Explain and Evaluate the Biomedical Model of Abnormality & how it uses Drugs as a Form of Treatment

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Explain and Evaluate the Biomedical Model of Abnormality & how it uses Drugs as a Form of Treatment.

There are many different viewpoints as to the causes of abnormality, some psychological in nature, some not. One such standpoint is that of the biomedical model of abnormality which treats mental illness and abnormality like a disease in many ways.

The biomedical model has many facets, 4 of which are explained below. The `germ` aetiology section of the biomedical model stated that germs/bacteria and physical infection are the main causes of abnormal behaviour or mental ill health. An example of this is syphilis, which attacks the central nervous system and as a result affects behaviour. Another section of the biomedical model is the genetics as aetiology for mental illness section. This perspective sees inherent genetic factors as being the cause of mental ill health or abnormal behaviour. A prime example of such ill behaviour s schizophrenia which some claim is attributed to predisposed genetic factors. Thirdly is the biochemical aetiological approach, which links fluctuations in the brains chemical balance as being a cause of abnormality. Another example for schizophrenia, which a biochemical causal perspective states is caused by excess dopamine in the brain. Finally is the neuroanatomical perspective which states the cause of abnormality as being related to disorders in the anatomy of the brain. This stance is often taken when trying to explain psychopathological patients and their behaviour.

The biomedical model is well renowned for advocating, therefore, the killing of germs, the restoration of the brains chemical balance and the halting of mental degradation. This, with relevance to this essay is done with treatments which either involve drugs or are exclusive in their use of drugs as a form of treatment. Also, due to the fact that the biomedical model sees mental illness as having a physical/biological cause, drugs are often used as antibiotics would b used to treat a bodily infection such as athlete's foot.

What follows are examples of how drugs are used as part of the biomedical model in treating different types of mental ill health.
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With particular relevance to schizophrenia, schizophrenic would have previously have been sent to what was in the 1950`s referred to as a snake pit, a mental hospital where severely mentally ill patients would go for residential, live in treatment.

However, people who were schizophrenics were in luck in 1952 because French neurologist Professor Jean Daley announces and subsequently uses the then new drug Chloroprozamine in the treatment of schizophrenia. The results of this new drug are immediate and impressive. Schizophrenic patients have far fewer mood fluctuations and hallucinations. This system wide improvement in the treatment of schizophrenia ...

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