Chemical Imbalance Theory

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The chemical imbalance theory falls under the biological perspective of psychology. It aims to explain that the causes of mental illness derive from neurotransmitter imbalances. In many cases people tend to treat their mental disorders with medication to attempt to balance their levels of certain chemicals. For example, someone diagnosed with OCD may treat their symptoms with a medication designed to balance the levels of serotonin in their body. There are a few chemicals that are already associated with mental illnesses and those would be monoamines; dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine. The most common mental onus is associated with the chemical in balance theory would be OCD, depression, and schizophrenia.

The theory originated in 1965

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