Biological Explanations For Sz Flashcards
What do most modern health practictioners accept
That schizophrenia is biological I nature
The genetic basis of Sz
Sz runs in families
Studies have focused on genetic similarity
There is a strong risk between genetic similarity and the risk of Sz
Gottesman 1991
Did a large scale family study and found 1% of general population 5% grandchildren 9% siblings 17% fraternal twins and 48% identical twins
Individual genes
Individual genes are thought to be associated with the risk of inheritance
A small number of genes appear to confer a small risk of sz
Dopamine hypothesis
Neurotransmitters work differently in the brains of patients with Sz. Dophamine is important in the functioning of several brain systems that might be implicated with sz
Neural correlates of sz
The measurement of the structure or function of the brain that correlates with experience
Neural correlates of neg symptoms
Avolition involves the loss of motivation motivation involves anticipation of reward and areas of the brain involved in this
Evaluation - genetic
Gottesman shows how genetic similarity and shared risk of sz are related
Adoption studies show children who are adopted from sz families are still succeptible
There is also studies at a molecular level to show sz is genetic
Mixed evidence for dopamine hypothesis
Dopamine agonists like amphetamines that increase dopamine levels make sz worse
Antipsychotic drugs that reduce dopamine also show dopamine plays an important role in sz
The role of mutation
Sz can take place in families with no history due to genetic mutations in dna
Support for family dysfunction as a risk factor
Evidence to support theory that childhood experience impacts upon sz in adulthood
Family dysfunction - read et al 2005
Reviewed 46 cases of childhood abuse and sz and concluded 69% of women with diagnosis of sz had history of physical abuse
Weaknesses with childhood studies
Information was gathered about childhood after he development of Symptoms
