Biological Approach

Question 1

Biological approach

Answer 1

Split into:
Genetic factors
Neural factors

Question 2

Genetic factors

Answer 2

The more closely related, the more likely you are to have schizophrenia
Twin studies
Adoption studies

Question 3

Twin studies

Answer 3

MZ more concordant than DZ
MZ - 40%
DZ - 7.4%
Gottensmans
2 schizo parents - 46%
1 schizo parent - 13%
Schizo siblings - 9%

Question 4

Adoption studies

Answer 4

See the effect of the environment on the development of schizophrenia
Tiernari et al
164/361schizophrenic adoptees had schizophrenic mothers

Question 5

Evaluation of genetic factors

Answer 5

+practical applications - identify at risk individuals
-MZ twins treated more similarly than DZ

Question 6

Neural factors

Answer 6

Schizophrenia down to:
The Dopamine Hypothesis
The revised Dopamine Hypothesis
Brain structures

Question 7

The Dopamine Hypothesis

Answer 7

⬆️Dopamine = schizophrenia
•Amphetamines - dopamine agonists-⬆️dopamine release = schizophrenia symptoms
•Antipsychotics - dopamine antagonists-⬇️dopamine release = relieves schizophrenic symptoms

Question 8

The revised dopamine hypothesis

Answer 8

Excess dopamine in subcortical areas of brain= positive symptoms
Low dopamine in PFC = negative symptoms

Question 9

Hippocampus

Answer 9

Deficits in nerve connections between hippocampus and PFC - schizophrenia

Question 10

Prefrontal cortex

Answer 10

Deficits in PFC and it’s connections - schizophrenia

Question 11

Grey matter

Answer 11

Reduced grey matter in frontal and temporal lobes
Enlarged ventricles- schizophrenia

Question 12

White matter

Answer 12

Reduced mylenation of white matter pathways in schizophrenics

Question 13

Evaluation of Neural factors

Answer 13

+practical applications- drug treatments
-dopamine hypothesis- too simplistic