Biological Explanations For Schizophrenia

Question 1

What are 2 biological explanations for schizophrenia

Answer 1

Genetic factors and neural correlates

Question 2

What are genetic factors

Answer 2

Inherited factors make certain individuals more likely to develop a behaviour or mental disorder

Question 3

What evidence shows support for genetic influences

Answer 3

Gottesman (1991)- higher concordance rates between first-degree relatives
Children with 2 schizophrenic parents= 46% concordance rates
Children with 1 schizophrenic parent= 13%
Siblings= 9%

Question 4

What are neural correlates

Answer 4

Changes in neuronal events and mechanisms that result in the characteristic symptoms of a behaviour or mental disorders

Question 5

What is the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 5

Claims that excess of the neurotransmitter dopamine in certain regions of the brain is associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and lack of dopamine with negative symptoms

Question 6

What is hyperdopaminergia

Answer 6

Excessive levels of dopamine in the subcortex and Broca’s area

Question 7

What is hypodopaminergia

Answer 7

Low levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex

Question 8

What are the two other changes in the brain linked to symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 8

1. Reduced activity in the ventral striatum (reward system)- linked to avolition
2. Enlarged ventricles- linked to negative symptoms

Question 9

What evidence has shown the role of neural correlates in the development of schizophrenia

Answer 9

Juckel te al. (2006)- found lower levels of activity in ventral striatum in patients compared to controls

Question 10

What evidence has shown the role of dopamine hypothesis in the development of schizophrenia

Answer 10

Successful drug treatments which change levels of dopamine activity- antipsychotic drugs (reduce dopaminergic activity) eliminate positive symptoms of schizophrenia