Biological Approach To Depression Essay
The Biological Approach to Unipolar Depression. Katie Evans
Abnormal behaviour was once thought to be caused by supernatural possession; this demonological model of abnormality was especially popular in the Middle Ages. It was not until the 18th century that psychologists began to argue that this behaviour should be treated as an illness and medical techniques could be used to treat it; and so emerged the medical model of abnormality. (Gross & McIlveen, 1996)1 The medical model of abnormal psychology treats mental disorders in the same way as a physical illness. Practitioners of this model believe mental illness to have a physical cause, therefore they treat mental disorders with somatic intervention such as medication, electroconvulsive therapy or in extreme cases, psychosurgery. It is largely believed that biological events have behavioural consequences and behavioural events have biological consequences. (Wickens, 2005)2
McLeod (2007)3 describes the assumptions of biological psychology:
Psychology should be seen as a science and should be studied scientifically. …show more content…
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a group of enzymes bound to the mitochondria; they regulate neurochemistry by degrading monoamine neurotransmitters. (Edmondson et al, 2004)15 Too much MAO activity is thought to be a cause of depression (Meyer et al, 2006)16; therefore MAOI’s are used by biological psychologists to block the function of MAO, preventing the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters thereby increasing their availability. They are an older variety of antidepressant which are usually the last type of antidepressant prescribed as they have potentially serious drug and dietary interactions. (Grady & Stahl, 2012)17 Isocarboxazid is a commonly prescribed MAOI which has had good results in controlled trials. A response rate of 50-70% has been recorded and is especially effective in atypical depression and treatment-resistant depression. (Davidson et al,
Abnormal behaviour was once thought to be caused by supernatural possession; this demonological model of abnormality was especially popular in the Middle Ages. It was not until the 18th century that psychologists began to argue that this behaviour should be treated as an illness and medical techniques could be used to treat it; and so emerged the medical model of abnormality. (Gross & McIlveen, 1996)1 The medical model of abnormal psychology treats mental disorders in the same way as a physical illness. Practitioners of this model believe mental illness to have a physical cause, therefore they treat mental disorders with somatic intervention such as medication, electroconvulsive therapy or in extreme cases, psychosurgery. It is largely believed that biological events have behavioural consequences and behavioural events have biological consequences. (Wickens, 2005)2
McLeod (2007)3 describes the assumptions of biological psychology:
Psychology should be seen as a science and should be studied scientifically. …show more content…
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a group of enzymes bound to the mitochondria; they regulate neurochemistry by degrading monoamine neurotransmitters. (Edmondson et al, 2004)15 Too much MAO activity is thought to be a cause of depression (Meyer et al, 2006)16; therefore MAOI’s are used by biological psychologists to block the function of MAO, preventing the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters thereby increasing their availability. They are an older variety of antidepressant which are usually the last type of antidepressant prescribed as they have potentially serious drug and dietary interactions. (Grady & Stahl, 2012)17 Isocarboxazid is a commonly prescribed MAOI which has had good results in controlled trials. A response rate of 50-70% has been recorded and is especially effective in atypical depression and treatment-resistant depression. (Davidson et al,