the flu virus when in the womb.
- Syphilis is a cause of brain damage.

BIOCHEMISTRY

- Neurotransmitters are thought to be out of balance in the nervous system.
- Schizophrenia associated with excessive dopamine.
- Depression associated with decreased serotonin.
- Mann et al used brain scans to show this.

GENES

- Individuals may inherit predispositions to certain illnesses.
- Masterson and Davis found that relatives of schizophrenics were 18x more likely to be diagnosed with symptoms themselves.
- Genetic links investigated by testing families and twins.
- Wender et al found relatives of people with depression were 8x more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder.


Evaluation

+ No blame - the person is not responsible for their behaviour.
+ A huge amount of research proves these ideas.
+ McGuffin found 40% concordance in identical twins and 20% in fraternal twins with depression.

- Szaz - mental illness is something people fear and this can lead to the people being shunned.
- Encourages people to be passive and give responsibility to doctors, doing nothing for themselves.
- Reductionist.
- Nature vs nurture issue.

Treatments

DRUG THERAPY

- BZs
- SSRIs
- Anti-psychotics

Drugs have been effective in relieving many mental disorders but not all.

Evaluation

- Use of drugs is controversial.
- Fisher and Greenberg believe drugs have limited positive effects.
- Kirsch and Sapirstein believe beneficial effects are down to the placebo effect.
- Side effects.
- Withdrawal.
- Targets symptoms, not the disorder.
- Ethical issues.

ELECTRO-CONVULSIVE THERAPY

- Patients are attached to electrodes.
- A shock of 450 volts is administered for half a second.
- Convulsions usually last one minute.
- Two to three times a week over four weeks.

Evaluation

+ Quick form of treatment.
+ Effective short-term for depression.
+ Side effects have decreased over time.

- 60% become depressed again within one year.
- Serious side effects.
- Can lead to memory impairment.
- History of abuse.
- Ethical issues.

PSYCHOSURGERY

- Brain tissue is surgically adapted.
- Sometimes includes lobotomies.

Evaluation

+ Some procedures alleviate symptoms of severe anxiety or OCD.

- Rarely used anymore.
- Was performed on thousands of people in the 1950s for lack of a better treatment.
- Damage to the brain is irreversible.
- Unpredictable.
- People with disorders are unlikely to be able to give consent.