Question

Ravi worries excessively and is restless all the time. He feels fatigued and finds it difficult to concentrate. He always has a sense of unease and dread and feels that something bad is about to happen. His mother suffered from similar symptoms. His psychiatrist has diagnosed it as Generalised Anxiety Disorder. He has also advised a medical examination to determine the cause of Ravi’s psychological state.

1. Explain the approach to abnormality that Ravi’s psychiatrist has adopted.  [2]
2. Explain any two causes for Ravi’s psychological condition.  [2]

Answer 1

1. The approach adopted by Ravi’s psychiatrist is the biological perspective. This perspective suggests that psychological disorders have physical causes, such as genetic inheritance, neurochemical imbalances, or brain abnormalities. It emphasises diagnosis and treatment through medical means like medication or biological tests.
2. 
   
   • Biological causes: Among the biological factors is a genetic predisposition to inherit the disorder. It has been found that GAD occurs along with other anxiety disorders like phobias or panic disorder. A common gene is believed to be related to anxiety, which affects the brain’s ability to use serotonin, which is a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. People of certain personality types are more susceptible to anxiety disorders, and, logically, a combination of stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety.
   • Chemical Imbalance: GABA (Gamma amino butyric acid) is a neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety in stressful situations. A deficiency of the neurotransmitter GABA in the human brain is linked to GAD. It is still not clear as to whether the deficiency causes the anxiety or is a result of it, but it does appear that this functional deficiency of GABA would promote the maintenance of anxiety in general.