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Discuss Explanations of Narcolepsy

Discuss Explanations of Narcolepsy. Introduction. Narcolepsy is a Ddyssomnia Characteristics Excessive daytime sleepiness Cataplexy Hypnogogic hallucinations Sleep paralysis Sleep attacks Clinical diagnosis – excessive daytime sleepiness + 1 or more of the other symptoms

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Discuss Explanations of Narcolepsy

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  1. Discuss Explanations of Narcolepsy

  2. Introduction • Narcolepsy is a Ddyssomnia • Characteristics • Excessive daytime sleepiness • Cataplexy • Hypnogogic hallucinations • Sleep paralysis • Sleep attacks • Clinical diagnosis – excessive daytime sleepiness + 1 or more of the other symptoms • Effects 1 in 2000 • Occurs in teens and adulthood • Explanations • Genetic • Auto-immune response to viruses

  3. Outline of disorder • Reduction in hypocretin (Hcrt) secreting cells • Hypothalamus • Reduction in Hcrt released into spinal chord • Hcrt is a neurotransmitter • Reduction of around 80% of functioning cells • This neurotransmitter controls the descent into sleep through the stages • Narcoleptics move between waking and REM sleep

  4. Genetic outline • Mutation reduces productivity of hcrt secreting cells • Passed down generations in DNA • The closer you are related to a sufferer the more likely you are to get the illness • Relatedness is expressed through concordance rates • This explanation predicts that there would be a high concordance between sufferers and close relatives and lower concordance with more distance relatives • High concordance for MZ twins compared to DZ twins

  5. Evaluation • Supported by research • Narcolepsy gene passed down through certain breeds of dog • Gene that causes narcolepsy in dogs isolated • However further research showed in humans out of 16 MZ twins only in 4 cases were both narcoleptic • Lowers internal validity of the explanation • Cannot use this explanation to help understand narcolepsy or to help develop new treatments

  6. Issues & Debates (1) • Uses non-human animals to draw conclusions • In this case the results cannot be extrapolated to humans • Any new treatments cannot be used in humans • No justification in using dogs/NHA in human narcolepsy research • No continuity of function • Using NHA for narcolepsy isn’t useful

  7. Auto-immune Outline • Caused by a mutation in the HLA gene • Trib-2 is an antibody released into the body • Triggered by illness • In narcoleptics trib-2 destroys hcrt-secreting cells • Deficiency in hcrt triggers narcolepsy

  8. Evaluation 1 • Overeem et al (2008) found that 90% of narcoleptics have faulty HLA gene • Cases of H1N1 (flu virus) coincide with new cases of narcolepsy • Supports idea that it is the HLA gene that triggers narcolepsy • Increases the reliability of this explanation • Can use this explanation to help develop new treatments for narcolepsy

  9. Evaluation 2 • Explains why narcolepsy isn’t usually present in childhood • Also helps explain why there is a lack of predictability of genetic evidence • Increases the internal validity of explanation

  10. Evaluation 3 • Doesn’t explain the 10% of narcoleptics without the HLA defect • Lowers internal validity of this explanation • Cannot use this explanation to explain every case • Some treatments developed cannot be used on everybody

  11. Issues & Debates (2) • Uses biological reductionism • Treats the symptoms rather than the cause • Further research shoes that environmental factors such as stress and illness induce narcoleptic attacks • Lifestyle changes can avoid attack triggers • Stress • illness • Interactionist approach • Possible to treat symptoms as well as cause of attack • Empowerment of sufferers

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