Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is schizophrenia, and what are its symptoms? (AO1)
Definition: Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental disorder involving disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and flat affect.
Positive Symptoms:
1. Hallucinations: Sensory experiences without external stimuli (e.g., hearing voices).
2. Delusions: False beliefs, often persecutory (e.g., believing others are plotting against them).
3. Disorganized Thinking: Incoherent speech and difficulty connecting ideas.
Negative Symptoms:
1. Affective Flattening: Reduced emotional expression (e.g., monotone speech).
2. Avolition: Lack of motivation for purposeful activities.
3. Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure.
How can schizophrenia symptoms be applied to real-life scenarios? (AO2)
• Hallucinations: An individual may hear voices commanding them to perform actions, distorting their sense of reality.
• Delusions: A person might believe they are being followed, isolating themselves out of fear.
• Negative Symptoms: Avolition may lead to neglect of hygiene or social withdrawal, worsening isolation.
What are the strengths and limitations of understanding schizophrenia symptoms? (AO3)
Strengths:
• Differentiating positive and negative symptoms helps tailor treatments and improve diagnosis.
• Early intervention programs targeting disorganized thinking improve outcomes holistically.
Limitations:
• Diagnosing schizophrenia is challenging due to symptom overlap with other disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder).
• Social stigma worsens isolation and impacts recovery.
What are the biological explanations of schizophrenia? (AO1)
• Genetic Explanation: Risk increases significantly with a first-degree relative diagnosed with schizophrenia, and more so if both parents have it.
• Dopamine Hypothesis: Schizophrenia is linked to overactivity of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway, causing positive symptoms.
• Brain Structure Abnormalities: Enlarged brain ventricles (loss of brain tissue) are associated with cognitive deficits and negative symptoms.
How can biological explanations of schizophrenia be applied to real-life scenarios? (AO2)
• Genetic Link: Families with a history of schizophrenia can use preventative measures and early interventions.
• Dopamine Hypothesis: Development of antipsychotic medications reduces dopamine activity, managing symptoms.
• Brain Imaging: MRI scans showing structural abnormalities aid diagnosis and guide treatment.
What are the strengths and limitations of biological explanations for schizophrenia? (AO3)
Strengths:
• Twin and adoption studies strongly support genetic influences on schizophrenia.
• The dopamine hypothesis led to effective treatments, such as antipsychotic medications.
Limitations:
• The dopamine hypothesis oversimplifies the disorder and fails to account for negative symptoms.
• Genetic explanations ignore environmental factors like trauma or stress.
