A02 biological explanations of schizophrenia

Question 1

What are the 2 sections?

Answer 1

Genetic factors

The dopamine hypothesis

Question 2

3 sections I’m genetic factors?

Answer 2

Family studies
Twin studies
Adoption studies

Question 3

Evaluation of family studies?

Answer 3

Some studies suggest that link between schizo and family relation could be more to do with rearing rather than genetic relations
For instance research on expressed emotion shows that negative emotional climates in some families may lead to stress beyond an individual’s coping mechanism which further lead to schizo Dev

Question 4

Who evaluated twin studies

Answer 4

Joseph

Question 5

What did joseph do and find

Answer 5

MZ twins are treated more similar and have a more similar environment than DZ twins

Question 6

Conclusion of twin studies

Answer 6

Concordance rates between MZ and DZ twins could be due to the environmental differences that distinguish the two types of twins

Question 7

Who evaluated adoption studies

Answer 7

Joseph

Question 8

What did joseph says for adoption studies

Answer 8

Unlikely for adoptive parents who adopted kids with a schizo parent to be different from adoptive parents who have a kids without schizo parent

Question 9

Conclusion of adoption studies

Answer 9

Results may have been influenced by the fact that adoptive parents who adopt a child without a schizo biological parent are different to adoptive parents who adopt kids with schizo biological parent
So it’s not a very good explanation or support for the genetic factors explanation

Question 10

What are the 2 sections of the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 10

Postmortem studies

Evidence from neuroimaging research

Question 11

Who evaluated postmortem studies

Answer 11

Haracz

Question 12

What did haracz do and find

Answer 12

Review post mortem studies of schizos
Found that most of those studied who shows increase in dopamine levels took anti psychotic drugs shortly before death
Indvs with normal levels of dopamine didn’t have medication

Question 13

Conclusion of post mortem studies

Answer 13

Anti psychotic drugs may actually increase levels if dopamine and therefore increase not alleviate symptoms of schizo so it goes against the evidence for the dopamine

Question 14

Who evaluated evidence for neuroimaging research

Answer 14

Copolov and crook

Question 15

What did copolov and crook find and do

Answer 15

Found that neuroimaging studies (PET scans) failed to show evidence of altered dopamine activity in the brain of schizos

Question 16

Why are PET scans important in the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 16

Because they are thought to investigate dopamine activity more precisely than other methods