Schizophrenia Flashcards
Where does this increase in sub cortical dopamine occur?
D2 receptor sites
Where does the decrease in cortical dopamine occur?
D1 receptor sites
What does an increase in sub cortical dopamine cause?
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations
What does the decrease in cortical dopamine cause?
It causes negative and cognitive symptoms
What else have been proposed in the dopamine hypothesis
It has also been proposed that structural abnormalities to the prefrontal cortex can lead to psychosis from the excessive release of neurotransmitter dopamine into regions deep inside the brain
what do post Mortums show about schizophrenic brains
They show that the hand unusually high levels of dopamine in particular in the limbic system
Iverson 1979
Post Mortums
Why is the dopamine hypothesis inside red reductionist?
As it doesn’t explain why these abnormalities in dopamine exist
What did wise and stein find
They found that schizophrenics who died in accidents showed P
What does the latest dopamine hypothesis claim?
It claims that in the schizophrenic brain there is an increase in sub cortical dopamine and a decrease in cortical dopamine
What is schizophrenia characterised by?
It’s characterised by a variety of symptoms which are classified into positive and negative symptoms
According to the DSM when will a diagnosis of schizophrenia be made?
If two or more of the symptoms have been present for a month
Sufferers may be diagnosed with sub categories of schizophrenia e.g paranoia schizophrenia dependent on what …
Dependent on what symptoms the patient is experiencing
What is catatonic schizophrenia
Characterised by abnormal movement and waxy flexibility
What is the primary biological therapy for schizophrenia ?
Drug treatment
