Neurotransmitters are known to have an impact on behaviour such as high levels of nor adrenaline and dopamine are seen when a depressed mood is evident e.g. schizophrenia has been associated with an excess of activity in the neurotransmitter dopamine. Whereas serotonin is thought to cause high anxiety levels when there is too much available. Neurotransmitters in the right balance do not cause ill effects but the biological approach suggests it is when there is an imbalance that behaviour and mental health is affected. E.g.
Common symptoms include a persistent sad or anxious mood, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, pessimism, or worthlessness, a loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, sleep disruptions, a decreased or increased appetite, fatigue, suicidal thoughts, irritability, and physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain (Panzarino, Schoenfield, Lee, & Sheil, 2007). With greater knowledge of depressive disorders, it has become evident that depression is not merely a by-product of chronic disease like some suggest, but rather an independent health problem in much need of recognition (Taylor, 2006, p.
In terms of biochemistry, chemical imbalances in the brain may be involved in certain mental illnesses. Neurotransmitters, for example, play a very important part in behaviour – one theory links depression to low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline. However, the relationship between neurotransmitters and depression is very complex and therefore, more research is needed to discover the exact link between this and the disorder. People suffering from depression, also often have high levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is sometimes referred to as a ‘stress hormone’ because it is produced in times of stress.
CT261 Understanding Mental Health Problems 1.1 Describe the main types of mental ill health according to the psychiatric (DSM/ICD) classification system;- Mood disorders – affects the individual's moods and are more intense and difficult to manage than normal feelings of sadness or mood swings. They include all types of depression and bipolar disorder. Mood disorders are sometimes referred to as affective disorders. Examples include post natal depression which some women experience after giving birth and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experienced by some people in autumn and winter when the days are shorter and there is less sunlight. Mood disorders are thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Mental Health Mental Health Bi Polar Disorder Bi Polar disorder is a condition which causes the person to have periodic mood swings. These mood swings can happen very abruptly and tend to be very quick with the change between manic (happiness, compulsiveness) and depression. There are three types of Bi-Polar: * Type 1 Bi-Polar where the affected has had about 1 manic episode while having multiple depression episodes. In the past it was called manic depression. * Type 2 Bi-Polar where the affected has not experienced complete mania but instead experience hypomania which causes them to have high energy levels and impulsiveness.
This suggest that depression must be passed on through genes if there is a high concordance rate between twins which share the same genetic makeup both having depression. However, biological factors such as the amine hypothesis states that if amines such as serotonin and noradrenalin become unbalanced, they can lead to depression. PET scans support this idea as they show that low levels of serotonin are present in people that are depressed. Other supporting evidence is that drugs such as MAOI’s, which work by increasing the available amount of noradrenalin in the brain, were found to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of depression. A problem with this is that it doesn’t state whether it is cause or effect.
For a person to have controlled voluntary muscle movement, then the combination of dopamine and acetylcholine is necessary. When there are imbalances in the level of neurotransmitters, it will cause harmful effects to the person who has the imbalance. An imbalance in neurotransmitters can cause both physiological and mental illness. For example, if a person does not have enough dopamine, then it appears to cause the person to have the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease causes a person to have involuntary muscle
In fact may have caused other individuals to have depression. On the other hand anyone can suffer from major depressive disorder. The way life has the ability to change can cause major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder break down using multiaxial system: Axis I: consist of clinical disorders. In the case a person with major depressive disorder may suffer from mood disorders, eating disorders, sleeping disorders and adjustment disorders.
D2 receptors have been shown to play a key guiding role. The hypothesis states if dopamine is reduced so will schizophrenic symptoms. One piece of research which supports this hypothesis is the dopamine activity in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsons disease is said to lower dopamine activity. They receive the drug L-Dopa to increase levels of dopamine.
Bipolar II, is characterized by having recurrent episodes of major depression and at least one hypomanic episode that are more extreme than with Bipolar I; mixed episodes are more rare in Bipolar II. Cyclothymia is a variant of Bipolar that involves a recurrent episode of hypomania and two recurrent episodes of depression; that do not meet the criteria to be characterized as a major