Schizophrenia

Question 1

What are positive symptoms?

Answer 1

Behaviour that is occurring in addition to ‘normal’ behaviours

Question 2

What are negative symptoms?

Answer 2

Behaviours that inhibit people form demonstrating ‘normal’ behaviours.

Question 3

Who diagnoses schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• Internal Classification fo Diseases (ICD)

- Diagnostic and statistical Manual (DSM)

Question 4

What is the criteria for a mental illness?

Answer 4

• Global functioning - Individuals ability to interact with the world around them
• If the mental illness effects your ability to function

Question 5

What does ’aetiologies of schizophrenia’ mean?

Answer 5

Causes of schizophrenia

Question 6

What are the three causes of schizophrenia according to the biological approach?

Answer 6

• The dopamine hypothesis
• Genetic factors
• Brain abnormalities

Question 7

What is the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 7

• States that dopamine/ dopamine receptors cause schizophrenia
• Blocking dopamine treats schizophrenia conclusions could be said that schizophrenia is due to too much dopamine
  BUT…
• This could confuse cause and effect

Question 8

Explain how Genetic factors influence schizophrenia

Answer 8

There is specific DNA for schizophrenia therefore if a family member posses this DNA then it is likely to be passed on to their relatives.
Twin studies: concordant rate = agreement rate, separated twins or kids put up for adoption will still possess schizophrenic tendencies regardless of whether they grew up with the person int their family that had the schizophrenic DNA

Question 9

How are brain abnormalities an aetiology of schizophrenia

Answer 9

• Enlarged Ventricles: Ventricles are larger in those with schizophrenia, Nancy Andreasen (1988) studied MRI scans Schizophrenics had 20%-50% anger ventricles than control group.
• Reduction in grey matter: grey matter = information processing, memory & evaluating rewards & consequences
• Reversed cerebral asymmetry: Usually left hemisphere = bigger than right hemisphere but in people with schizophrenia it is reversed, left hemisphere contains speech production therefore reduction or damage of the left hemisphere could cause damage to speech production (Alogia)