Mental health section 2

• What are the three biological explanations for mental health

  Biochemical

  genetic

  brain abnormality
• Explain the biochemical explanation

  The monoamine theory suggests depression is caused by low levels of neurotransmitters. The monoamines are dopamine serotonin and noradrenaline they control the limbic system, which regulates emotion drive an appetite.
• Why would there be a depletion of neurotransmitters

  If there are more receptors on the post synaptic neurone the neuro transmitters will get absorbed quicker
• What is the role of serotonin

  Master neurotransmitter as it regulates others. Responsible for mood stomach function and memory. without it erratic brain functioning can occur
• What is the role of noradrenaline

  Found in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Responsible for heart rate and concentration. A lack of can cause changed sleep patterns
• What is the role of dopamine

  Responsible for pleasure and motivation a lack of can cause a lack of attention and enjoyment
• What is the supporting research for the monoamines theory

  Meyer studied 17 patients with depression who hadnt taken their medication for 5 months. Compared their brain activity with 17 normal people. Found a higher level of monoamine oxidase in the depressed people
• What is monoamine oxidase

  An enzyme that hydrolyses monoamines
• Explain the genetic explanation for mental illness

  Physical illnesses run in families so mental illnesses can too. Studied by twin studies and family studies
• Explain twin studies

  Identical twins have a 30-50% concordance rate for mental health. Non identical twins have a 12-40% concordance rate.
• Explain family studies

  A child with one parent With bipolar disorder have a 4.4% chance of getting it. Compared to 0.6 of general population
• Explain the brain abnormalities theory

  The limbic system shows differences in amount of grey matter. In the amygdala there has been an increased amount of activity in depressed patients when shown a sad stimuli. The hippocampus is smaller in depressed patient. (can be reduced by 20%) reduction in function
• What is the research evidence for brain abnormality

  Sheline gave an FMRI scan to 11 depressed patients and 11 control patients. scan showed the amygdala is more active in those with depression.
• Aim of key research - Gottesman

  To use a large sample to investigate the likelihood of offspring being diagnosed with schizophrenia bipolar or another disorder if one or both parents have been diagnosed. Also investigated if a double dose of a gene would increase concordance rates
• What data did gottesman use

  Secondary data - from danish civil registration system and danish psychiatric central register
• Sample?

  3,300,000. Only used people above the age of 10.
• What was the procedure

  Data of offspring was linked with their parents psychiatric history. using the civil register they could find out who parents were and if they were on the psychiatric register.
• Findings

  having one parent with a disorder makes the child more likely to be diagnosed with that disorder

  developing bipolar is 52x higher when both parents have it

  one parent with schizophrenia is a 7% chance but both parents is a 27%
• Conclusions?

  Concordance rates are not 100% which shows environmental factors have an impact
• What are the two biological treatments

  ECT

  drugs
• What is ECT

  electro convulsive therapy. Two electrodes are placed on the temples and 0.6 amps is passed through for half a second. Muscle relaxant is given as well as oxygen. Causes a convulsion which lasts for 20-50 seconds. 6-8 treatments are given over 4 week period.
• Explain drugs

  SSRI - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Effect the serotonin system by increasing amount in synapse by preventing the reabsorption. daily dose is 20mg but can be increased to 60mg and takes up to 3-4 months