Question

Please discuss the biopsychosocial model. Then discuss three hormones and three neurotransmitter, along with each function.

Answer 1

Biopsychosocial Model

The Biopsychosocial model was developed by cardiologist Dr.George Engel. This model is widely accepted by the mental health professionals. According to this model, biological, psychological and soical factor are interlinked and play an important role in promoting our health or causing diseases. In other words, human's mind and body are not seprate things (as was previously considered), but they are interdependent and connected things. What affects our body will often affect our mind and vice vera. Person's wellness or illness is not just dependent on someone's physical state but it is also influenced by that person's psychological and social state.

Clinicians, according to the biopsychosocial model tend to explain phenomena such as depression by examining all biological, psychological and social factors which might effect the development or maintainance of depression.

With regard to biological factors, it is known that depressed people are significantly distrubed with regard to endocrine, and neuro transmitter system function.In addition depression can make a person predisposed to developing range of physical disorders. Similarly a person who has physical disorers is predisposed to developing depression.As different researches has suggested that gene can also influence the transfer of depression from generation to generation.

Social factors such as experiencing traumatic situation, harrasment, lack of social support etc can also lead to depression. Different researches have shown that depression can be triggered by stressful social events. Social stressor can also trigger physical cause of depression. Environmental and social causes can also lead to depression, they are far more subtle than the actua trauma.

The scientific evidence surrounding the biopsychosocial model has confirmed that the interdependent factors mentioed above (biological, psychological and social factors) influnce each other and are interdependent on each other. Depression can be a result of many number of factors that would on their surface appear to independent of each other but they all affect one another.

3 harmones and their functions are mentioned below:

1. Adrenaline: It is the fight or flight harmone. and it is produced after adrenal glands receive a message from the brain that a stressful situation has happened.

Function: Adrenaline is responsible for the immediate reactions when we a stressful situation occurs. Along with increase in heart rate, adrenaline also provides people with a surge of energy that the person might require to run away from a dangerous situation or to focus attention.

2. Testosterone: It is a sex harmone which is responsible for development of male physical characteristics that includes the height, hair, sexual organ development and sperm production. Women also produces testosterone but in small amounts.

Function: It helps in regulating sexual desires and sperm productiom which helps in reproduction. In the fetus, testosterone is responsible for formation of primary and secondary genitalis

3. Estrogens: It is a sex harmone which is responsibel for the development of secondary female sexual organs such as breast development or the mentrual cycle.

Function: This harmone has lot of function but the most vital function is "Cardiovascular Protection". It also helps in regulating sexual desires and helps in production of collagen and pigmentation of the skin.

3 neurotransmitters and their functions:

1. Acetylcholine: It was the first neurotransmitter that was discovered in the peripheral and CNS.

Function: it helps in activation of skeletal muscles in the Somatic Nervous System. It can also excite or inhibit internal organs in the autonomic systerm

2. Serotinin: Serotonin can have a marked effect on the our emotions, mood, and anxiety. It is involved in regulating our sleep, wakefulness and eating. It plays a vital role in our perception aswell.

Low levels of serotonin can lead to conditions like depression, suicidal thoughts and OCD. Many antidepressants works by affectig the level of Serotonin

3. Glutamate: In the vertebrate nervous system, this is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. It is also a major excitatory transmitter in the brain and one of the major mediator of excitatory signal in mammalian central nervous system. It is involved in most of the aspects of brain functions including cognition, learning and memory.