biological explanation of schizophrenia-dopamine hypothesis Flashcards

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1
Q

what does the dopamine hypothesis suggest?

A

dopamine caused by:

  • excess amounts of dopamine
  • sensitive dopamine receptors
  • too many dopamine receptors
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2
Q

what receptor, in particular, does the explanation suggest is impaired?

A

D2 receptors

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3
Q

what symptoms does this explanation explain? (2)

A
  • -hallucinations

- paranoia

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4
Q

what drug causes excess levels of dopamine consequently in schizophrenic symptoms e.g. hallucinations

A

amphetamines

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5
Q

what causes negative symptoms?

A

hypodopimanergia (decreased dopamine) in mesocortical pathway

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6
Q

what causes positive symptoms?

A

hyperdopimanergia (increased dopamine) in the mesolimbic pathway

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7
Q

what behaviours is dopamine associated with? (5)

A
  • attention
  • exploratory
  • outgoing
  • pleasure-seeking
  • locomotor system
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8
Q

what does glutamate do?

A
  • low levels=development of psychotic symptoms

- hypoglutamatergia=doamine levels risee

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9
Q

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE (2)

A
  • Falkai et al-autopsies show people with sz have larger receptors (D2 receptors)
  • Van Rossum-significant link between overstimulation of dopamine receptors and sz
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10
Q

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE (2)

A
  • Carlsson et al-animal study showed that NMDA antagonists uced levels of glutamate but didn’t always increase dopamine
  • PET scans showed drugs that blocked dopamine didn’t reduce symptoms in 10yr sz patient
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11
Q

OTHER EXPLANATIONS (2)

A
  • envvironmental factors e.g. poverty, unemployment
  • non-biological explanation (cognitive)-faulty info processing-explains neg symptoms- can’t filter out cog noises in environment
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12
Q

USEFULNESS (3)

A

+help create drugs to lower dopamine levels
+preventative strategies- can test blood/brain scans to monitor the progression of sz
- socially controlling- used to change and manipulate behaviours

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13
Q

TESTABILITY (3)

A

scientifically tested

  • can’t establish cause and effect
  • animal studies
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