Schizophrenia

Question 1

Freeman, 2008

Answer 1

symptom assessment using VR
specifically designed library or underground train scene
with neutral avatars
non-clinical population of around 200 students
level of paranoid thinking, emotional distress and other social and cognitive trait
16 items Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale

high on questionnaire: high level of ‘persecutory ideation’

Question 2

Gottesman & Shields, 1972

Answer 2

twin study
sample drew from 467 twins registered
identifying 57 pairs
24 MZ, 33 DZ
interview and cognitive tests
concordance rate: approximately 50% MZ, 9% DZ
Genetic

Question 3

Lindström et al. 1999

Answer 3

dopamine hypothesis
excessive amounts of dopamine or dopamine receptors
positive symptoms
Parkinson's L-dopa
PET
Biochemical

Question 4

Nestler, 1997

Answer 4

decreased dopamine activity in prefrontal cortex correlate with negative symptoms
Biochemical

Question 5

Frith, 1992

Answer 5

flawed metarepresentation
filter between conscious and unconscious
lack of self-awareness
difficult in attributing source of information

Question 6

McGuigan, 1966

Answer 6

monitor vocal muscle

increase muscle contraction before reporting hallucination

Question 7

Bentall

Answer 7

given a list of words
a week later, decide the source of these words
worst performance in schizophrenia patient with auditory hallucination

Question 8

Drug treatment

Answer 8

Based on the Dopamine Hypothesis:
The brains of those with schizophrenia produce more dopamine than those without.

Chlorpromazine and other antipsychotics block dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain. Reduces agitation and hostility in the patient.
One week later: Less hostile and agitated
Two or three weeks: Diminished positive symptoms
Side effects: Obesity, head-aches, and diabetes.

Question 9

ECT

Answer 9

Induce Seizure (Cerletti & Bini):
Electrodes are places on the scalp and a finely controlled electric current through those
electrodes for a very short time. This will cause a brief seizure in the brain.
By applying electricity unilaterally to the brain, causing uncontrolled electrical disturbance.
Typically twice a week, 6 to 12 weeks
Effective during acute episodes of psychosis where fast, short-term improvements
of severe symptoms is needed.
Most effective for catatonic symptoms.
Side effects: Pain, uncontrollable shaking, memory loss, death

Question 10

Token Economy

Answer 10

Paul and Lentz(1997)
“Symptoms of Schizophrenia occur as a learned response.”
Desirable behaviours reinforced through using reward
Patients were given token when they behaved properly and they could be exchanged for luxury items.
Appropriate behaviours included participating in group therapy, self-care (e.g. bed making), socialisation and discouraging anger outbursts.
Most patients in token economy(97%)group were subsequently able to live independently in the community for between 1.5 and 5 years.

Question 11

CBT

Answer 11

Sensky et al. (2000)
“To test the potential usefulness of CBT for persistent symptoms of schizophrenia that were resistant to medication.”
Talk Therapies & Keeping diaries
Help people change by enabling them to recognize the thoughts that underlie their behaviors.
Discuss the emergence + Perform critical analysis to challenge
At the nine-month follow-up, those who had received CBT continued to improve whereas the befriending group did not.