Biological Approach in explaining Abnormality & Psychological Disorders

Following the Biopsychosocial Model of Psychological Disorders. The presentation will discuss the Biological Basis for Abnormality & Psychological Disorders

1. BIOLOGICAL APPROACH in Explaining ABNORMALITY Presented by: Sandra Arenillo

2. Topic Outline I. Definition of Mental Illness II. 4 Approaches in Defining Abnormality III. Terms in Biological Approach IV. Biological model premise in explaining abnormality biochemical imbalance Genetic predisposition Familial transmission V. Why Biological Research if Considered? VI. Evaluation of Biological Approach VII. Diathesis-Stress Model in Explaining Abnormality

3. Mental Disorder Mental Illness is a disorder of one or more functions of the mind ( such as TEMP ) T hinking , E motion , M emory and P erception ), which cause suffering and impairment to the patient.

4. Terms In Biological Approach Genotype : A person's genotype is the sum total of the genetic material transmitted from his or her parents. Phenotype: A person's phenotype is the observable signs, symptoms, and other aspects of his or her appearance. The term is also used sometimes to refer to a person's outward appearance and behavior as these result from the interaction between the person's genotype and his or her environment.

5. The basic premise is that psychological abnormality has a physical cause such as illness or disease.

6. The Biological Approach to explain abnormality MEDICAL MODEL  

7. BIOLOGICAL MODEL PREMISE IN EXPLAINING ABNORMALITY Biochemical I mbalance complex neurotransmitter dysregulation process involving the various neurotransmitters in the brain II. Physical Causes such as disease, infection, toxicity and brain structure damage

8. BIOLOGICAL MODEL PREMISE IN EXPLAINING ABNORMALITY III. familial transmission genetic Transmission of disorders and genetic predisposition likelihood of showing condition or Characteristic carried by genetic material

9. Behavior is shaped by internal, physiological factors.  Abnormal behaviors are ‘illnesses’ caused by the possible combination of genetic, biochemical, hormonal and/or neurological factors.  

10. Biochemical Imbalance complex neurotransmitter dysregulation process involving the various neurotransmitters in the brain A. Biochemistry B. Neurotransmitters C. Hormones

11. A. Biochemistry Abnormal functioning of the brain can be caused by abnormal levels of neurotransmitters and hormones. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with one another at synapses (the gap between the end terminal of one neuron and the membrane of the dendrites or cell body of the next). Neurotransmitters that have been implicated in abnormal functioning include:

12. Psychological disorders are illnesses or diseases affecting the nervous system Understanding abnormal behavior as a physical illness removes all psychological blame and responsibility for the behavior from the patient. It isn't their fault and they cannot help the way they behave.

13. Abnormal thinking, behavior or emotions are caused by biological dysfunctions Biological dysfunctions, such as changes in neurotransmitter levels, increased levels of certain hormones, or the dysfunction of certain neurons in the brain, can cause abnormal thinking, behavior and emotions.

14. NEUROTRANSMITTERS are the brain chemicals that communicate information throughout our brain and body.  They relay signals between nerve cells, called “neurons.”  The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, and your stomach to digest.  They can also affect mood, sleep, concentration, weight, and can cause adverse symptoms when they are out of balance.

15. There are two kinds of neurotransmitters – INHIBITORY and EXCITATORY .  Excitatory neurotransmitters are not necessarily exciting – they are what stimulate the brain.  Those that calm the brain and help create balance are called inhibitory.  Inhibitory neurotransmitters balance mood and are easily depleted when the excitatory neurotransmitters are overactive. 

16. Inhibitory Excitory SEROTONIN EPINEPHRINE GABA Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid NOREPINEPHRINE DOPAMINE DOPAMINE

17. Neurotransmitter levels can be depleted many ways.  As a matter of fact, it is estimated that 86% of Americans have suboptimal neurotransmitter levels.  Stress P oor diet, N eurotoxins , G enetic predisposition, Drugs (prescription and recreational) Alcohol caffeine usage of these can cause these levels to be out of optimal range.

18. Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted into the bloodstream by glands and control various body functions including some nervous system functions. Hormones implicated in abnormal functioning include: Cortisol . Chronic stress involves high levels of cortisol being produced by the adrenal cortex. C. Hormones

19. I. Biochemical Imbalance II . Physical Causes such as A. Disease (General Medical Condition) B. Infection C. T oxicity D. Brain structure damage

20. A. Physical Disease (General Medical Condition)

21. Infection Infections, such as meningitis or herpes simplex encephalomyelitis , can lead to abnormal brain functioning .

22. Toxicity Environmental poisons or toxins may lead to abnormal behavior. Mad hatter disease , or mad hatter syndrome , is occupational chronic mercury poisoning among hatmakers whose felting work involved prolonged exposure to mercury vapors. The neurotoxin effects included tremor and the pathological shyness and irritability characteristic of erethism .

23. I. Biochemical Imbalance II. Physical Causes III. Familial Transmission and Genetic Predisposition A. Genes and Degree of Risk among families

24. Structural damage or abnormality Damage to certain areas of the brain , for example as the result of a head injury, stroke or brain surgery , or a failure of brain areas to develop properly can lead to abnormal behavior: Patients with schizophrenia have abnormally large ventricles in their brains.

25. Genes Genes are inherited from parents. Disorders that may be inherited include schizophrenia, autism, addiction and depression.

26. Why Biological Approach is considered? Research evidence Plenty of studies have found that psychological disturbance is associated with biological changes ( e.g. of neurotransmitters & hormones), however it is often impossible to tell whether such changes are a cause or an effect of the psychological symptoms. I n the case of schizophrenia. Patients usually have enlarged ventricles in the brain, however it is not possible to say whether the ventricular enlargement is a causative factor in schizophrenia, or if it is a product of the disease.

27. The use of drugs to treat abnormal behavior The biological model has led to the development of drug therapies that are often effective in controlling psychological symptoms, F or example antidepressant drugs effectively treat depression and antipsychotic drugs can control schizophrenia. However when drugs are discontinued, symptoms often return, suggesting the actual cause of the abnormality may not be purely biological. Drugs are good at quickly treating the symptoms of a disorder, but they are less effective at treating the actual cause of the disorder.

28. The role of the patient The biological model offers people a role and treatments they are familiar with, and are often happy to go along with, for example it is easy to trust a doctor and easy to take the medications prescribed. However it encourages them to become passive and dependent and to hand over control of their lives to the expert.

29. Therefore, instead of taking responsibility for the disorder and attempting to tackle the psychological cause, patients simply trust the treatment they are prescribed and expect it to cure them. A positive effect of this however may be that there is less social stigma toward a psychological disorder that is viewed as biological in origin as people tend to accept the patient cannot help being that way.

30. Evaluation of the Biological Approach One problem with the biological Approach is that the premise lays no blame with the individual. The biological approach suggests that there is a physical cause for abnormality therefore if we diagnose someone as having a mental 'illness' then it is true to say that the individual should receive treatment and support for their illness, but this is not always the case as some people believe that the individual is to blame for their abnormal behavior (cognitivists).

31. A final weakness is that the biological approach is reductionist. The biological approach tends to break down explanations to the most basic simple level. The biological approach states that psychological abnormality has a physical cause this explanation does not consider the cognitions, learned behavior or early psychosexual experiences.

32. To balance Biological Approach to Abnormality Diathesis-Stress Model Is a psychological theory that explains behavior and mental disorders as the result of both biological and genetic vulnerability (DIATHESIS) and STRESS from life experiences.

33. TERMS PREDISPOSING FACTORS Predispose means to make susceptible to… or inclined to This factor make the individual vulnerable to a mental disorder. They do not cause the disorder. They just make that individual more likely to have the disorder if the precipitating factors come into play.

34. I. Predisposing Factors includes Genes- Remember, genes alone do not cause the disorder 2. Organic/Biological/Physiological Neurotransmitters, Hormones and Nervous System 3. Early Psycho-social Factors (Childhood Circumstances) Parenting Style Parenting Communication Emotional Insecurity and Dependence Cumulative Stress over time 4. Biological Factors Chemical Imbalances in the CNS Medical conditions that can cause disorder

35. PRECIPITATING FACTORS The word precipitate means to hurry, urge on… or hasten occurrence of… This factor trigger off the predisposing factors, to result in the mental disorder that the individual was already vulnerable to. This factor refers to the stressful events in the individual’s life. Remember different individuals experience events in different ways. The event in itself may be neither good or bad, but the individual will interpret it as stressful.

36. Short Term, Precipitating Factors Stressors that precipitate the disorder Significant Personal Loss Significant Life Change Stimulants or Recreational Drugs B. Conditioning C. Other Mental Disorder

37. MAINTAINING FACTORS -Factors that maintain the disorder or factors that negatively affects the person that may trigger the predisposing factor or worsen the stressful experience.

38. IV. Maintaining Causes Negative Self-take Mistaken beliefs Withheld Feelings Lack of Assertiveness Lack of self-nurturing skills Stimulants and other dietary factors High-stress lifestyle Lack of meaning or sense of purpose

39. Biological Approaches Pharmacology Approach Homeopathic treatments Nutritional Approach Exercise Alternative Medicines