Outline and evaluate the biological approach to psychopathology (24 Marks) Psychopathology is the study of mental distress and abnormal maladaptive behaviour, there are four approaches to psychopathology, cognitive, behavioural, psychodynamic and biological. The biological model of abnormality is split into four parts which can all cause abnormal behaviour these are; Genetic, Brain injury, Neurotransmitters and Infection. It is believed that faulty genes can cause some disorders that have a psychological effect. A way in which this can be tested is by doing studies on twins as they have the similar genetics. McGuffin et al did a study in 1996 where they compared 109 sets of twins in order to investigate how likely each twin was to develop depression. They looked at the concordance rates for depression in MZ and DZ twins, they expected that MZ twins either both have depression or neither have depression. So therefore its expected to find a higher concordance for depression in MZ twins that in DZ twins. The results showed that if one non identical twin developed depression that there was a 20% likelihood that the other would too, in identical twins this rose to 46%. This study therefore proves that genetics can have a massive impact on abnormality. …show more content…
Additionally there is also the fact that we don't know the precise mechanism that is transmitted and without knowing the specific genes that are involved it makes it hard to understand the functions that produce symptoms of
For major depression between monozygotic and dizygotic twins suggest a heritability of about 37%. It is lower than the heritability of bipolar disorder or schizophrenias.
31 y/o AA male patient seen today for psychiatric-mental health assessment. He is awake, alert and oriented x4. He is calm, cooperative and follows commands during assessment. The patient reports he is depressed, difficulty sleeping and nightmares at night. The patient explained his depression is as a result of deep thinking from a news he received two days ago from his elder brother that his mother is ill. Stressors identified by the patient include losing his job a week ago before the news about his mother; his wife is 6-months pregnant with their first child, who currently works part-time at her present job; patient relates difficulty paying monthly bills and inability to provide adequately for his family as a man. The patient denies mood swings, suicidal/homicidal thoughts and ideation. Patient reports his spouse is at work at the moment and he does not want to put stress on his wife due to her current condition. Patient denies been hospitalized for depression or psychiatric illness; and denies family history of mental illness. Patient reports he is seeking help because he does not like feeling this way using terms of “helpless and loss of worth from his spouse”. Patient reports he needs help with his depression and nightmares before his current condition get out of hands and ruined his marriage.
Over the weekend I was working in Evolv on a client Biopsychosocial Assessment , and I accidentally used Biopsychosocial Assessment RTF. After realizing my error I corrected it and used the Biopsychosocial Assessment RTF V.2, however there are now two assessments in Evolv for the same client. Can you please assist me with deleting the incorrect assessment.
When asked to define the word rape, a number of responses may be given depending upon what country or state one lives in and if one is a male or female. According to Pandora’s Project.org, rape is defined as any sexual contact or penetration attained without consent; with physical force, intimidation, threat, trickery, or when the victim is mentally capacitated, physically or mentally impaired, asleep or unconscious; this includes due to voluntary or involuntary alcohol or drug consumption.
(AC1) Two perspectives in psychology are the behaviourist approach and the biological (also known as physiological) approach. These perspectives consist of different theories, research methods and treatments in relation to mental illness.
Parallel to this, the focus on genetics is Particularly convicted in twin studies, which establish a comparison between monozygotic twins that are identical and dizygotic twins, which are opposingly non-identical. This distinction can be identified in Torgersens study, which compared MZ and same sex DZ twins where one proband had an anxiety disorder, and it was discovered that such disorders were 5x more frequent in MZ twin pairs, who mutually shared identical genetics.
Twin studies are a mainstay of the nature verse nurture debate because they allow researchers to conduct “natural experiments” on human beings. When researchers try to determine the relative importance of genetics and environment with regard to a certain condition, they have a hard time because they cannot generally get people with the same genes. This is where twin studies come in. Twins studies are part of the method used in behaviour genetics, which includes all data that are genetically informative. E.g. siblings, adoptees, pedigree data etc. Researchers use this method to estimate the heritability of traits and to quantify the effect of a person 's shared environment (family) and unique environment (the individual events that shape a life) on a trait.
This shows that homosexuality is a genetic trait since 100% identical twins were gay. The twins have the same DNA and are exhibiting the same trait. Another study to conduct research on environmentally caused conditions was conducted to see the correlation between peptic ulcer disease and identical/non-identical twins who had been reared apart. The results showed that peptic ulcer disease isn’t entirely caused by genetic as the twins had been brought up apart, the disease may also have been caused by their environment. Their diets may also be a factor. There is an ethical issue with conducting this experiment, as it is highly unethical to separate twins. Some diseases caused by genetics are cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia. Some diseases caused by the environment are a cold and scarlet
In reading stories about identical twins my point of view is easily understood. Various types of psychologist have analyzed the study of identical twins. It shows that individuals with the same genetic make-up can be totally different, when it comes to personality. Nurture promotes the twins to grow up as separate individuals. Its a lot better if a twin has his or her own personality rather than the same exact personality of the other half. I think this great debate weighs heavier on the nurture side. As a child my parents, and sibling overshadowed my genetic make-up. No matter how much I thought my physical traits made me behave. It did not affect me more than the things that I had seen and been exposed to. The more things that I had seen around and experienced made me the person that I am today. If my genetic make-up was totally different, to a certain extent, I am sure that I?d behave the same way that I do presently. There are exceptions to that. For instance if I were six foot five and one hundred and ninety pounds, I?d most likely be in the NBA and be really rich. I think if I was really rich and in the NBA I wouldn?t have the same worries that I have today. Even if before I were in the NBA I would have lots of attention and have a lot more confidence. So to an extent I would change a little if my genetic make-up were different. In a sense, genetic make-up is just a competitor to the environmental factors
Twin studies are a vitally important tool for dissecting the nature versus nurture argument. Twins provide a naturally occurring experiment and they are most likely the best indicator of determining whether biology effects traits and psychopathology in human beings. Researchers are seeking circumstances involving twins providing evidence of known variations in the extent of genetic similarity or environmental stability. The key factor in utilizing twin studies to determine biological basis for personality differences exist among identical twins and fraternal twins. These studies provide data among the individuals that are genetically identical but yet, display visible differences that may be attributed to environmental differences. Additionally, researchers used such studies involving
Psychiatrist Irving Gottesman of the University of Virginia also believes if one child has schizophrenia their identical twin are at double the risk and overall schizophrenia occurs more frequently in identical twins. Also, in one other separate study with 522 pairs of twins showed that genes heavily influenced optimism and pessimism although pessimism is more largely effected by genes then is optimism. Not only are personality traits and mental disorders influenced by genetics but a study by McGue in 1933 suggested that shared environment on adult intelligence has at most little influence, suggesting that genetics is more of a
Research with adopted twins have also shown children who have depressive symptoms have the same as their biological parents therefore showing that depression can be inherited (Wender 1968.)
There was one study that was done, as stated in the article, “Heredity Versus Environment: Twin, Adoption, and Family Studies,” in which pairs of twins, dizygotic and monozygotic, were given a questionnaire in which they were asked to rate their physical attractiveness, personality traits and physical abilities (Haimowitz 6). The author goes on to state, “The results of the study showed that differences between attitudes of the participants were at least partially correlated to genetic factors.” (Haimowitz 7). Like many other studies done on sets of twins in relation to behavior it only suggested a genetic correlation, there was no definitive evidence that behavior is hereditary. In the article, “Beyond Heritability; Twin Studies in Behavioral Research,” it is noted that the science of heredity is not always
Abnormal psychology is the study of unusual emotion, thoughts or behavior. It basically constitutes individual who are not what society would deem as normal and follow the norms of a particular culture. Individuals that are constantly not able to adapt and function properly in various conditions can be viewed as abnormal because a number of factors could be restricting them from functioning effectively in a society. The definition of what is “abnormal" has changed over time, across different cultures, and is different for individuals within a particular culture. These unusual emotions, thoughts or behaviors may correlate with mental disorders. A distinct set of theories are used to understand these forms of abnormality. Psychopathology can be defined as the study of mental disorders. In more direct terms, it focuses on abnormal behavior, mental distress and mental illness. This form of study looks to examine different elements that would affect the mental state or physical being of an individual. When looking at the subject matter of abnormality I can see that there are many books and movies that incorporate characters that demonstrate abnormal behaviors. A movie that consists of characters exhibiting abnormality throughout is Silver Linings Playbook.
Another study that has been done was with separated twins. Each twin was raised in a completely different environment than the other. Genetically, they were both identical in every way, but the environment that they were raised in was very different. One twin was raised in a very hostile setting and slowly became violent as an adult while the other twin was