Biological Explanations of SZ Flashcards
Give AO1 for genetic theory
- sz is hereditary and passed on from one generation to another through genes
therefore person born w genetic predisposition to sz
believed that several maladaptive ‘candidate genes’ such as PCM1 are involved polygenic which increases I’s vulnerability to dev sz
studies have shown 108 separate genetic variations are associated w risk of dev sz
What did Cottesman study?
40 twins found that concordance rates for monozygotic twins as 48% and only 17% for dizygotic
closer the genetic link to somebody w sz the moe chance of dev sz
What is RTS genetic theory
P - Tierney
E - He studies 55 adopted children who had biological mothers w sz and they found that they had a concordance rate of 10% compared to 1% in adopted children w out sz
L - this provs sig support for role of genetics as an explanation of sz as the role of SLT cud not have been factor as children were adopted
Give Intro of Neural Correlates
The idea is that abnormalities within specific brain may be associated w the dev of sz
brain scanning techs such as FMRI scans are used to compare the brains of sz w non sufferers to identify brain areas that may be linked w sz
Give AO1 Brain structures/Function
- one neural correlate of sz is enlarged ventricles
- meta analysis by Raz and Raz found that over half of I tested w sz had increased ventricles compared to a control group
-enlarged ventricles are associated w damage to central brain areas and the pre-frontal cortex this damage is associated w negative symptoms of sz
Give Neural Correlates AO3
P - RTS Suddath
E - He used MRI scans to inv the brain structure of MZ twins in which one twin was schizophrenic
E- they found that sz twin generally had more enlarged ventricles
L - this suggests enlarged ventricles do play a role in determining likelihood of sz dev
Give AO1 Dopamine Hypothesis (2)
that brain chemical messengers (NT) appear to work diff in brain of patient w sz
in particular Dopamine (DA) is widely believed to be involved as I w sz may release too much dopamine/have large amount of D2 receptors on post synaptic neurone
Define Hyperdopaminergia in subcortex
High DA in central areas of brain such as Brocas (responsible for speech production) may be associated w auditory hallucinations
Define Hypodopaminergia in cortex
Low DA in the pre-frontal cortex (thinking and DM) have been associated w negative symptoms of sz such as avolition
What does cortical hypodopaminergia lead to?
sub cortical hyperdopmainergia
both high levels and low levels of dopamine in diff brain regions involved in diff symptoms of sz
Give a strength of biological explanations to sz
P - Scientific Methods
E - theory based on objective and empirical techs such as gene mapping studies and brain scans such as FMRI which are used to identify specific genes (PCM1) or areas brain linked w sz (enlarged ventricles)
L - increased overall iv thus raising psychs scientific status
How can biological explanations be criticised ?
P - Biological Determinism
E - theory states that I controlled by internal factors such as high DA (hyperdolimits biopaminergia) in sub cortex which inevitable causes auditory hallucinations
E - neglects role of free will and choice I have cud lead to victims feeling like they have no control over sz bh
> leaves victims families guilty as they [assed on gene that affects children
L - limits bio expl
Give another strength of Bio explanation
P - PRAC APPS
E - principles of theory that sz is caused by imbalance of D has lead to treatment of drug therapies such as typical and atypical antipsychotics
E - drugs are effective when treating sz by balancing levels of D in patients brain therefore reducing symptoms of sz such as hallucinations and delusions
L - important in applied psych helps treat people I real world
Give alt explanation for sz
P - family dysfunction
E - sz due to faulty communication patterns within family such as schizophrenogenic mother
E - mother is cold and creates family climate characterised by tension and secrecy leads to distrust that later dev into paranoid delusions
L - therefore bio exp not only explain that needs to be considered
