The document discusses biological approaches to treating mental disorders, focusing on drug therapies and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It notes that the biological approach believes all abnormalities have an underlying biological cause. The treatments discussed target the body and brain directly, such as through antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and ECT. Both drug therapies and ECT can effectively treat conditions like depression but also carry potential negative side effects. While drugs may only address symptoms and not the underlying causes, ECT is considered a last resort treatment for drug-resistant depression.

2. Physical cause
Brain Differences –
Structure (e.g. size)
Function (e.g. biochemical balance)
Genetics – Genetic component - inherited
Passed through family lines
Uses twin studies to investigate

3. If the biological approach believes that all
abnormalities have a biological component – what
treatments do you think the approach would use
to treat disorders?
(Or, what would the treatments focus on ?)
Treating the BODY!!!

4. • Drug treatments:
– Anti-depressants (selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors)
– Anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines)
• ECT: (Electro-Convulsive Therapy)

5. • What are they used for?
– To treat depression
– To treat agoraphobia and social phobia
• How do they work?
- Raise levels of serotonin in the brain
- Prozac reduces the rate of re-absorption of serotonin (serotonin
levels don’t drop, mood remains constant).
- Prozac can be a long term treatment (also used to treat OCD)
• Are there any side effects?
– Nausea,
– Insomnia
– Sexual dysfunction
– Suicidal morbidity

6. • What are they used for?
– Range of anxiety disorders (phobias, panic attacks and sleep
disorders)
– Extreme, prolonged stress.
• How do they work?
- GABA has a natural ‘quietening’ effect on neurons in the
brain. GABA activity is enhanced by the drugs (reduces
serotonin)
- Sedatives that act to decrease heart and respiration rate
(reduce tension and nervousness)
- Calming effect
• Are there any side effects?
• Dependency (addiction)
• Drowsiness and lethargy
• Toxic – overdose can lead to death

7. Effective
Drug therapies are effective
e.g. Kahn (1986) found that biological therapies (drugs)
were much more effective than placebos
This is a strength because it means that individuals are
being relieved of symptoms, helping them cope with
everyday life

8. Side effects
Drugs can have negative side effects
e.g. anti-depressants can cause suicidal morbidity and
insomnia
This is a weakness because drug therapies might make the
patient’s condition worse

9. Symptoms not cause?
Drug therapies often only treat the symptoms rather than
the cause of a disorder
e.g. depression could be caused by family issues rather
than low levels of serotonin
This is a weakness because drugs don’t provide a long-
term solution and the effects of the drugs stop when the
drugs do

10. Used for drug resistant depression
Last resort (NICE 2003)
•Small electric current passed through the brain
•(70 - 150 volts for 0.04 - 1 second)
• Causes a seizure, lasts for up to 1 minute (similar to
epilepsy)
• General anaesthetic & muscle relaxants
•Brain stimulated by placing electrodes on
head
• Bilateral (both sides) or Unilateral (one side, non-
dominant hemisphere)
•Process repeated 3 times a week for up to a month.

11. • Biochemical change:
– Produces biochemical changes (greater than
drugs)
– Increased sensitivity to serotonin
– Increases release of dopamine (Sasa, 1999)
• Brain damage theory:
– Produces brain damage, memory loss,
disorientation – creates the illusion that
problems have gone.

12. Abrams (1997)
after 50 years
we still don’t
know!!

13. For example, Comer (2002) found that 60-70% of
patients improve after treatment.
This is a strength because is suggests that ECT is a
useful therapy where all others have failed and when the
depression is so severe that it could otherwise lead to
suicide.

14. For example, the DOH (1999) reported that in 30% of
cases patients reported permanent anxiety/fear.
This is a weakness because ECT can cause serious
damage and might actually be doing more harm than good,
and patients should be fully aware of all potential harmful
side effects.

15. For example, ECT can be given under section III of the
MHA (1983) – against the patients wishes.
This is a weakness because in a large number of patients
there is a real risk of long-term brain impairment –
patients that may not have had a choice to decline the
treatment.