Biological explanations and treatments for depression 1.Outline and evaluate biological explanations of depression 2.Outline and evaluate biological treatments for depression

Biological Explanations Based on your previous knowledge and the homework: 1.List as many biological explanations of depression as you can. 2.Move to another board and add as much detail to the explanations given as you can.

Watch the video and note down any information that supports the explanation and any that challenge them. QI

Biological Explanations Use the answers to the homework activity alongside the pack: You have 15 minutes to read and complete the questions on pg’s 2-4 (you need to ground the adoption study research to the genetic theory) Extension: Read the information and research on hormones as an additional biological explanation (don’t forget to ground the evidence)

Evaluation points related to genetic explanation Comment on the concordance rates. To what extent do twin studies support the suggestion that major depression is heritable? – Concordance rates provide convincing evidence (MZ rates compared to DZ rates) – However, difficult to make firm conclusions on influence of genetics (refer to MZ rates) – No conclusive evidence for genes being the only factor in developing depression Explain why concordance rates are not 100% for MZs or 50% for DZs (as would be expected if the cause of major depression was entirely genetic). – Suggests genetics are not the only contributing factor (could possibly be individual differences, cognition etc.) It is possible that females are genetically predisposed to suffer depression more than men. However, there could be other explanations. What might they be? – Social factors – possibly seen as more acceptable for women to be diagnosed with depression

Activity: Evaluation of biological explanations Each table will be given an evaluation point. In pairs/alone, you must write a fully developed evaluation paragraph (PES) using the point you have been given. You will be have 6 minutes to do this. Time’s up! Place your paragraphs in the envelope on the table and swap your evaluation point and envelope with another table. Do not open the envelope! Now, write another fully developed evaluation paragraph using the new point. Time’s up! Again, place your paragraph sheets in the envelope on the table and swap your evaluation point and envelope with another table. Now you need to empty the envelope and as a group use the sheets to help you create one ‘perfect’ evaluation paragraph on the big boards. Don’t be shy about amending/tweaking these to make a better evaluation paragraph.

It is difficult to draw firm conclusions about the role of genes and biochemistry in depression. (Think about the methods of research – AO3) E = as it is very difficult to isolate biological variables as well as control for other variables that may influence the development of depression. S = therefore explanation cannot fully explain the cause of depression

A purely biological explanation of depression may be limited as research suggests that drug therapy alone is not as successful at treating depression as drug therapy combined with cognitive (psychological) therapies. E = contradicts view that biology is the only cause because if it was drug therapies would be most effective S = biological explanation doesn’t wholly explain the cause of depression, perhaps a combined explanation would be more appropriate.

Biological explanations of depression falls on the nature side of the nature/nurture debate E = emphasis is on the role of genetics and biochemical factors S = reductionist explanation that allows for objective investigation into causes of depression and allows for bio variables to be isolated to see if they play a role in depression – increases the scientific status of studying depression. OR S = reductionist explanation which ignores the many psychological and social factors that could be involved in the development of depression.

The bio explanation has led to useful and practical applications. E = For example, successful application of drug therapies have reduced symptoms of depression OR, genetic link could lead to an awareness of people who are may be at risk of developing depression. S = important that explanation can be used to enhance our understanding of depression and how to best help people with this disorder.

Recap q’s on biological explanations 1.Outline the genetic explanation 2.Give findings on 1 family study and 1 twin study 3.What do the findings from twin studies suggest? 4.Wendler et al found that biological relatives of adopted sufferers of uni-polar depression were about 7 times more likely than adoptive parents to have had depression themselves. What does this suggest about the role of genetics in developing depression? 5. There are a number of possibilities for insufficient serotonin. True or false? a)There may be too much activity, which clears the synaptic cleft of neurotransmitters too efficiently b)Re-uptake of the neurotransmitters may be not efficient c)There may be over production of the neurotransmitters d)The receiving neuron may be under sensitive (e.g. not enough receptor sites)

Biological treatments Based on your previous knowledge and homework: Name and describe biological treatments for depression. Go into as much detail as you can! (polleverywhere)

Outline of biological treatments Drugs therapy – have you got the same or similar info? TCAs Tricyclics slow down the re-absorption of serotonin and noradrenaline Consequently more of the neurotransmitters are left in the synapse, and so serotonin and noradrenaline activity increase at the postsynaptic receptors. This is linked to arousal and improved mood. SSRIs These drugs are more selective in their functioning than the tricylics, in that they increase serotonin activity by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin, so leaving the serotonin to have an enhanced effect on the postsynaptic neuron without influencing other neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline.

Choosing the right type of therapy Case 1 Mary is 19 years old and has begun to suffer from depression. There is a family history of depression and Mary’s mother committed suicide when she was a teenager. Mary has come to the doctor to seek help. Imagine you are Mary’s doctor and answer Mary’s questions

Choosing the right type of therapy Case 2 John has suffered with depression for years. He has a family history of depression. He has been taking anti-depressants for years and has tried different types, but none of them have been that effective. He has also tried CBT but that has not helped. Recently his symptoms have started to worsen. In the last week he has been considering suicide. Imagine you are John’s doctor and he has come to you for help. These are the questions he wants you to answer

Example of evaluation paragraph One issue with the effectiveness of drug therapies is that some psychologists claim anti-depressants do not work and just act as a placebo. For example Kirsch et al found that only in the most severe depressed patients were there any significant advantages to using SSRI’s over placebos. However, Arroll et al found that both TCA’s and SSRI’s produced a more significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared to a placebo. This suggests there are mixed findings on the effectiveness of drug therapies as an actual treatment for depression. This contrasts with research into the effectiveness of ECT as it has shown that there is no placebo effect from receiving ECT (Gregory et al) which could suggest that ECT is more effective.