Current Approaches in Psychological Disorders: Part 1

Supernatural Causes

Only ~10% of psychological disorder causes.

Psychological Causes

Include grief, love, and jealousy.

Biological Causes

Include fever and hereditary factors.

Neuroscience Influences

Brain structure abnormalities affect mental disorders.

Biochemical Models

Neurotransmitter imbalances influence mental health.

Genetic Influences

Disordered genes contribute to mental disorders.

Nature Via Nurture

Behavior is influenced by genes and environment.

Polygenic Disorders

Mental disorders arise from multiple gene influences.

Heritability

Genetic contribution to behavior variability in populations.

Genotype

Total genetic makeup of an individual.

Phenotype

Observable characteristics resulting from genotype and environment.

Gene-Environment Interaction

Genes and environment jointly influence outcomes.

Differential Susceptibility

Genetic responsiveness varies to environmental effects.

Epigenetics

Environment alters gene expression through chemical marks.

Structural Connectivity

Connections between different brain structures via white matter.

Functional Connectivity

Correlations in brain activity across regions.

Brain Networks

Clusters of interconnected brain regions activate together.

Default Mode Network

Brain regions active during rest, not task performance.

Prefrontal Lobotomy

Severing frontal lobes to calm severe disorders.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Magnets stimulate neural activity for depression treatment.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electric current through brain to correct neurotransmission.

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system transmitting signals.

Synapse

Gap between neurons for signal transmission.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals transmitting signals across synapses.

Serotonin

Regulates emotion and implicated in various disorders.

Dopamine

Associated with reward pathways and addiction.

Norepinephrine

Increases activity; linked to anxiety and depression.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Inhibitory neurotransmitter reducing anxiety and aggression.

Neuroendocrine System

Links brain activity with hormonal functions.

HPA Axis

Regulates stress response via cortisol release.

Psychotropic Medications

Medications targeting neurotransmission for mental health.