Psychological Explanations For Schizophrenia* Flashcards
What is the term used to describe a parent that is believed to cause schizophrenia?
Schizophrenogenic mother
Schizophrenogenic means SZ causing.
What characteristics define a schizophrenogenic mother?
- Cold
- Rejecting
- Controlling
- Creates a tense and secretive atmosphere
How does a schizophrenogenic mother contribute to the development of paranoid delusions?
Leads to distrust that later develops into paranoid delusions
What theory did Bateson et al propose regarding family climate and schizophrenia?
Double-Bind Theory
In the Double-Bind Theory, what do children fear?
Doing the wrong thing
What are the consequences of receiving mixed messages in a family according to the Double-Bind Theory?
- Unable to comment on unfairness
- Unable to seek clarification
- Punished with withdrawal of love
What feelings might a child develop in a double-bind situation?
Feelings that the world is dangerous and confusing
What does Expressed Emotion (EE) refer to?
Level of emotion expressed toward a SZ patient by their caregivers
What elements are included in Expressed Emotion (EE)?
- Verbal criticism
- Hostility
- Anger
- Rejection
- Emotional over-involvement
What is a primary explanation for relapse in schizophrenia sufferers?
Expressed Emotion (EE)
What cognitive processes are disrupted in schizophrenia according to cognitive explanations?
Normal thought processing
Which brain regions are associated with negative symptoms in schizophrenia?
Ventral striatum
Which brain regions are associated with hallucinations in schizophrenia?
Temporal and cingulate gyri
What is Meta representation in the context of cognitive dysfunction?
Cognitive ability to reflect on own thoughts/behaviour
What is disrupted due to Meta representation dysfunction?
Ability to recognize own actions/thoughts from other people’s
What symptom can be explained by Meta representation dysfunction?
Thought insertion
What is Central Control Dysfunction in schizophrenia?
Issues with the ability to suppress automatic responses while performing deliberate actions
What can result from Central Control Dysfunction?
- Speech poverty
- Thought disorder
What percentage of women with schizophrenia have a history of physical/sexual abuse according to Read et al?
69%
What percentage of men with schizophrenia have a history of physical/sexual abuse according to Read et al?
59%
What does the lack of systemic evidence for psychological explanations suggest?
Poor evidence base for traditional family-based theories
What can be a socially sensitive implication of suggesting that childhood trauma causes schizophrenia?
Parent blaming
What did Stirling et al’s study reveal about cognitive processing in people with schizophrenia?
Those with SZ took twice as long to name font colors in the Stroop test
What do proximal explanations focus on in schizophrenia?
What is happening NOW to produce symptoms
