Biological Explanations

Question 1

Genetic

Answer 1

1% of pop have Sz

Question 2

Family study: Kendlar

Answer 2

18x more risk if first degree family member has Sz

Question 3

Family study: Gottesman

Answer 3

• 1 parent = 6% CR
• 2 parents = 46% CR
• DZ twins = 17%
• MZ twins = 48%

Question 4

Adoption study: Tienari

Answer 4

Adopted children from families with Sz had more of a chance of developing Sz than normal families

Question 5

Candidate genes

Answer 5

• DRD2
  highly polygenic possible 108 gene variations

Question 6

Genetic mutation: Moreno et al

Answer 6

Prenatal exposure to influenza leads to a mutation resulting in a higher risk of Sz

Question 7

Genetic mutation: Brown et al

Answer 7

sperm mutation < 25yrs = 0.7% > 50yrs = 2%

Question 8

Genetic explanation AO3 +

Answer 8

able to understnad the genetic risk you have so can be aware of your environmental risk

Question 9

Genetic explanation AO3 - Morgan et al and Diforti et al

Answer 9

Birth complications can lead to Sz
Smoking THC rich cannabis can lead to SZ

Question 10

Genetic explanation AO3 - Morkved et al

Answer 10

67% Sz had childhood trauma compared to 38% control without Sz

Question 11

Dopmine Hypothesis

Answer 11

Hyperdopaminergia in subcortex
Hypodopaminergia in cortex

Question 12

Hyperdopaminergia in sub cortex

Answer 12

Excess D2 receptors in central areas of brain
- positive symptoms
- DA = excitatory

Question 13

Hyperdopaminergia in sub cortex: dopamine agonist

Answer 13

• bind to D2 receptors and flood
• amphetamines e.g. speed + ecstacy
• L-dopa drug used to treat Parkinsons (increase dopamine levels) result in Sz symptoms

Question 14

Hyperdopaminergia is sub cortext: antipsychotics

Answer 14

Block uptake of dopamine in sub cortex to reduce acitivty

Question 15

Hypodopaminergia in cortex

Answer 15

GOLDMAN-RAKIC ET AL = low levels of dopamine in PFC-> negative symptoms

Question 16

Dopamine hypothesis AO3 +

Answer 16

• antipsychotics work by inhibiting dopamine transmission
• some drugs create Sz symptoms by activating dopamine systems in brain

Question 17

Neural correlates

Answer 17

• dopamine hypothesis
• low activity in Wernicke’s area
• enlarged ventricles

Question 18

Low activity in Wernicke’s area

Answer 18

TILO ET AL = more severe symptoms in low activity in Wernicke’s area
- Wernicke’s area controls speech comprehension so if low activity it results in disorganised speech

Question 19

Enlarged ventricles

Answer 19

PACKKENBERG = post mortem shows enlarged ventricles and deep sulci in Sz brain

Question 20

Enlarged ventricles AO3 -

Answer 20

• cause or effect
• low temporal validity