Biological Explanation For Schizophrenia - Abnormal Brain Structure

Question 1

Neurodevelopment illnesses

Answer 1

Damages to brain due to (gene, environmental, etc) cause schizo behaviour, no further brain damage
-Brain structure cause schizo

Question 2

Neurodegenerative illnesses

Answer 2

Few damages to brain at start, gradually worsen
-brain structure caused by schizo

Question 3

Role of Brain ventricles

Answer 3

Provide nutrient + remove waste to brain
Reside in cerebral cortex of brain (middle of brain)
small space for fluid
When Brian damaged, fluid enlarged to maintain pressure to replace the neurone no longer there

Question 4

Weinburger et al

Answer 4

CAT scan
-58 chronic schzio, 50 control
40% schizo ventricle size outside range of control + 53% schzio exceed 2 standard deviation of control mean size

-suggest brain damage happens

Question 5

Oblai et al

Answer 5

meta analysis of longitudinal studies, schizophrenic has brain volumn reduction over time

Question 6

Chan et al

Answer 6

those high risk for schizo had same brain damage as schizo (large ventricle, small brain volumn), suggest signs of neurodevelopmental, as only at certain point do schizo pop up

Question 7

Evaluation strength - Reliable

Answer 7

CAT scan is easily available for researcher to use - so easily repeated by others, studies comparable
-almost all study found schizo has structural difference (ventricle larger volume), shows structural abnormality involved

Question 8

Evaluation weakness - no causal relationship

Answer 8

Neurodegenerative or neurodevelopment
-Oblai et al former
-Chan et al - suggest schizo only show up when brain abnormal reach certain point - latter

Question 9

Evaluation weakness - reductionist

Answer 9

Only on brain structure
- use diathesis stress model + environment as example