Paper 3 Schizophrenia Flashcards
Describe positive symptoms of SZ and give an example
Symptoms that add something to your life
EG- hallucinations
Describe negative symptoms of SZ and give an example
Symptoms that reduce your normal function
EG avolition-lack of motivation
Outline what alogia is
Speech poverty, it becomes hard to form sentences.
Outline the DSM-5 as a manual for sz diagnosis
It is a manual for classifying schizo that requires patients to have 1 positive symptom
Outline a study that suggests patients are much more likely to be diagnosed using the ICD compared to the DSM
Cheniaux et al- suggests that ICD either diagnoses too many patients or the DSM diagnoses too little.
Outline the ICD as a system for SZ diagosis
The ICD (International Classification of Disease) requires two negative symptoms for diagnosis
What factors affect validity of diagnosis
Gender
Symptom overlap
Comorbidity
Outline How gender bias affect the validity of diagnosis, include a study in your answer
Broverman et al
Found US clinicians equated mentally healthy behaviour with male mental health
Outline and explain how symptom overlap affects the validity of SZ diagnosis
The symptoms of one disorder may overlap with those of schizophrenia
EG under the ICD they may be SZ but on the DSM they may be bipolar
Outline and explain comorbidity affecting the validity of SZ diagnosis, use a study to support your answer
It confuses diagnosis, making treatment hard
Outline the genetic explanation for SZ
The more genetically similar you are to someone with SZ, the more liekly you are to have SZ
Outline one study to support the genetic explanation for SZ
Gottesmann and Shield-
Kids who had two SZ parents had a 46% concordance rate
COMPARED TO 13% with one parent
What concordance rate for SZ between MZ twins was found by GOTTESMANN AND SHIELD
48% compared to 17% with DZ
Outline one study that looks into adoption and biological similarities
TIENARI-
In Finland and found 11/164 adoptees who had biological mothers with sz to also have SZ
COMPARED TO 4/197 IN THE CONTROL GROUP(NON SZ MOTHERS)
What is one problem with GOTTESMAN and SHIELDS study
because the conc is 48% we cannot assume that genes are the only reason for developing SZ
Evaluate one positive of the genetic explanation to SZ
It provides a back bone to diagnosis
Name one piece of confounding research to the genetic explanationf fo SZ
Loehlin and Nichols-
aruge that identical twins are treated more similarly compared to non identical which means SZ may be environmental
What model may offer a more appropriate explanation for SZ
Diathesis
Outline the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
It states that-
-dopamine is fired too often/ easily causing SZ symptoms
What may happen if dopamine levels arent rught
it may lead to hallucinations
Explain how too much dopamine leads to positive SZ symptoms
Why are SZs thought to have abnormally high levels of D2 receptors
SZs are thought to have more D2 receptors on recieving neurones resulting in more dopamine binding leading to more firing
Give a piece of evidence to support the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
Amphetamines-stimulate nerve cells containing dopamine causing flooding-large doses can cause hallucinations and delusions
How do antipsychotics back up the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
They work as ANTAGONISTS by reducing stimulation on the dopamine system, eliminating SZ symptoms
Outline Seeman’s research into the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
found that SZs had increased dopamine in areas of the brain through POST MORTEMS
Evaluate Seeman’s research into the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
It has high spatial validity
Low temporal resolution
How can L-Dopa be used to support the dopamine hypothesis for SZ
It works on Parkinson’s by increasing dopamine, in turn it produces symptoms of SZ
