Explanations for Schizophrenia

Question 1

State the biological explanations (3)

Answer 1

• Genetics
• Neural correlates
• Dopamine hypothesis

Question 2

State the psychological explanations (2)

Answer 2

• Family dysfunctions
• Cognitive explanations

Question 3

State the family dysfunctions (3)

Answer 3

• Schizophrenogenic mother
• Double bind
• Expressed emotion

Question 4

State the cognitive explanations (3)

Answer 4

• Dysfunctional thought processing
• Meta-representation
• Central control

Question 5

AO1: Genetic theory

Answer 5

The genetic explanation states that schizophrenia is hereditary and passed on from one generation to the next through genes. A person is born with a genetic predisposition to SZ. Several maladaptive candidate genes such as PCM1 are involved (polygenic) which increases an individuals vulnerability to developing SZ. Studies have shown that 108 separate genetic variations are associated in the risk of developing SZ. Gottesman studied 40 twins and found that concordance rates for monozygotic twins was 48% and only 17% for dizygotic twins. Therefore the closer the genetic link to someone with SZ the higher the chance of developing SZ.

Question 6

AO3 for the Genetic theory

Answer 6

Research to support the genetic theory in the development of SZ comes from Tierney. He studied 155 adopted children who had biological mothers with SZ and found that they had a concordance rate of 10% compared to 1% in adopted children without schizophrenic parents. This provides significant support for the role of genetics as the role of Social Learning Theory (observing and imitating the behaviours of schizophrenic parent) could not have been factor as the children were adopted. Therefore increasing the validity of genetics as a biological explanation of schizophrenia.

Question 7

Neural correlates intro

Answer 7

The idea of neural correlates is that abnormalities with specific brain areas may be associated with the development of SZ. Brain scanning such as fMRI scans are used to compare brain scans of people with SZ compared to people without to identify brain areas that may be linked to SZ.

Question 8

AO1: Neural correlates - Brain structure or function

Answer 8

One neural correlate of SZ is enlarged ventricles. A meta analysis by Raz and Raz found that over half individuals tested with SZ has enlarged ventricle size compared to a control group. Enlarged ventricles are associated with damage to central brain areas and the pre-frontal cortex, this is associated with negative symptoms of SZ.

Question 9

Stretch - Neural correlates - Brain structure or function

Answer 9

The frontal lobe is damaged meaning they are unable to make logical decisions leading to avolition. If the frontal lobe is damaged Broca’s area is damaged causing speech poverty.

Question 10

AO3: Neural correlates - Brain structure or function

Answer 10

Research to support the role of neural correlates as an explanation of SZ comes from Suddath et al. He used MRI scans to investigate the brain structure of monozygotic twins in which one twin was schizophrenic. The twin with SZ had enlarged ventricles. This suggests enlarged ventricles do play a role in determining the likelihood of SZ developing. Therefore increasing the validity of neural correlates as a biological explanation of SZ.

Question 11

AO1: Neural correlates - Dopamine hypothesis

Answer 11

The brains neurotransmitters appear to work differently in the brain of a patient with SZ. In particular dopamine is widely believed to be involved as individuals with SZ may release too much dopamine or have too much D2 receptors on the post synaptic neuron.
Hyperdopaminergia in the sub cortex is high dopamine activity in the central areas of the brain such as Broca’s area (responsible for speech poverty) may be associated with auditory hallucinations.
Hypodopaminergia in the cortex is low dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex (thinking and decision making) have been associated with negative symptoms of SZ such as avolition.

Question 12

Stretch: Neural correlates - Dopamine hypothesis

Answer 12

It has been suggested that cortical hypodopaminergia leads to subcortical hyperdopaminergia. Both high and low dopamine activity levels in different brain regions are involved in different symptoms of SZ.

Question 13

What are the four evaluations for the biological explanation (overall)

Answer 13

1) Scientific methods
2) Biological determinism
3) Practical applications
4) Alternative explanations

Question 14

AO3: Biological explanation - Scientific methods

Answer 14

The biological approach of SZ uses scientific methods so its open to scientific rigour. This is because key concepts such as areas of the brain linked to SZ (enlarged ventricles) and specific genes (PCM1) can be objectively and empirically tested and falsified through gene mapping and brain scans such as fMRI. It could be argued that this increases the overall internal validity of the biological explanation of SZ raising Pyschologys Scientific Status.

Question 15

AO3: Biological explanation - determinism

Answer 15

However, the biological explanation of SZ can be criticised for biological determinism. The theory that an individual is controlled by internal factors such as high dopamine activity (hyperdopaminergia) in the sub cortex which inevitably causes auditory hallucinations. Therefore it neglects the role of free will and choice individuals have feeling like they have no control over their behaviour. Therefore this limits the biological explanation for SZ.

Question 16

AO3: Stretch - Biological explanation - determinism

Answer 16

Furthermore, its seen as unethical as it can leave victims families feeling guilty as they have passed on a gene that has affected their children and it can’t be stopped.

Question 17

AO3: Biological explanation - Practical applications

Answer 17

A strength of the biological explanation of SZ is that it has practical applications. The principles of the theory that SZ is caused by an imbalance of dopamine had led to drug therapies such as typical and atypical antipsychotics. These are drugs are effective in treating SZ by balancing levels of dopamine in the patients brains a reducing positive symptoms of SZ such as hallucinations and delusions. Therefore this is an important part of applied psychology as it increases the credibility of the biological explanation of SZ.

Question 18

AO3: Biological explanation - alternative explanation

Answer 18

An alternative explanation for the development of SZ is family dysfunction. This would argue that SZ is due to faulty communication patterns within a family such as schizophrenogenic mother where the mother is cold a creates a family climate characterised by tension and secrecy. This leads to distrust which later develops into paranoid delusions rather than delusions being due to dopamine/genes/neural correlates. Therefore the biological explanation of SZ is not the only explanation that needs to be considered.

Question 19

What is the intro for family dysfunction?

Answer 19

The family is dysfunctional in the way they communicate with each other as they have high levels of tension and arguments. This results in creating risk factors for the development and relapse of schizophrenic symptoms.

Question 20

AO1: Schizophrenogenic mother - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 20

The idea that schizophrenia is caused by the patients early experience of a schizophrenogenic mother. A schizophrenogenic mother is cold, controlling, rejecting emotionally unresponsive and builds a family characterised by tension and secrecy. This leads to distrust that later develops into paranoid delusions (positive) in schizophrenia. The father in families is often passive.

Question 21

AO1: Double bind communication - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 21

Bateson et al argues that schizophrenia is due to faulty communication patterns that exist within families. This communication type is double bind communication this occurs when the parent communicates a verbal message which isn’t matched with their non verbal message so the child receives mixed messages. For example a father may be verbally loving but emotionally rejecting for example becoming rigid when the child tries to show affection. These conflicting, confusing form of communication can contribute or cause schizophrenia. The child feels they can’t do the right thing and becomes increasingly anxious leading to them withdrawing and avoiding social contact - signs of avolition and mixed messages result in disorganised thinking and paranoid delusions

Question 22

AO1: Expressed emotions - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 22

This is the level of emotions expressed towards a patient by their families. High levels of expressed emotion such as berb criticism and occasional violence towards the patient, hostility towards the patient including anger and rejection and emotional over involvement in their life. The development of SZ can cause stress in the patient and the constant harassment from the family can trigger onset SZ. The maintenance of SZ - the stress is caused is the primary explanation for relapse in patients SZ. This is because the patient is placed back into a stressful environment, there is a resurgence of positive and negative symptoms

Question 23

What are the AO3 for family dysfunction (4)

Answer 23

• RTS schizophrenogenic mother
• RTS double bind communication
• Practical applications
• alternative explanation - bio explanation

Question 24

AO3: RTS schizophrenogenic mother - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 24

Research to support the schizophrenogenic mother comes from Mednick et al. They researched 207 children (high risk for developing SZ) who were raised in dysfunctional families where the mothers were cold, rejecting and emotionally responsive to their children’s needs. It was found 10 years later, 17 children of the high risk were diagnosed with SZ. This is 8% compared compared to the 1% of the general population. This supports the schizophrenogenic mother explanation as it shows characteristics of a schizophrenogenic mother increase the likelihood of a person developing SZ. Therefore increasing the validity of a family dysfunction as a psychological explanation of SZ.

Question 25

AO3: RTS double bind - family dysfunction - psychological

• Discussion

Answer 25

Research to support double bind communication was conducted by Berger. It was found when asked about interactions with parents in childhood that schizophrenics could remember more instance of double bind communication from their mother than non-schizophrenics. This provides clear support for mixed communication in schizophrenics childhood leading to a higher chance of developing SZ in adulthood. Therefore increasing the validity of family dysfunction as an explanation of SZ.

• This is based on retrospective data as the patient must think back to childhood. This could mean there’s inaccuracies in recall as a long period of time has passed. This reduces the internal validity of the research to support the family dysfunction as an explanation of SZ.

Question 26

AO3: Practical applications - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 26

A strength of family dysfunction as an explanation of SZ is that it has practical applications. The is because the principles of the explanation that SZ is caused by faulty family communication has led to the treatment of family therapy. This is effective in treating SZ by a therapist meeting with the patient and their family to try alter relationship and communication patterns. This reduces stress levels and expressed emotion which can help prevent relapse of SZ. This is an important part of applied psychology that increases credibility of the family dysfunction explanation of SZ.

Question 27

AO3: Alternative explanation - family dysfunction - psychological

Answer 27

An alternative explanation for SZ is the biological approach. This would suggest the SZ is due to hyperdopaminergia, high levels of dopamine in central areas of the brain, that are associated with symptoms of SZ. For example auditory hallucinations have been associated with high levels of dopamine around the Broca’s area rather than dysfunction within family communications such as having a schizophrenogenic mother. Therefore this weakens family dysfunction as an explanation of SZ as it isn’t the sole explanation that should be considered.

Question 28

AO1: Cognitive explanation intro

Answer 28

Cognitive explanations of schizophrenia focuses on internal mental processes. Schizophrenia is characterised by disruption to normal thought processing. Frith et al identified two kinds of dysfunctional thought processing.

Question 29

AO1: Meta-representation - cognitive explanations

Answer 29

Individuals with SZ have dysfunction in the meta-representation where they lack the ability to recognise what are their own actions/thoughts and what is due to external factors.
This could explain auditory hallucinations (positive symptoms) as an individual may not understand that a voice in their head is their own voice and not somebody elses causing distress. For example believing that the voice telling you your friends hate you is a different person rather than yourself.

Question 30

AO1: Central control - cognitive explanations

Answer 30

Individuals with SZ lack the ability to suppress their own automatic thoughts and speech. Their thoughts and speech are triggered by other thoughts which can lead to disorganised thinking and speech. Therefore people with SZ experience disrupted spoken sentences, known as derailment where an individuals speech is disrupted as the spoken words triggers other associations and the person can’t suppress their automatic responses.

Question 31

What is the evaluation for cognitive explanations? (4)

Answer 31

• RTS central control - Stroop test
• Alternative explanation
• Practical applications
• Soft determinism

Question 32

AO3: Central control - cognitive explanations

Answer 32

Research to support dysfunctional thought processing (central control) was conducted by Stirling et al. They compared 30 patients with SZ with 18 non-patient controls on a range of cognitive tasks such as the stroop test. Participants had to accurately name the ink colour of the colour word printed. SZ patients too twice as long to complete the task compared to the control. This supports the central control as patients couldn’t suppress their automatic response of saying the word rather than the colour. therefore increasing the internal validity of central control dysfunction’s a cognitive explanation of SZ.

Question 33

AO3: Alternative explanation - cognitive explanations

Answer 33

An alternative explanation for SZ is the biological approach. This would suggest the SZ is due to hyperdopaminergia, high levels of dopamine in central areas of the brain, that are associated with symptoms of SZ. For example auditory hallucinations have been associated with high levels of dopamine around the Broca’s area rather than dysfunction in thought processing such as lack of metarepresnetation. Therefore this weakens the cognitive explanation for SZ as it isn’t the sole explanation that should be considered.

Question 34

AO3: Practical applications - cognitive explanations

Answer 34

A strength of the cognitive explanation of SZ is that it has practical applications. This is because the principles of the theory that SZ is caused by delusional thoughts has led to the treatment of CBT. This is effective in treating SZ as patients are helped to identify and challenge the origins of their auditory hallucinations (meta-representation). This reduces positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions of control. Therefore this is an important part of applied psychology that increases the credibility of the cognitive explanation of SZ.

Question 35

AO3: Soft determinism - cognitive explanations

Answer 35

The cognitive explanation of SZ can be praised for soft determinism. This is because SZ is caused by internal factors such as internal mental processes e.g. dysfunction in meta-representation causing auditory hallucinations. However individuals with SZ would arguable have some control over their SZ by challenging and changing the dysfunctional thinking into a more functional/positive process. Therefore the cognitive explanation is a more appropriate explanation of SZ.