Biochemical

Question 1

what do antipsychotic drugs do

Answer 1

block receptors

Question 2

whats a problem with antipsychotic drugs

Answer 2

they don’t work for everybody so there must be another cause

Question 3

what does L-dopa do

Answer 3

increases dopamine/symptoms

Question 4

what did suddath find

Answer 4

enlarged ventricles (especially with negative symptoms)

Question 5

what did medick find

Answer 5

may have been exposed to influenza in the second trimester

Question 6

what is the biochemical explanation

Answer 6

suggests that genetics has its effect through body chemistry as symptoms are caused by excess dopamine release by pre-synaptic neurones leading to oversensitivity of receptors and an abnormal d1 to d2 receptor ratio

Question 7

what is the neuroatomical explanation

Answer 7

suggests that there are abnormalities in the frontal lobe (less blood flow) and prefrontal cortex (less activity) as MRI scans are studied

Question 8

what is the neurodevelopmental explanation

Answer 8

suggests patients with schizophrenia are much more likely to be born in early spring and late winter and symptoms may be a result of an infection during foetal development