Biological explanations of schizophrenia Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 biological explanations of SZ?

A

Genetic factors, neural correlates, dopamine hypothesis

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2
Q

How does the genetic approach explain SZ?

A

SZ passed through DNA chromosomes through family members. Describes how being related to someone with SZ increases chances of inheriting it.

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3
Q

Outline a family study into genetics and SZ.

A

Gottesman. Children with 2 schizophrenic parents concordance rate of 46%. One schizophrenic parent 13%. Sibling with SZ 9%.

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4
Q

Outline a twin study into genetics and SZ.

A

Joseph meta-analysis of all pre-2001 SZ twin studies. MZ concordance = 40%. DZ twins 7%.

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5
Q

Outline an adoption study into genetics and SZ.

A

Tienari et al. 164 adoptees with SZ mothers: 6% also diagnosed with SZ.
194 control group of adoptees: 2% diagnosed with SZ.

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6
Q

Describe the dopamine (DA) hypothesis.

A

SZ is caused by abnormally high DA (a neurotransmitter) levels in the brain. Messages from neurons that transmit dopamine fire too easily cause hallucinations and delusions.

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7
Q

Describe two pieces of drug evidence for the DA hypothesis.

A

L-Dopa raises DA levels and given as Parkinson’s treatment can produce SZ like side effects.
Antipsychotic drugs lower DA levels reduce SZ symptoms.

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8
Q

Describe post-mortem evidence for DA hypothesis.

A

SZ brains found to have higher DA levels.

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9
Q

Describe two neural correlates of SZ.

A

Hippocampus: Heckers suggested heightened activity in the hippocampus may lead to many SZ symptoms.
Grey matter loss - SZ patients have less grey matter in temporal and frontal lobes. Less tissue = worse symptoms.

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10
Q

(Could be AO3) Outline the revised DA hypothesis.

A

Davis and Kahn.
Positive symptoms caused by excess DA in subcortical areas of the brain, particularly the mesolimbic pathways.

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11
Q

(Could be AO3) Who proposed the revised DA hypothesis? Based on what type of evidence?

A

Davis and Kahn. PET scans of brain - DA levels in SZ individuals and control individuals.

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12
Q

(Could be AO3) What does the revised DA hypothesis suggest about positive symptoms of SZ?

A

Caused by excess DA in subcortical areas such as the mesolimbic pathways.

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13
Q

(Could be AO3) What does the revised DA hypothesis suggest about negative symptoms of SZ?

A

Caused by deficit of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex.

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14
Q

(AO3) What is a key issue with biological explanations of SZ?

A

Cause and effect. Do grey matter deficits cause SZ or are they as a result of the disorder? More difficult to find the root cause. DA is good - but causality is still hard to confirm. Does not reduce validity or reliability, but shows complexity of the disorder.

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15
Q

(AO3) Explain how reductionism applies to the biological explanation of SZ.

A

Simplifies SZ to only biological causes. Strength is the drug treatments. But biology not the only factor - not 100% concordance in MZ twins. Many causes & disorder is more complex. Diathesis-stress may be a better approach.

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16
Q

(AO3) Explain an alternative explanation for SZ.

A

Psychological explanations. E.g. positive correlations between high EE families and SZ. Shows importance of environment. Psychological treatments also more effective at preventing relapse. Suggests biological correlates/causes are causes of symptoms, not root cause of disease. Both credible, again diathesis-stress.