EXPLANATION 2: ENLARGED VENTRICLES-EVALUATION AO3

Question 1

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
WEINBERGER ET AL

Answer 1

HE USED CAT SCANS AND REPORTED THAT VENTRICULAR SIZE WAS GREATER IN A GROUP OF 58 INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA THAN THE 56 IN THE CONTROL GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH NO SYMPTOMSOF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Question 2

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:
ANDREASEN

Answer 2

HE STUDIES MRI SCANS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WITHOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA AND FOUND THAT THOSE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA HAD VENTRICLES WHICH WERE 20% TO 50% LARGER THAN IN CONTROLS.

Question 3

WEAKENING EVIDENCE:
HAREN ET AL

Answer 3

HE ARGUES THAT LONG TERM SUFFERERS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA WOULD HAVE VERY LITTLE BRAIN TISSUES LEFT. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE AND NOBODY DIES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Question 4

WEAKENING EVIDENCE:
WEYANDT

Answer 4

1. HE REPORTED THAT ENLARGED VENTRICLES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS ONLY
2. THIS IMPLIES THAT ENLARGED VENTRICLES CANT EXPLAIN ALL SYMPTOMS AND INCIDENCES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Question 5

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES:
LYON ET AL

Answer 5

1. HE REPORTED THAT AS DOSES OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS INCREASE IN THEIR SAMPLE OF PARTICIPANTS, THE DENSITY OF BRAIN TISSUE DECREASES.
2. THIS SUGGESTS THAT AFTER SCHIZOPHRENIA HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AND IS TREATED WITH ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS, THE MEDICATION IS WHAT CAUSES SOME STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES.

Question 6

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES:

Answer 6

WHEN ASSESSING THE ROLE THAT BRAIN ABNORMALITIES PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, WE MUST ALSO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, STRESS LEVELS, WHICH MAY ALSO BE HAVING A DAMAGING INFLUENCE UPON BRAIN TISSUE