Carlsson Et Al and Rosenhan

Question 1

What is the main focus of Carlsson et al. (1999/2000)?

Answer 1

Neurotransmitter interaction in schizophrenia and implications for therapy

Question 2

What is the dopamine hypothesis, according to Carlsson et al.?

Answer 2

There is a dopaminergic dysfunction in schizophrenia
Dopaminergic dysfunction- having a low level of dopamine.

Question 3

What is a key finding of Carlsson et al. regarding dopamine’s role in schizophrenia?

Answer 3

The explanation of raised levels of dopamine causing schizophrenia is likely to be too simplistic

Question 4

Which neurotransmitters, besides dopamine, are likely to relate to schizophrenia, according to Carlsson et al.?

Answer 4

Noradrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate, and GABA.

Question 5

How does the recreational drug PCP relate to the glutamate hypothesis?

Answer 5

PCP, which can lead to psychosis, links to the NMDA receptor, a glutamate receptor subtype, and limits glutamate

Question 6

What is the role of NMDA antagonists in relation to glutamate and dopamine release?

Answer 6

NMDA antagonists seem to stimulate the turnover of serotonin and cause the release of more dopamine

Question 7

What is a strength of Carlsson et al. (1999/2000)?

Answer 7

The study has been backed by Sendt et al (2012), who puts forward the ‘glutamate hypothesis’, and says that drugs should focus on the glutamate deficiency

Question 8

What is a weakness of Carlsson et al. (1999/2000)?

Answer 8

It draws conclusions from animal studies and relates them to humans. Studies show ambiguous results when claiming excess dopamine and psychostimulation