IB Abnormal Psychology - Biological Etiologies

Flashcards for IB Psychology Abnormal Approach under the topic of etiologies

The Four Etiologies

Biological

Cognitive

SocioCultural

Prevelance

Definition of PTSD

PTSD is a condition caused by a traumatic event that lasts over 30 days. Symptoms include intrusive memories, emotional detachment, and heightened arousal, leading to sleep disturbances, excessive caution, and difficulty managing anger.

Limitations when Studying PTSD

PTSD often occurs with depression, substance abuse, and cognitive problems. It can affect social and family life, leading to employment and relationship issues. 

Symptoms of PTSD

A - Anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), emotional numbing.

B - Hyper-vigilance, passivity, nightmares, exaggerated startle response
C - Intrusive memories, inability to concentrate, hyper-arousal, flashbacks

S - Lower back pain, headaches, stomach ache and digestion problems, insomnia, regression in some children such as losing already acquired developmental skills, like speech

Biological Etiologies

Genetic mutation of a2b-Adrenoceptor - Dominique de Quervain (2012)

Low levels of the NPY Hormone - Morgan et al

a2b-Adrenoceptor

It’s found in the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing strong emotions such as fear. The role of the α2b-adrenoceptor is to promote memory formation when stimulated by adrenaline. When we experience a traumatic event, adrenaline plays an important role in that experience. 

How may the a2b-Adrenoceptor cause PTSD

The gene that encodes this receptor comes in two varieties. The mutation of the gene appears to have difficulty in shutting off the stress response and returning the body to homeostasis.

NPY

Neuropeptide Y (NPY). NPY is thought to have many functions, including reducing anxiety and stress, reducing pain perception, and affecting the circadian rhythm. The hormone is released as part of a response to stress and works together with the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem to turn off the stress response.

How may low levels of NPY cause PTSD

It appears that NPY may play a key role in the alleviation of the stress response; low levels may mean that the stress response lasts longer, potentially leading to symptoms associated with PTSD.

Strengths of Biological Arguments for PTSD

Twin studies have been highly reliable in their findings

There is animal research to support the theories

Large sample sizes have been used to make the findings more generalizable

Limitations of Biological Arguments for PTSD

Correlational research means that causation cannot be established and bidirectional ambiguity cannot be resolved

In cases of PTSD, it is difficult to find twins who have experienced the same level of trauma. For example, although both twins may have been in the Vietnam War, they had different experiences.  In the case of the death of a parent, one twin may have been more attached to the parent than the other

The arguments are reductionist in nature and do not account for the variations in the symptomology of PTSD.  For example, why was “Shell Shock” the common form of PTSD after World War I?  Why do we not see these symptoms today?

More prospective studies need to be carried out to support the theories

Studies

Dominique De Quervain (2012)

Kolassa et al (2010)

Morgan et al (2000)

Dominique de Quervain (2012) Aim and Method

Aim - To investigate if a2b-adrenoceptor assists in the recall of emotional memories.
Method - The researchers showed the participants, who were students, photographs of positive scenes such as families playing together, negative scenes such as car accidents, and neutral ones, such as people on the phone.

Dominique de Quervain (2012) Findings

The results of this study showed that the students with the mutation in their genes were twice as good at remembering details of emotionally charged scenes than were those with only the common version.

Dominique de Quervain (2012) General Link

This study shows that the mutation in the a2b-adrenoreceptor causes people to remember events that are emotionally charged with more accuracy, as seen by the fact that the students with the mutation were two times better at remembering the emotionally charged scenes than the common version.

Dominique de Quervain (2012) Critical thinking

This connects to the biological principle that “behavior can be genetically inherited” because one etiology of PTSD is a mutation of the gene that codes the a2b-adrenoceptor, and when participants had the mutation they had a significantly stronger memory of the negative scenes

Kolassa et al (2010) Aim and Methods

Rwandan Genocide

Method - The researcher had local people carry out interviews on 424 Rwandan survivors - with and without symptoms of PTSD

It was recorded how often the people in the camp suffered from flashbacks and nightmares about their wartime experiences they also did a blood test the version of the α2b-adrenoceptor genes in each of their volunteers

Kolassa et al (2010) Findings

Findings showed that those with the mutation of the gene had significantly more flashbacks than those with only the common version of the gene

Kolassa et al (2010) General Link

This study shows that the effects of the Rwandan genocide have a negative effect on etiologies of PTSD because the survivors with the mutation of the gene experienced more frequent flashbacks of the genocide.

Kolassa et al (2010) Critical Thinking

This connects to the biological principle that “behavior can be genetically inherited” because one etiology of PTSD is a mutation of the gene that codes the a2b-adrenoceptor, and when participants had the mutation they had significantly more flashbacks compared to those with no mutation  

Morgan et al (2000) Aim and Method

Aim - To investigate the role of neuropeptide on US Army soldiers in a simulation

Method -

→US Army soldiers had participated in a survival course simulating the conditions endured by prisoners of war → food and sleep deprivation, isolation, intense interrogations

→Baselines of the NPY were taken before the training and then the levels were measured after the training

Morgan et al (2000) Findings

Findings showed that soldiers who responded more negatively to the training experience were those with lower levels of NPY

Morgan et al (2000) General Link

This study shows that NPY may have a negative effect on the etiology of PTSD because the soldiers who had lower levels of NPY performed negatively in the simulation compared to the rest of the soldiers, meaning that NPY may create longer stress responses in participants with lower levels, leading to PTSD symptoms.

Morgan et al (2000) Critical Thinking

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