Explantations Of Schiz Flashcards
How does the dopamine hypothesis explain schizophrenia
Caused by an imbalance of chemicals.
Presence of excess dopamine receptors
Increase in dopamine in mesolimbic pathway= positive symptoms
Increase in dopamine in mesocortical pathway= negative symptoms
Excess dopamine can be caused by genes or brain damage
Give a strength of dopamine hypothesis
Supporting evidence from drug studies. Phenothiazines block dopamine receptions and reduce symptoms
Give a weakness of dopamine hypothesjs
Opposing evidence from drug studies- anti schizophrenic drugs block dopamine receptors but any effect is not noticed for a few days
Why could schizophrenia be caused by genes
Evidence from twin and family studies
The closer the person is genetically- more likely they are to develop schizophrenia
Concordance rate for MZ is 48% and DZ is 17%
Give supporting evidence for genes causing schizoohrenia
Gottesman- pooled data from European studies and found 1% of population had schizophrenia- percentage increases if you were genetically close to someone who had it
Give a weakness of genes explaining schizophrenia
Family studies are reductionist- don’t acknowledge the role of the environment
What is the social causation hypothesis
People who live with high levels of stress are more vulnerable to schizophrenia
Source of stressors is found in migrant population trying to adapt to new ways of living
LOW SOCIAL CLASS, NO MONEY ETC.
Give supporting evidence for social causation hypothesis
Faris et al- rates of schizophrenia in Chicago- higher rate in working class area. Schizophrenics had lived in this area due to disorder which suggests social class may be a crucial factor
Give a weakness of social causation hypothesis
Hard to establish cause and effect- can’t separate environmental factors. May result in social drift which means that schizophrenics become lower class due to their illness
