Case Study, Mohr

Chapter 2, Neuroscience: Biology and Behavior

In completing the case study, students will be addressing the following learning

objectives:

Discuss neuroplasticity and how this concept relates to mental health and mental illness.

Briefly explain the importance of interaction between genes and environment, the role of

endophenotypes, and the stress-diathesis model of psychiatric illness.

1. Michael is a 22-year-old college senior whose GPA has declined with this semester’s

grades. Michael plans to apply to medical school and thinks that the lower GPA may

prevent his acceptance to medical school. For the last 2 weeks, Michael has skipped

most classes because he has insomnia and fatigue. Michael is now very depressed and

has been thinking of suicide. He took a loaded gun from his father’s gun cabinet and then

wrote a suicide note to his family. At the last moment, he telephoned 911 and told them

of his suicide plan. The police came, took the gun away, and then took Michael to the

city hospital to be admitted for psychiatric treatment. In the admission interview with

the psychiatric nurse, Michael said that his pastor thought that only weak-willed people

experienced depression and that it was a punishment for personal sins and the

sins of one’s ancestors. Michael told the nurse that he must be weak-willed and will

never be able to accomplish anything. The psychiatric nurse explained that multiple

factors are the cause of depression. The nurse told Michael that one theory holds that an

imbalance of neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers of the brain, occurs in

depression. Neurotransmitters influence the individual’s emotions, thoughts, and

subsequent behavior. Recent research implies that neurobiology, heredity, as well as

psychological and environmental factors may be involved in the development and

progression of depression.

(Learning Objectives: 5, 6)

a. Will Michael think that the psychiatric nurse’s explanation for the cause of depression

is more correct than that of his pastor?

b. Michael asks the nurse why he has to have psychotherapy. He states that he only needs

to take a couple of pills to get better. How should the nurse respond to Michael’s

question and comment?

c. Develop an assessment question for each of the following possible causes of Michael’s

development of depression:

Genetics

Environment

Stress