BIOLOGICAL%20THEORIES

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BIOLOGICAL THEORIES
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neurochemistry
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NEURONS
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NEUROCHEMISTRY

• NEURONS (BRAIN CELLS) RELEASE
• NEUROTRANSMITTERS (CHEMICALS THAT COMMUNICATE
  BETWEEN NEURONS) INTO
• SYNAPSES - GAP BETWEEN NEURONS
• RECEPTORS - ABSORB CHEMICALS

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NEUROCHEMISTRY (CONT.)

• MENTAL ILLNESSES CAN ARISE FROM
• MALFUNCTIONING RECEPTORS
• TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE OF VARIOUS
  NEUROTRANSMITTERS

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MAJOR NEUROCHEMICALS

• SEROTONIN - LOW LEVELS MAY BE RELATED TO
  DEPRESSION AND MANY OTHER MENTAL ILLNESSES
• DOPAMINE - HIGH LEVELS MAY BE RELATED TO
  SCHIZOPHRENIA
• NOREPINEPHRINE - HIGH LEVELS MAY BE RELATED TO
  ANXIETY

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?s

• ARE NEUROCHEMICAL ABNORMALITIES CAUSES OR EFFECTS
  OF M.I.?
• RESULTS OF USING MEDICATION?
• NO EVIDENCE YET THAT GENETIC/BIOLOGICAL CAUSES
  ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS

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TREATMENT
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TREATMENT

• BEFORE LOBOTOMY, ECT (SHOCK), COMA - NOW DRUGS
• CHANGE NEUROCHEMISTRY OF BRAIN
• CHANGE WHAT RECEPTORS ABSORB SO ELEVATE OR LOWER
  LEVELS OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN SYNAPSES

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TREATMENTS

• ANTI-PSYCHOTICS
• PHENOTHIAZINES AND CLOZAPINE FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA
• LITHIUM FOR BIPOLAR
• MOST ARE ILLNESS SPECIFIC

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SSRIS

• SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS - PROZAC,
  PAXIL, XOLOFT (LATE 1980S)
• UNLIKE OLDER DRUGS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO
  PREVENT REUPTAKE OF SEROTONIN
• NOT ILLNESS SPECIFIC (NOT ANTI-DEPRESSANTS)

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HUGE GROWTH

• 10 OF ADULT POPULATION NOW TAKING AN SSRI
• 3 OF 7 BEST SELLING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OF ANY
  KIND ARE SSRIs
• 300 INCREASE IN PAST 10 YEARS IN NUMBER OF
  CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS TAKING MEDICATION

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ARE SSRIS BETTER?

• NOT MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OLDER DRUGS
• FEWER NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS (ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY
  MORE SUICIDE RISK)
• NOT ADDICTING
• LESS RISK OF OVERDOSE

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DOWNSIDE OF SSRIS

• NOT MUCH BETTER THAN PLACEBOS FOR LESS SEVERE
  CONDITIONS
• LONG-TERM EFFECTS?
• ONLY ELIMINATE SYMPTOMS, NOT UNDERLYING PROBLEM?
• BETTER ALTERNATIVES?
• NOT GOOD FOR UNDER AGE 18?

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STRENGTHS AND LIMITS
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STRENGTHS OF BIOLOGY

• BEST FOR PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
• MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BRAIN
• ADVANCES IN DRUG TREATMENTS FOR MANY CONDITIONS