Neuroanatomical Factors Of Schizophrenia

Question 1

What does Torrey et Al find?

Answer 1

He found that on average, schizophrenics have ventricles 15% larger than unaffected people.
This was evident in schizophrenics that suffered negative symptoms, suggesting that negative schizophrenia is a different disorder to positive schizophrenia

This implies that due to brain structure abnormality, it cannot be treated which is validated by the fact that many schizophrenics with negative symptoms do not respond to drugs such as Phenothiazines

• cause and effect cannot be established: as MRI techniques are carried out in individuals already diagnosed with schizophrenia, so it is not clear whether structural abnormalities are pre-disposed to schizophrenia or whether the addition of clinical attempts (long-term medication), causes structural changes

Question 2

What does the neuroanatomical hypothesis suggest?

Answer 2

It suggests that abnormalities in the structure of the brain may result in the schizophrenia.

For example, left ventricles have been shown in numerous studies to be larger in schizophrenics.