Psychology SL
9
Chapters
238
Notes
Unit 1 - Research Methodology
Unit 2 - Biological Approach To Behaviour
Unit 3 - Cognitive Approach To Behaviour
Unit 4 - Sociocultural Approach To Behaviour
Unit 6 - Health psychology
Unit 7 - Pyschology Of Human Relationships
Unit 8 - Developmental psychology
Unit 9 - Internal Assessment
Unit 10 - The IB Curriculum - A Conceptual Model
Psychology SL
Unit 2 - Biological Approach To Behaviour
Unlocking Serotonin's Role In Depression: Myths & Realities
663 words
4 mins read
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024
Table of content
Introduction to serotonin 🧠
- Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that affects mood.
- Relation with major depressive disorder: A condition where someone feels extremely sad, hopeless, and unimportant.
Serotonin hypothesis 📖
- What is it?
- Theory: Low serotonin in the brain causes depression.
- How do they study it?
- Clinical trials with two groups
- Experimental group: Given drugs affecting serotonin levels.
- Control group: Given a placebo (a harmless substance but believed to be a drug).
- Compare depression symptoms afterward.
- If an SSRI drug (a type of antidepressant) reduces symptoms in the experimental group, it suggests serotonin levels might be causing depression.
- Clinical trials with two groups
But wait! it’s not that simple 🤔
- Speedy Drug, Slow Response
- Drugs impact neurotransmitters super quickly, but behavior change? Not so much.
- Sometimes, it takes weeks! So, serotonin might just be a part of a more complex puzzle.
- Real-world example: It's like when your phone has a problem and you think it's because of low battery. But after charging, it still doesn't work properly. Maybe the real issue is with the software, not just the battery.
- Different Strokes for Different Folks
- Not everyone feels better after taking these drugs.
- The serotonin-depression connection isn't a one-size-fits-all.
- Damage Control
- A theory suggests stress might hurt neurons in the hippocampus (a part of your brain), leading to depression.
- SSRIs might heal these neurons bit by bit, thus easing symptoms.
- Genes are the New Trend
- The serotonin transporter gene 5-HTT is like the backstage crew in a theater. It might decide how likely you are to feel depressed after tough life events.
Unlock the Full Content! 
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Psychology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
Psychology SL
Unit 2 - Biological Approach To Behaviour
Unlocking Serotonin's Role In Depression: Myths & Realities
663 words
4 mins read
Last edited on 14th Jun 2024
Table of content
Introduction to serotonin 🧠
- Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that affects mood.
- Relation with major depressive disorder: A condition where someone feels extremely sad, hopeless, and unimportant.
Serotonin hypothesis 📖
- What is it?
- Theory: Low serotonin in the brain causes depression.
- How do they study it?
- Clinical trials with two groups
- Experimental group: Given drugs affecting serotonin levels.
- Control group: Given a placebo (a harmless substance but believed to be a drug).
- Compare depression symptoms afterward.
- If an SSRI drug (a type of antidepressant) reduces symptoms in the experimental group, it suggests serotonin levels might be causing depression.
- Clinical trials with two groups
But wait! it’s not that simple 🤔
- Speedy Drug, Slow Response
- Drugs impact neurotransmitters super quickly, but behavior change? Not so much.
- Sometimes, it takes weeks! So, serotonin might just be a part of a more complex puzzle.
- Real-world example: It's like when your phone has a problem and you think it's because of low battery. But after charging, it still doesn't work properly. Maybe the real issue is with the software, not just the battery.
- Different Strokes for Different Folks
- Not everyone feels better after taking these drugs.
- The serotonin-depression connection isn't a one-size-fits-all.
- Damage Control
- A theory suggests stress might hurt neurons in the hippocampus (a part of your brain), leading to depression.
- SSRIs might heal these neurons bit by bit, thus easing symptoms.
- Genes are the New Trend
- The serotonin transporter gene 5-HTT is like the backstage crew in a theater. It might decide how likely you are to feel depressed after tough life events.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Psychology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟