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A level Psychology AQA > Schizophrenia > Flashcards

Schizophrenia Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe two positive symptoms of schizophrenia

A

-Delusions, which are bizarre beliefs that seem real to the schizophrenic .
-Hallucinations which are unreal perceptions of the environment that are auditory , visual , olfactory or tactile.
-Disorganised speech which can be ‘word salad’ where speech is incomprehensible or derailment in which an individual slips between topics.
Disorganised/ Catatonic behaviour which is an inability or lack of motivation to initiate or complete tasks.

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2
Q

Describe two negative symptoms of Schizophrenia.

A
  • Speech Poverty is the lessening of speech fluency and productivity .
    -Avolition Is the reduction of interests and desires, as well as an inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behaviour .
  • Affective Flattening is a reduction in the range and intensity of emotional expression - including facial expressions.
    -Anhedonia is an inability to experience pleasure.
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3
Q

In relation to biological explanations for schizophrenia, explain what is meant by neutral correlate

A

These are changes in neuronal events and mechanisms that result in the characteristic symptoms of a disorder, which in case of schizophrenia may be damaged connections between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

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4
Q

Define Schizophrenia

A

A severe mental illness where contact with reality and insight are impaired .
There is a disruption of cognition and emotion. This in turn affects behaviour.

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5
Q

Define Classification

A

The action or process of classifying something .
A category into which something is put .
( the process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms cluster together in sufferers)

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6
Q

Define Diagnosis

A

The identification of the nature of illness or other problems by examinations of the symptoms.

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7
Q

What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms?

A

Postive symptoms are those which ADD to normal behaviour .
Negative symptoms are those which REMOVE aspects of normal behaviour.

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8
Q

What are facts about Positive symptoms?

A
  • Respond better to drug treatment than negative symptoms.
  • Are more common in females
  • Are more obvious to friends and family.
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9
Q

What are facts about Negative symptoms?

A
  • Do not respond well to drug treatment .
  • Are more common males
    -Are not as obvious to friends and family , as positive symptoms.
  • Usually occur before positive symptoms.
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10
Q

Define Hallucinations

A

Sensory experiences of stimuli that have no basis in reality or are distorted perceptions of things that are there.
There is two types :
Visual hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations.

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11
Q

Define Delusion

A

Involves irrational beliefs that have no basis in reality .
There are two types:
- delusions of grandeur
- delusions of persecution

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12
Q

Define Avolition

A

Involves a loss of motivation to carry out tasks and results in lowered activity levels.

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13
Q

What are the signs of avolition

A

-Poor hygiene and grooming
-Lack of persistence in work or eduction
-Lack of energy

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14
Q

Define speech poverty

A

involves reduced frequency and quality of speech.
the sufferer may be delayed in responding verbally during conversations.

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15
Q

What are the classification of schizophrenia

A

ICD 10 - international classification of disease edition 10
DSM 5 - Diagnostic and statistical manual edition 5

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16
Q

Explain ICD 10

A

no positive symptoms are required for a diagnosis of schizophrenia
- two or more negative symptoms are sufficient:
speech poverty
avoilition.
Recognises subtypes of schizophrenia

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17
Q

what are subtypes of schizophrenia

A
  • Paranoid
  • Hebephrenic ( foolish or bizarre behaviour, hallucination )
    -Catatonic (affects way you move in extreme ways)
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18
Q

Explain DSM 5

A

one positive symptom must be present for diagnosis :
- Hallucination
- Delusions
-Speech disorganisation

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19
Q

What are the classification of schizophrenia?

A

DSM-5
ICD-10

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20
Q

What is the difference between ICD and DSM classifications?

A

DSM-5 : one positive symptom must be present.
ICD - 10 : two negative symptoms must be present

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21
Q

What are the main subtypes of schizophrenia, and how are they classified?

A

Paranoid
Hebephrenic
Catatonic

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22
Q

What is co-morbidity

A

when two or more conditions are present in the same person at the same time.

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23
Q

Discuss gender bias in diagnosing schizophrenia ?

A

Longenecker et al (2010)
Doctors may be misapplying the classification system based on gender. This means that diagnoses that people are getting are not consistent ( reliability), not accurate (Validity).

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24
Q

Discuss cultural bias in diagnosing schizophrenia ?

A

in Britain afro Caribbeans are more likely than white people to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. this is because hearing voices is more acceptable in African cultures because of cultural beliefs in communication with ancestors and that people are more. ready to acknowledge such experiences. If reported to a clinician with a different cultural background this can be seen as bizarre and irrational.

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25
Q

what are concordance rates ?

A

Are the likelihood that if one family member has schizophrenia that the other one will.

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26
Q

What is a candidate genes?

A

Particular genes that are believed to be involved in the development of a disorder.

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27
Q

What does polygenic mean?

A

More than one gene is responsible for schizophrenia .

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28
Q

What does aetiologically heterogeneous mean ?

A

Different combinations of genes can lead to schizophrenia.

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29
Q

what was the original dopamine hypothesis?

A

Stated that patients with schizophrenia have an over sensitivity to the actions of dopamine.

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30
Q

outline the dopamine hypothesis as an explanation for schizophrenia.

A

when the neurotransmitter dopamine is in excess in regions of the brain, positive symptoms of schizophrenia can be observed.

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31
Q

what is the updated version of the dopamine hypothesis .

A

-Patients with schizophrenia may experience hypodopaminergia (too little ) dopamine in the cortex .

32
Q

what is linked with ventral striatum.

A

It is linked to motivation and anticipation of reward.

33
Q

what do typical antipsychotics do.

A

Their basic mechanism is to reduce the amount of dopamine and so reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. They work by binding to dopamine receptors and blocking their actions. By reducing the stimulation of dopamine systems in the brain antipsychotic drugs can eliminate the hallucinations and delusions experienced by patients with schizophrenia.

34
Q

What do antipsychotics do ?

A

These newer types of drug, founded in the 1990’s, are said to combat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia as well as the negative symptoms too. This because as well as acting on the dopamine system they are also thought to block serotonin and glutamate receptors.

35
Q

Define the double bind theory.

A

refers to receiving contradictory info from a family members such as being told they love you whilst sneering at them.

36
Q

define expressed emotions.

A

refers to family style in which there may be overinvolvement in a Childs life and poor style of communication.

37
Q

why are atypical antipsychotics referred to typical antipsychotics.

A

Atypical carry a lower risk of extrapyramidal side effects .They have an impact reducing negative symptoms swell as positive ones. These are also suitable for treatment resistant patients.

38
Q

why are drug therapies preferred to other therapies?

A

-They are affective
-They are cheap
- They require less effort on the patients, increasing the chance of them persisting in the treatment.

39
Q

what is meant by token economy?

A

a form of therapy in which desirable behaviours are encouraged by the use of reinforcements. Rewards are given in exchange for tokens earned when desirable behaviours are preformed.

40
Q

According to the psychological explanations, what family communication style is associated with the development of schizophrenia?

A

Abnormal family communication styles

41
Q

How does the original dopamine hypothesis explain the development of schizophrenia?

A

It suggests that hyperdopaminergia, or abnormally high dopamine levels, in the subcortex is responsible for schizophrenia.

42
Q

What is the revised dopamine hypothesis regarding dopamine levels in the cortex?

A

It suggests that hypodopaminergia, or abnormally low dopamine levels, in the cortex is more likely responsible for schizophrenia.

43
Q

What role does Broca’s area play in the context of schizophrenia symptoms?

A

Hyperdopaminergia assumes that an excess of dopamine is active in these central areas, effect being an altered perception of the world positive symptoms such as auditory hallucinations (link to Broca’s area which regulates speech production)

44
Q

According to Goldman Rakic et al (2004), what negative symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with hypodopaminergia in the prefrontal cortex?

A

Negative symptoms such as speech poverty and avolition.

45
Q

What implications does the dopamine hypothesis have for the treatment of schizophrenia?

A

It has important implications for the development of drug treatments, such as antipsychotics or dopamine antagonists.

46
Q

What are neural correlates in the context of psychological symptoms?

A

They are specific patterns of cortical activity or neural structures that coincide with specific psychological symptoms

47
Q

What did Juckel et al (2006) suggest about the ventral striatum and its relation to avolition?

A

They suggested that abnormally low levels of activation in the ventral striatum may be associated with the negative symptom of avolition.

48
Q

How does low activation in the ventral striatum affect an individual’s motivation according to Juckel et al (2006)?

A

It may impair their ability to assess the reward of motivation needed for normal day-to-day tasks.

49
Q

What neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the dopamine hypothesis in the context of schizophrenia?

A

dopamine

50
Q

Which antipsychotic medication is noted for its effectiveness in acting on glutamate and serotonin?

A

Clozapine

51
Q

What is the main criticism of the dopamine hypothesis regarding its explanation of schizophrenia?

A

it emphasizes the role of dopamine too far

52
Q

What is the ‘third variable problem’ in correlational research related to schizophrenia?

A

a third unstudied factor could be affecting both outcomes

53
Q

What correlation did Gottesman (1991) demonstrate regarding schizophrenia?

A

A positive correlation between genetic similarity and the likelihood of schizophrenia

54
Q

Who proposed the concept of the ‘schizophrenogenic mother’?

A

Fromm-Reichmann

55
Q

What does double-bind theory suggest about the messages a child receives from parents?

A

multiple conflicting signals

56
Q

What psychological factor is suggested to contribute to the development of paranoia and anxiety in schizophrenia?

A

a tense family climate

57
Q

What is a potential outcome of high levels of expressed emotion in families of individuals with schizophrenia?

A

stress

58
Q

What type of research is criticized for not reliably demonstrating a cause and effect relationship in schizophrenia

A

correlational research

59
Q

What symptom of schizophrenia is associated with feelings of paranoia as suggested by the concept of the ‘schizophrenogenic mother’?

A

paranoid delusions

60
Q

What is the role of glutamate and serotonin in the context of schizophrenia treatment?

A

play a key role in alleviating symptoms

61
Q

What does the term ‘expressed emotion’ refer to in the context of psychological explanations for schizophrenia?

A

the emotional climate within a family

62
Q

What is the significance of the findings by Meltzer (2012) regarding Clozapine?

A

it is more effective than other atypical antipsychotics in reducing SZ symptoms

63
Q

What is a key limitation of using neural correlates to explain schizophrenia?

A
  • The fact that there is a correlation between brain areas and symptoms does not mean that the neural mechanism has caused the symptoms. It may be that the difference in activity levels could be a consequence of the disorder.
  • Neural explanations have been criticised as reductionist, explaining schizophrenia at quite a simplistic level of explanation. The role of upbringing, learning and emotions is not considered, weakening this as a full explanation.
64
Q

What are the two classification systems for mental disorders mentioned in the content?

A

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10).

65
Q

What is the role of dopamine receptors in the experience of auditory hallucinations?

A

Auditory hallucinations are thought to be caused by an excess of dopamine receptors in Broca’s area.

66
Q

What issue regarding gender bias in schizophrenia diagnosis is raised by Longenecker et al?

A

The sudden increase in male diagnoses after the 1980s.

67
Q

What explanation does Cotton et al provide for gender bias in schizophrenia diagnoses?

A

There are no differences in genetic susceptibility between men and women

68
Q

What dispositional traits of women might mask the symptoms of schizophrenia, according to Cotton et al?

A

High interpersonal functioning and the ability to work while suffering.

69
Q

What cultural bias issue is highlighted by Escobar et al regarding schizophrenia diagnoses?

A

African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed due to cultural differences in expressing symptoms.

70
Q

How might the perception of hearing voices differ in African American cultures compared to Western cultures?

A

It may be seen as a sign of spirituality rather than a symptom of schizophrenia.

71
Q

What evidence suggests a genetic basis for schizophrenia, as mentioned in the content?

A

family / twin studies

72
Q

What is the concordance rates did Gottesman 1991 find for family members with schizophrenia?

A

MZ twins - 48%
DZ twins - 17%
Parents - 6%
Siblings 9%
Aunts / Uncles - 2%

73
Q

What are some strengths of Family study ?

A
  • Methods used to measure a genetic explanation for schizophrenia are clinical, objective and not affected by sources of bias such as individual differences which means that they have good reliability and validity.
  • There is now a huge and compelling body of research evidence which points to genetics playing a key role in the development of schizophrenia
74
Q

What are some Weaknesses of Family study ?

A
  • Genetics is an explanation of schizophrenia but it is not the explanation: if schizophrenia was purely biological then concordance rates for MZ twins would be 100% which no research has ever found.
  • The symptoms of schizophrenia are varied and will not present in exactly the same way per person - the absence of a biomarker means that from a genetic perspective it is very difficult to know definitively if a patient actually has schizophrenia or if they have another disorder altogether
75
Q
A

A level Psychology AQA (12 decks)

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