Phychology topic 2

how do SSRI's work

they prevent re-uptake of the serotonin into the pre-synaptic neuron, which increase the likelihood that serotonin can bind with receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron. Means that serotonin that has been released into the synapse cannot be reabsorbed and therefore the process of reuptake has been inhibited

how would people treat depression in the middle ages

people with mental illnesses were thought to be spiritually controlled by witches. Women would inhale foul smells to relieve hysteria or "wandering womb"

how would people treat depression in the cavemen era

a process called trepanning which involved drilling a hole into the skull to relieve pressure and release demons

how would people treat depression in the ancient Greek era

through bloodletting or leeches they would try to relieve the imbalance of humours by balancing them again

advantages of diagnosis and labelling

communication between health professionals to understand different conditions, treatment, education and assurance

disadvantages of diagnosis and labelling

overlap between disorders, simplification, can result in stigma, subjectivity

what is the mental health continuum

illustrates that mental health is no fixed and it can move up and down the continuum in different times in your life

factors for determining location on the continuum

distress, typicality, duration, dysfunction

MDD diagnostic criteria

must have either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure and 4 of the following: insomnia or hypersomnia, significant weight loss or gain, agitation, fatigue or loss of energy nearly everyday, diminished ability to think/concentrate or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

prevalance rates of MDD

increased 10-20 times what they were 50 years ago, affects twice as many females as males, average age has gone down

a biological cause of MDD

serotonin hypothesis argues that a reduction in serotonin leads to an increased predisposition to depression

advantages of SSRI's

can provide relief from symptoms which allows for phycological treatments to be possible, not dependent on language ability, have led to a decrease in hospitalization

disadvantages of SSRI's

takes several weeks before results, concerning side effects, treat symptoms but neglect social or phycological factors (reductionist approach)

what is beck's cognitive triad

suggests that faulty and irrational thinking causes depression

beck's cognitive triad

negative views about the world, negative views about the future, negative views about oneself

treatment of beck's cognitive triad

cognitive behavior therapy - identify the patients maladaptive thoughts, challenge and replace them with more positive ones and the patient will be able to lessen some symptoms

strengths of CBT

lower relapse rate than antidepressants, tailored to individual

limitations of CBT

may be addressing symptoms not causes, client can't attend sessions if they can't get out of bed

what is the vulnerability model

argues that MDD occurs when there are more risk factors in the environment than protective (imbalance)

what are risk factors

increase the risk of MDD, unemployment

what are protective factors

decrease the risk of MDD, close bond with family member

strengths of vulnerability model

explains gender and cultural differences in the prevalence and symptomology of depression

limitations of vulnerability model

can't measure the impact of stressful things as it is different for everyone

what is cultural sensitive therapy

an approach that emphasizes the therapists understanding of a clients background and belief system as it relates to their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender

why is cultural sensitive therapy important

people's concepts of nature, causes and cures of mental illnesses are culturally influenced, among ethnic minorities mental illness may be even more stigmatized,

what are concordance rates

statistical probability that two related individuals will exhibit the same disorder or trait

is depression inherited

depression may be a result of genetic predisposition as the concordance rates for MZ twins is higher than DZ however not fully as they have had different experiences

what are epigenetics

suggests that our environment can impact whether or not certain genes express themselves

what is the diathesis stress model

suggests that MDD is caused by the interaction of an underlying genetic predisposition and external stressors (biological and social factors)