Biology Explanation AO3 Flashcards
What are the strengths of the genetic approach of the biological explanation of schizophrenia?
- supported by Tienari’s adoption study
- Hikler et al conducted a twin study and found that identical twins have a concordence rate of 33% and non-identical have 7%
Describe Tienari’s study on Schizophrenia?
- in Finland he conducted an adoption study consisting of 164 participants who’s biological mothers were diagnosed with Schizophrenia
- 6.7% of the participants recieved a diagnosis where as only 2% of the control group did
- therefore shows that Schizophrenia is genetic
What are the weaknesses of the genetic approach of the biological explanation of Schizophrenia?
- the concordence rate for MZ twins should be 100% as they are genetically identical, however it is significantly lower therefore other factors must affect concordence rate
- Mokrved et al found 67% of Schizophrenics experience at least one traumatic experience in their childhood compared to the 38% of those who are mentally healthy
What are the strengths of the neural conrelates approach of the biological explanation of Schizophrenia?
Andreasen at al found that an enlargement in the ventricals of schizophrenics brains are associated with the higher prevelence of negative symptoms and when the enlargement is smaller, positive symptoms occur more oftern
MRI, which are more reliable than post mortums are used to prove that Schizophrenics have different brain structure
What are the weaknesses of the neural conrelates approach of the biological explanation of Schizophrenia?
- cause and effect can’t be established with brain abnormalities which means it is uncertain if structural abnormalities cause Schizophrenia or if the abnormalities are caused by Schizophrenia
- the findings are inconsistant therefore correlations are not seen in all Schizophrenics
What are the strentghs of the dopamine hypothesis approach of the biological explanation of Schizophrenia?
- a drug for parkinsons called L-Dopa that increases levels of dopamine, which can cause symptoms of Schizophrenia to occur which shows that Schizophrenia may be caused by an increase in dopamine
- Seeman found through post mortems of Schizophrenics that there is an increase of dopamine in parts of the brain, which shows that Schizophrenia may be caused by an increase in dopamine
What are the weaknesses of the dopamine hypothesis approach of the biological explanation of Schizophrenia?
- neurotransmitters may be an effect of the disorder rather than a cause
- CBT is shown to be extremely effective in treating Schizophrenia which doesn’t use any drug treament which suggests dopamine levels may not be related to Schizophrenia
