Biological Explanations

Question 1

genetic

how do researchers understand the possibility of the genetic basis

Answer 1

family studies, comparing concordance rates

Question 2

genetic

there are multiple genes involves meaning SZ is ……

Answer 2

polygenic

Question 3

genetic

what does aetiologically heterogeneous mean

Answer 3

different combination of factors, including genetic variation that lead to the condition

Question 4

genetic

give a study that supports the role of genetics

Answer 4

riley and kendler

• lifetime risk of developing disorder is 1%
• risk is 10x higher if first degree relative has disorder

Question 5

genetic

give the family study that supports the role of genetics

Answer 5

gottesman

• someone with relative with disorder has this possibility of developibng disorder
• aunt: 2%
• sibling: 9%
• identical twin: 48%

Question 6

neural

whats the neurotransmitter associated with SZ

Answer 6

dopamine

Question 7

neural

explain the original dopamine hypothesis

Answer 7

• excess dopamine in subcortical areas of the brain - hyperdopaminergia
• linked with positive symproms

Question 8

neural

explain the updated dopamine hypothesis

Answer 8

• low dopamine in the brains cortex - hypodopaminergia
• linked to negative symptoms
• leads to subcortical hyperdopaminergia
• so both high and low levels of DA in different brain regions

Question 9

neural

what is the mesocortical pathway

Answer 9

• hypodopaminergia
• outer layer of brain - low DA
• negative symptoms

Question 10

neural

what is the mesolimbic pathway

Answer 10

• hyperdopaminergia
• inner layer of brain - high DA
• positive symptoms

Question 11

neural

give a study that supports the role of drug use in SZ

Answer 11

di forti et al

• increases risk of developing disorder is associated with smoking high levels of THC in teenage years

Question 12

neural

give a study that supports the role of trauma in SZ

Answer 12

• 67% of patients with psychotic conditions reported at least one childhood trauma

Question 13

neural

giver study that supports the role of dopamine

Answer 13

tenn et al

• used amphetamines, which icrease DA, to induce SZ like symptoms in rats
• then reduced them using drugs
• supports the hypothesis

Question 14

neural

what are the 3 brain abnormalities in people with schizophrenia

Answer 14

• enlarged ventricles
• smaller brain size
• reduces grey matter

Question 15

neural

in people with SZ, venticles become …….. . This leads to a reduction in …… which makes their brain …..

Answer 15

enlarged, grey matter, smaller

Question 16

give a strength PEELH for the genetic explanation

Answer 16

P - supporting evidence
EG - gottesman, 48% identical twins
EX - share 100% of DNA and highly likely to get it
L - stroong genetic componenet
H - not 100% so other factors must be there

Question 17

give a strength PEELH for the neural explanation

Answer 17

P - supporting evidence
EG - tenn et al. Used amphetamines, which increase DA, to induce SZ like symptoms in rats
EX - shows doppamine highly involved
L - supports dopamine hypothesis, increases validity
H - animal studies, not generalisable