Biological Model of Psychopathology

Assumption of Biological Model

Psychological disorders result from biological causes.

 Biological Causes

1.         Brain

2.         Nervous system

3.         Genetics

4.         Endocrine System

 Brain

1.         Brain Structure – The malfunction in brain due to its faulty structure can lead to psychological disorders. For example, the schizophrenics have 25% less brain volume of gray matter in temporal and frontal lobe. These areas deal with episodic memory, processing of auditory information, and short-term memory/decision making, etc. They are found to be hereditary. Lesions in limbic system leads to mood disturbances. Non-invasive techniques for studying brain fFMRI, MRI, PET scan.

2.         Neurotransmitters – Disturbance in neurotransmitter synthesis, degradation, or transport.          Excess or low quantity neurotransmitters can lead to several disorders. For example, increase amount of dopamine and norepinephrine can lead to mania.

3.         Neural transmission – Abnormal neural activity can lead to mental disorders such as disruption in the movement of serotonin or norepinephrine can lead to depression, anxiety or mood disorders.

 

Nervous System

           It contains two major components i.e. Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

CNS – Consists of Brain and Spinal cord. It receives, process and transfer information received through senses. Even stores information for later use (memory).

PNS – Also it of two types i.e. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) [Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System] and Somatic Nervous System (SNS).

Mental Disorders due to abnormality in Nervous System – Lack of attention, Balint’s syndrome (inability to see more than one object at a time) visual attention disorder, dysfunctional memory, failure in executive functionality, perceptual problems (hallucinations).

 

Genetics

            It means inheritance of disorders. The genes encode the building blocks of cells, i.e. proteins. The variation in genesis the major contributory factor for mental disorders. The genes alter the functions and structures of neurotransmitters that leads to several disorders. The Mental disorders occurs due to interaction of multiple genes.

Mental disorders due to Genetics – Schizophrenia, autism, manic depressive illness, major depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), panic disorder (Hyman, 2000) and bipolar disorder.

Endocrine System

             The abnormal chemical activity i.e., hypo or hyper secretion of certain hormones can lead to various psychological disorders. Hormones are active chemical messengers that establishes communication between brain and other body organs and vice versa. The imbalance in their secretion can lead to several psychological disorders.  

Mental disorders due to abnormal secretion – Secretion of cortisol is directly related to anxiety, Stress and mood disorders. Depression, insomnia and other sleep problems, memory problems and psychosis.

 

References:

1.         Verma, L. P. (1965). Psychiatry in ayurveda. Indian J Psychiatry. 1965;7:292.

2.         पांडेय, जगदानंद. (1956). असामान्य मनोविज्ञान. पटना: ग्रंथमाला प्रकाशन कार्यालय।

3.         Coleman, J. C. (1981). Abnormal psychology and modern life.

4.         Karlsgodt, K. H., Sun, D., & Cannon, T. D. (2010). Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities   in Schizophrenia. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(4), 226–            231. doi:10.1177/0963721410377601. 

5.         https://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(4)455.pdf.

 

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