Contemporary study for Schizophrenia- Carlsson Flashcards
AO1- Aim
The aim of the study is to review studies into the relationship between neurotransmitters (especially dopamine and glutamate) on Schizophrenia and specific brain areas.
They wanted to test the role of Neurotransmitters to look at the effectiveness and issues in the drug treatment of Schizophrenia to see if new drugs could be more effective with less side-effects
AO1- Sample
- 32 studies were reviewed looking at such as those using
- Rodents and primates to test neurotransmission
- Brain structure scans
- Those on amphetamines
- PCP
- Being given medical drugs for SZ
- Parkinson’s patients
- Those with acute Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia in remission.
AO1- Description
The Dopamine hypothesis is likely too simplistic, there are other neurotransmitters which relate to Schizophrenia. Noradrenaline, Serotonin, Acetylcholine, Glutamate and GABA
‘the change in dopaminergic function may even be secondary to aberrations elsewhere’
At this point it is difficult to choose between the two major pharmacological models of schizophrenia, i.e. the hyperdopaminergia and the hypoglutamatergia model
AO1- Moghaddam & Adams 98
Low levels of glutamate has been shown to be linked to the development of psychotic symptoms.
Therefore when we have reduced Glutamate, Dopamine levels rise
AO1- Carlsson General Results
NMDA antagonists seem to stimulate the turnover of serotonin more ‘consistently’ and so Serotonin may also be implicated in Schizophrenia too.
‘Glutamate failure in the cerebral cortex may lead to negative symptoms whereas failure in the basal ganglia (cognition, co-ordination and movement) could be responsible for positive symptoms’
AO1- Clozapine Results
Clozapine was seen as highly effective in treating Schizophrenia with a reduction in negative side-effects,
This drug has both antidopaminergic and antiserotonergic functions
+AO3- Sendt et al 2012
Supports Carlsson’s view on ‘the glutamate hypothesis’, the source of their negative symptoms and how drugs focusing on Dopamine don’t work for many- while glutamate focused ones may
+AO3- Generalisabilty
Variety of studies (types) giving a broad sample- lots of participants making the sample more representative of a wide population
Review study gives a broader view- allows for a more holistic view (by looking at many different studies, types and methods) which is more representative
+AO3- objective and reliable
Use of brain scans
+AO3- Ethical
Review study so any ethical problems in the research was not directly due to him
+AO3- Useful
For drug therapy because it tells us about the other neurotransmitters which must be changed to benefit some sufferers
-AO3- Generalisabilty
Weakness of animal research which doesn’t apply to humans
-AO3- secondary data
May be problems with original studies that are not highlighted which reduces validity & reliabilty
researcher bias however, Carlsson was a leading expert so may have made sure he selected credible research
-AO3- Validity
Whilst obviously linked things like Parkinsons, drug side-effects etc are not exact representations of schizophrenia
