(12 marks) Outline the biological approach - 6 marks Evaluate the biological approach - 6 marks

 Begin your essay by summarising this information in one paragraph  The biological approach treats psychological disorders in the same way as physical disorders  It proposes 4 main causes of abnormality:  Brain injury, infection, Neurotransmitters and Genetics  Then go on to describe two or more of these in more detail using examples and referring to studies where appropriate. Choose from the following information:

A degeneration or malformation of brain cells can cause memory loss often present in Alzheimer’s disease.  Korsakoff’s syndrome occurs when drink and drugs damage part of the brain involved in memory.

 Syphilis bacterium causes a sexually transmitted disease known as syphilis. ◦ It causes short-lived sores followed by general paresis - forgetfulness, mental deterioration and delusions of grandeur and persecution.  The influenza virus has been linked to schizophrenia.  Brown et al (2004) ◦ found that 14% of schizophrenic cases may be linked to the foetus being exposed to the ‘flu virus in the womb during the first trimester.

 Too much or too little of a neurotransmitter can lead to psychopathology.  One of the factors involved in schizophrenia is an excessive amount of dopamine  High levels of serotonin have been thought be involved in the manic state of bi-polar depression.

 McGuffin - Studied twins where one of the pair already suffered from depression.  Assessed the co-twin and found…  46% concordance rate for depression (MZ)  20% concordance rate for depression (DZ)  Gottesman - Meta-analysis of about 40 twin studies  Found concordance rate for schizophrenia of 48% in monozygotic twins and 17% in dizygotic twins

 Try to make 3 points and use the point – example comment- format  Strengths – this is the most scientific approach, there is evidence for a biological component in many psychological disorders e.g. Schizophrenia / depression % of patients given an SSRI for three months showed signs of improvement in tests, 70% success rate for panic disorders, 60% success rate for symptoms of hallucinations and psychotic episodes  Drugs work on our physiology and they are often effective treatments for psychological disorders e.g % of patients given an SSRI for three months showed signs of improvement in tests, 70% success rate for panic disorders, 60% success rate for symptoms of hallucinations and psychotic episodes

 Weaknesses:  Reductionism – it ignores all other explanations of psychopathology, i.e. Environmental influences, childhood trauma, irrational thinking  Drugs don’t work for everyone. e.g. Treatment success rates are well below 100%  Genetics can’t explain all abnormality as there are no 100% concordance rates.