This document summarizes the biological model of abnormality. It discusses how the biological model views psychological abnormality as an illness caused by malfunctions in the brain or other parts of the body. It describes the brain's anatomy and chemistry and how certain disorders have been linked to problems in specific brain areas or abnormal chemical activity. Genetics are also discussed as a factor. Biological treatments like drug therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgery aim to address the physical sources of dysfunction. While the biological model has strengths in producing new information and treatments, it also has weaknesses in being too simplistic and having incomplete evidence.

1. BIOLOGICAL MODEL OF
ABNORMALITY
PAPER - III

2. The Biological Model
• Typically focus on the brain.
• Psychological abnormality is an illness brought
about by malfunctioning parts of the
organism.

3. Brain anatomy
• The brain is composed of 100 billion nerve
cells (called neurons) and thousands of
billions of support cells (called glia)
• Clinical researchers have discovered
connections between certain psychological
disorders and problems in specific brain
areas

4. Example: brain abnormality
• Enlarged ventricles

5. Brain chemistry
5

7. – Mental disorders are
sometimes related to
abnormal chemical
activity in the endocrine
system.
– Abnormal secretions
have been linked to
psychological disorders
• Example: cortisol
release is related to
anxiety and mood
disorders

8. Genetics
Studies suggest
that inheritance
plays a part in
•mood disorders,
•schizophrenia,
•Alzheimer’s
disease,
•other mental
disorders.

9. EVOLUTION
• Evolutionary theorists argue that we can best
understand abnormality by examining the
millions of years of human evolution
• This model has been criticized and remains
controversial, yet it receives considerable
attention.

10. Viral infections
•Another possible source
of abnormal brain
structure or biochemical
dysfunction is viral
infection
•Example: schizophrenia
and prenatal viral
exposure, anxiety and
mood disorders

11. Biological Treatments
• Three types of biological treatment:
– Drug therapy
– Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
– Psychosurgery

12. Drug therapy
– 1950s = advent of psychotropic
medications
• Greatly changed the outlook for a
number of mental disorders
– Four major drug groups:
• Antianxiety drugs (anxiolytics;
tranquilizers)
• Antidepressant drugs
• Antibipolar drugs (mood
stabilizers)
• Antipsychotic drugs

13. Electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT)
– Used for depression
when drugs and other
therapies have failed
• In 60% of cases,
ECT can lift
symptoms within a
few weeks

14. Psychosurgery (or neurosurgery)
• Considered experimental and used only in
extreme cases
• Biological practitioners attempt to pinpoint the
physical source of dysfunction to determine the
course of treatment

15. Assessing the Biological Model
Strengths:
– Enjoys considerable
respect in the field
– Constantly produces
valuable new information
– Brings great relief
– Fruitful
• Creates new therapies
• Suggests new avenues
of research
Weaknesses:
– Can limit, rather than
enhance, our
understanding
• Too simplistic
– Evidence is incomplete or
inconclusive
– Treatments produce
significant undesirable
(negative) effects

16. References
• Bennett, Paul (2003). Abnormal and Clinical Psychology.
Open University Press. ISBN 978-0-335-21236-1.
• Hansell, James; Lisa Damour (2005). Abnormal Psychology.
Von Hoffman Press. ISBN 0-471-38982-X.
• Barlow, David H.; Vincent Mark Durand (2004). Abnormal
Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Thomson
Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-63362-5.
• Zvolensky, M. J.; Kotov, R.; Antipova, A. V.; Schmidt, N. B.
(2005). "Diathesis stress model for panic-related distress:
A test in a Russian epidemiological sample". Behaviour
Research and Therapy 43 (4): 521–
532. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.09.001. PMID 15701361

17. THANK YOU
SANIKA SATHE
MA PART 2
SEM 4
COUNSELLING