Schizophrenia Flashcards
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include ?
- Hallucinations - unusual experiences that have no basis in reality,(auditory + visual)
- Delusions - irrational/false beliefs that have no basis in reality
(Delusions of persecution and delusions of control)
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Avolition- severe lack of motivation to carry out everyday tasks
- Speech poverty- a reduction in the amount and quality of speech
define Diagnosis ?
- identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms
EG: someone reporting hearing voices
define Classification?
- The action or process of classifying something: the classification or diseases according to symptoms
EG: hallucinations
Reliability and validity in diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia, including reference to co-morbidity, culture and gender bias and symptom overlap. AO1
- Reliability refers to consistency, whether we can gain consistent results when classifying and diagnosing Sz.
- extent which diff classification systems agree upon how Sz should be classified and the extent to which 2+ health pros would agree on same diagnosis, regardless of time period or culture, measured by inter-rater reliability.
- Validity refers to accuracy, extent which we are measuring what we intend to measure
EG: are the classification systems accurately outlining the signs and symptoms of Sz + are health pros’ accurately diagnosing Sz?
AO3 for reliability and validity
Expressed Emotion AO1
- High levels of expressed emotion can cause stress in patient, this is a primary explanation for relapse in patients with Sz .
Expressed emotion is characterised by: - Verbal criticism and occasional violence towards the patient
- Hostility towards the patient, including anger and rejection
- Emotional over-involvement in their life
Neural correlates AO1
- abnormalities within specif brain areas maybe associated with development of Sz.
- enlarged ventricles , meta-A, raz&raz
- over half ppl tested w Sz had increase ventricle size compared to control group
- (EnlV) associated w damage to central brain areas+pre-frontal cortex associated w negative symptoms
AO3 for genetic theory
(Study)
RTS from Tierney
- studied 155 adopted kids w bio mothers w Sz
- Found: concordance rate of 10% compared to mum w no Sz 1%
- significant support for role of genetics as expl of Sz as role of SLT not factor as kids adopted
genetic theory into schizophrenia AO1
sz is hereditary + passed on from one gen to the next through genes.
* Therefore, a person born 2 a genetic predispo (likelihood) to sz. several maladaptive ‘candidate’ genes such as PCM1, are involved (polygenic) which incl a person vulnerability to developing sz.
* Studies show 108 separate genetic variations are associated in the risk of developing sz. Gottesman studied 40 twins found concord rate for mz twins 48% only 17% dz twins. closer genetic link to somebody with sz.the more chance of developing sz
Dopamine Hypothesis (another neural correlate) – AO1
Hyperdopaminergia in subcortex:
- High levels/activity of dopamine in
central areas of brain EG; Broca’s area maybe associated with aud hallucinations.
Hypodopaminergia in cortex:
- Low levels of dopamine in prefrontal
cortex (thinking and decision making) been associated with negative symptoms of Szsuch as avolition
Overall - Biological explanation of schizophrenia - AO3
Scientific methods
- theory based on emp+obj techniques such as gene mappin+brain scans, used to identify parts of brain linked to Sz, EnlV
- Thus increases overall int val, raise status
Criticised for biological determinism
- indiv controlled by internal factors EG: high lvls of dopamine in the subcortex inevitably causes auditory hallucinations
- therefore negl role of FW and choice, leaving indiv, feel no control over Sz beh
Practical applications
- principles of theory, Sz caused imbalance of dopamine -> treatment drug therapy
- typical,atypical antipsychotics, balance dopamine lvls in brain red symptoms of Sz like hallucinations and delusions
- Thus bio expl import part of appl psych
Family dysfunction AO1
- idea that individual develops Sz bc been raised in dysfunctional family environ
- family is dysfunctional in way they
communicate w each other as if have high levels of interpersonal conflict.
Family dysfunction - AO3
RTS double bind comm (DBC) by Berger
- found schizophrenics remember more instances of DBC from mum, during childhood, than non-Sz.
- provides clear support for confused comm in schizophrenics’ childhood (DBC) + family dysfunction as expl of Sz.
However
- DBC theory criticised as info on childhood exper based on retrospective data (patient thinking back to childhood).
- could mean there are inaccuracies in recall as long period of time passed.
- reduces the int val of research into the DBC as explanation of schizophrenia.
Practical applications
- principles of expl, Sz caused by faulty fam commun -> treatment family therapy
- effective treating Sz by therapist meet w patient+fam try alter rship patterns
- helps red stress, prevent relapse of Sz
- therefore FD , imp part appl psych
Schizophrenogenic mother AO1
- idea: Sz caused by patients early experience of schizophrenogenic mother
- schizophrenogenic mother is cold, controlling, rejecting, emotionally
unresponsive + builds family climate characterised by tension and secrecy. - leads->distrust develops to paranoid delusions (+ symptom) in Sz.
- father in such families is often passive.
