Exploring the Biological Perspective on Depression Depression is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a state of being depressed; a state of feeling sad. A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness‚ inactivity‚ difficulty in thinking and concentration‚ a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping‚ feelings of dejection and hopelessness‚ and sometimes suicidal tendencies” (Merriam-Websters). Major depression affects over fifteen
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psychology P1 Depression is a mental disorder often caused by the chemical imbalance of the brain. The symptoms vary from person to person when their diagnosed with depression. The symptoms are feeling hopeless and helpless‚ a lack of self-esteem‚ find everything less enjoyable‚ difficulty making decisions‚ having suicidal thoughts and harming one self and etc. Biological approach - Depression Depression can be common between families and past onto generations‚ however there can be other biological effects
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mental disease‚ which is what we normally call "depression". Women statistically are the majority group who is diagnosed each year with either anxiety or depression. It is nearly twice as many as men. In addition‚ they have some unique risk factors for the disorders; they are also facing some variations of depression specific to their sex (Dennis and Charles 147). There’re several major causes of depression that may occur in women involving biological (i.e. genetics‚ hormones)‚ social (social roles
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The biological perspective states that the brain uses a number of chemicals as messengers to communicate with other parts of itself and with the nervous system. These chemical messengers‚ called neurotransmitters‚ are released and received by the brain’s many nerve cells‚ which are also called neurons. Neurons are constantly communicating with each other by way of exchanging neurotransmitters. This communication system is essential to all of the brain’s functions. A tiny space called a synapse connects
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Evaluate the biological treatments of depression. (16 marks) Antidepressants such as monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and trycyclics (TCAs) are effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Antidepressants have been tested in trials with placebos and have found to be effective in reducing symptoms of severe depression in around 65% to 75% compared with around 33% for placebos – Gitlin 2002. Gitlin carried out a clinical trial testing selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and placebos
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evaluate biological explanations of OCD (10 marks) The biological approach as an explanation of OCD believes that the disorder is caused by a fault in our body‚ either through genes‚ hormones‚ the brain‚ or neurotransmitters‚ therefore suggesting that OCD is caused by our nature‚ rather than our upbringing. This means that since we are born with the body we have‚ if we have OCD‚ it is innate within us. One biological explanation for OCD is the genetic explanation. The genetic explanation believes
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Biological explanations for anorexia nervosa Biological explanations for anorexia nervosa include neural explanations and evolutionary explanations. 1st BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION - Neurotransmitters -Serotonin Disturbances in the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin appear to be a characteristic of individuals with eating disorders. Kaye 2005 found a reduction in the levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA in people with eating disorders. This suggests that brain serotonin pathways are underactive
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Outline and evaluate biological explanations for aggression (24) The biological explanation for aggression states that aggression is innate behavior in people and the environment around them does not cause it. Neurotransmitters in the brain‚ chemicals that allow impulses to be transmitted from one area to another‚ can be used to explain why some people are aggressive. There is evidence to suggest that the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are linked to aggression‚ low levels of serotonin
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1a. Outline the clinical characteristics of OCD. [4] The DSM-4 states that for one to be diagnosed with OCD‚ one must have either obsessions‚ compulsions or both. To be diagnosed with having obsessions‚ the patient must have recurring‚ persistent intrusive thoughts that cause marked distress or anxiety‚ and must have insight into the fact that the thoughts are a product of their own mind. To have compulsions‚ the patient must feel the need to repeat physical behaviours‚ which occur as a response
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Discuss issues of reliability and validity associated with the classification and diagnosis of phobic disorders (24 marks) The biological explanation for the acquisition of phobic disorders establishes that phobias are caused by genetics‚ innate influences and the principles of biochemistry. This theory recognizes that an oversensitive fear response may be inherited‚ causing abnormal levels of anxiety. This is illustrated in the basis of inheritance‚ particularly the adrenergic theory that convicts
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