PMT
Psychology Factsheets
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Biological Therapies
This Factsheet summarises biological therapies including drug
therapy, ECT and biofeedback. It describes the principles and
methods of various biological methods and outlines the main
strengths and weaknesses of each method. The Factsheet includes
exam guidance and the worksheet gives you the opportunity to
apply what you have learned to exam style questions. Words in
bold are explained in the glossary.
The examiner will expect you to be able to:
• Describe biological therapies.
• Evaluate biological therapies in terms of their strengths and
weaknesses.
• Suggest suitable biological therapies for a range of
psychological disorders.
• Suggest alternative psychological therapies (not discussed in
this Factsheet).
Psychological disorders are described in the DSM-IV and ICD.
These are guides used by professionals to make diagnoses and
suggest appropriate treatments for psychological disorders.
Treatment falls broadly into two categories; biological/physiological
therapies and psychological therapies. This Factsheet is concerned
with biological therapies only.
Exam Hint: Each year there is a significant number of
candidates who give a psychological response to a question
which demands a physiological response. It cannot be stressed
highly enough that care should be taken to read exam questions
carefully and answer appropriately.
Assumptions of the biological model
• Biological therapies are methods of treatment which work on
the assumption that psychological disorders have a biological
cause which can therefore by treated by biological methods.
• These methods are commonly the treatment of choice for medical
professionals, such as doctors and psychiatrists, as well as
biological psychologists. However, biological and psychological
therapies are not always mutually exclusive. For example, a
psychotherapist or clinical psychologist may suggest drug
therapy in conjunction with therapy or counselling for the
treatment of anxiety.
• The biological cause of a psychological disorder may be a
chemical imbalance or an infection or it might be genetic. Based
on this assumption, biological therapies work by altering the
body’s physiology to treat the symptoms of the disorder.
Biochemistry Neuroanatomy
Causes of psychological
abnormality
Infection Genetics
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Number 91
Exam Hint: The examiner will be looking for evidence that you
can engage with and evaluate biological therapies in a
meaningful way. The strongest candidates contextualise their
analysis and evaluation within the context of adherence to
medical advice, making their exam answers truly meaningful
and relevant. Weaker candidates tend to offer answers which
are purely descriptive and often anecdotal.
Drug therapy
• The main principle of drug therapy is to bring about a change in
the biochemistry or neuroanatomy of the body, which in turn
reduces symptoms.
• A simple example of drug therapy is to take a painkiller to treat a
headache. The drug dulls the neural pathways in the brain which
register pain and so it brings about relief from symptoms. Drugs
used to treat symptoms of anxiety disorders reduce the state of
arousal by acting on the nervous and/or endocrine systems to
bring about a chemical change in the body.
• There are two main groups of drugs used to treat anxiety
disorders; these are beta-blockers and benzodiazepines.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers block the action of the neurotransmitter
noradrenalin. This chemical narrows the arteries and increases
heart rate. By blocking its action, the arteries widen, blood
pressure drops and heart rate decreases. Noradrenalin levels
rise during times of activity and arousal so beta-blockers are
commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders, such as stress and
panic attacks.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs which have a tranquilizing
effect and are used to treat sleep disorders and reduce anxiety.
The best-known benzodiazepine is diazepam. Benzodiazepines
work by slowing down brain activity by increasing the action of
a neurotransmitter chemical called GABA. This chemical slows
down parts of the brain. Increasing the ‘go slow’ signal therefore
helps to promote sleep and reduce anxiety.
Evaluation of drug therapies
Strengths Weaknesses
Effective treatment of Side effects including:
physiological symptoms tiredness, cold hands and
including: panic, racing heart, feet, sleep disturbance,
anxiety, insomnia. excess perspiration, weight
gain.
Effective short-term solution. Tend to treat the physical
symptoms rather than the
(psychological) cause.
Can be used in conjunction Risk of dependency and
with psychological therapies. withdrawal symptoms with
benzodiazepines.
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91 - Biological Therapies Psychology Factsheet

Exam Hint: You will be expected to describe the main principles Exam Hint: Evidence from exam scripts suggests that many
of drug therapy based on your understanding of physiological candidates do not really grasp the essence of biofeedback as
systems. Similarly, strengths and weaknesses should illustrate a biological therapy.
biological knowledge.

ECT
Biofeedback • Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is the most invasive of the
biological therapies used to treat psychological abnormality and
• The main principle of biofeedback is to obtain information about
is usually thought of as a ‘last resort’ when other therapies
the body’s physiological state and then change it to reduce
have proved unsuccessful.
symptoms. Unlike drug therapy, these changes are made by the
• ECT is a medical technique carried out
patient themselves rather than through medication.
under general anesthetic which sends an
• A simple example of biofeedback is this: you stand on the scales
electrical current through the brain. This
and discover you have gained a few pounds. The scales provide
triggers an artificial seizure which can be
feedback about your biological state (hence bio-feed-back). You
beneficial for the treatment of severe
decide to eat more healthily and increase your physical exercise
depression. ECT alters the levels of
which brings your weight down, therefore reducing the
mood regulators in the brain; it reduces
symptoms of weight gain.
the activity of serotonin and noradrenaline and enhances the
• Many psychological abnormalities are either caused by or made
activity of dopamine.
worse by stress. Biofeedback therefore involves training the
body to relax which reduces the activity of the sympathetic
nervous system and in turn alleviates associated symptoms. Evaluation of ECT
• Biofeedback also involves conditioning. Because the body Strengths Weaknesses
would rather be in a state of homeostasis than arousal, relaxation
acts like a reward which reinforces this behaviour over time. Beneficial in the treatment A short-term therapy which does
of severe major and bipolar not address the underlying
Exam Hint: You may be expected to outline the stages of depression and suicidal psychological causes.
biofeedback. A simple way of remembering this is by using thoughts.
the acronym A.C.T. May be beneficial for the Reported side effects include
A = awareness of the body’s physiological state; treatment of severe memory loss, emotional blunting
C = controlling the body through relaxation techniques; psychosis and and confusion.
T = transferring control to other areas of your life in order to schizophrenia.
reduce stressful effects. An invasive treatment with the
added risks associated with
general anesthetic.
Controversy surrounds the use
measurement of ECT with some critics warning
you learn to
Audio-visual of long-term brain damage.
control your
own body display
Exam Hint: You will be expected to describe in detail the
principles, strengths and weaknesses of ECT. Weaker candidates
offer only basic explanations and generic evaluations which have
Biofeedback been learnt by rote and not used effectively.
device
Example exam question
Therapies can sometimes be expensive, time-consuming and even
Evaluation of biofeedback uncomfortable. It is therefore important that the therapy chosen is
the most appropriate and effective one for any particular individual.’
Strengths Weaknesses Discuss biological therapies with reference to issues such as those
Drug-free therapy which has Involves expensive equipment raised in the above quotation.
no biological risks or physical and treatment which some people (N.B. The underscoring has been added for the purposes of this
side effects. may not be able to afford. Factsheet but you might find it useful to underscore key words in
Based on the patient taking May not be appropriate for more practice exam questions as you revise to help you to focus on the
control of their disorder severe psychological disorders. demands of the question).
which can have a positive This question asks for a discussion of biological therapies (plural).
effect on self-esteem. The examiner will therefore expect discussion of two or three different
Teaches valuable techniques Takes willpower, practice and therapies. Discuss does not simply mean describe. At this level the
which can improve physical patience to achieve positive examiner will be expecting an intelligent consideration of therapies
and psychological health and results and so may not be suitable which illustrates knowledge and understanding of biological
well-being. for all personalities or disorders. psychology. The question specifically asks you to refer to issues
raised in the quotation but even if it does not, quotations in questions
Acknowledgements: This Psychology Factsheet was researched and written by Jeanine Connor
often provide clues about what the examiner is looking for.

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91 - Biological Therapies Psychology Factsheet

Worksheet: Biological therapies

Name
1. Outline one method of drug therapy and give one limitation of this method.

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2. Briefly outline the stages of biofeedback.

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3. Explain the role of reward and reinforcement in biofeedback.

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4. Describe the main principles and techniques of ECT.

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5. A patient who suffers from high levels of stress is trying to choose from a range of biological therapies. What advice would you give
them based on your knowledge of principles, strengths and limitations of two or more biological therapies?

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6. A patient who suffers from severe, long-term major depression is considering ECT. What advice would you give them about the
strengths and weaknesses of ECT?

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Glossary:
Biochemistry: Area of physiology concerned with biological chemicals in
the body, such as hormones and neurotransmitters.
Conditioning: Behavioural method of learning through association or
reinforcement.
Dopamine: A neurotransmitter associated with mood.
DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder.
GABA: The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid.
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Homeostasis: Literally means ‘staying the same’ and is used to describe
the body’s state of internal balance.
ICD: International Classification of Diseases.
Neuroanatomy: Area of physiology concerned with the structure and
function of the nervous system including neurotransmitters.
Noradrenaline: A hormone associated with the ‘fight or flight’ stress
response.
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter associated with mood and aggression.