Schizophrenia

Question 1

Diagnosis

Answer 1

process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms cluster together

Question 2

Reliability

Answer 2

consistent diagnosis based on symptoms over time and culture

Question 3

Validity

Answer 3

extent to which SZ is a unique syndrome with characteristics, signs and symptoms. Diagnosis matches symptoms

Question 4

Diagnostic manuals

Answer 4

ICD 10 – 2 negative symptoms

DSM 5 – 1 positive symptom

Question 5

Symptoms of SZ

Answer 5

Positive – delusions, hallucinations

Negative – speech poverty, avolition

Question 6

Diagnosis and classification - evaluation

Answer 6

comorbidity
gender bias
symptom overlap
cultural bias

Question 7

Genetics

Answer 7

uses twins and family studies to investigate. 108 candidate genes, many assoicatrd with excess dopamine. Gottesman – MZ have 48% risk; DZ have 27%

Question 8

Dopamine hypothesis

Answer 8

dopamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter which, in abnormal amounts, leads to SZ symptoms.

Question 9

Hypodopaminergia and Hyperdopaminergia

Answer 9

Hypodopaminergia – in the cortical region, too little dopamine can lead to avolition
Hyperdopaminergia – in the subcortical region, too much dopamine can lead to speech poverty and delusions

Question 10

Neural correlates

Answer 10

patterns of structure or activity that occur in conjunction with SZ
Ventral striatum – found to be associated with avolition
Superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus – associated with hallucinations. (lower activity levels)

Question 11

Biological explanations - evaluation

Answer 11

Nature/nurture debate
problem of cause/effect
biological determinism

Question 12

Schizophrenogenic mother

Answer 12

a mother who is cold and rejecting of affection. In this – creates an atmosphere of paranoia.

Question 13

Expressed emotion

Answer 13

this is the amount of conflict in the house. If the level is high, it can lead to stress which causes relapse. EE is a family communication style that involves criticism, hostility and emotional over-involvement.

Question 14

Bateson’s double bind theory

Answer 14

when a person receives mixed messages about what is right and what is wrong. For example parents who say they care whilst appearing critical.
Lack of development of internally coherent construction of reality. Leads to irrational thinking

Question 15

Central control

Answer 15

the ability to suppress automatic responses when performing actions. Malfunction can explain disorganised speech and thoughts.

Question 16

Metarepresentation

Answer 16

– ability to reflect on thoughts and behaviour. Leads to hallucinations

Question 17

Psychological explanations - evaluation

Answer 17

problem with inference, cause/effect

practical application and socially sensitive.

Question 18

Cognitive explanations - evaluation

Answer 18

practical application

socially sensitive

Question 19

Typical anti - psychotics

Answer 19

chlorpromazine. Binds dopamine receptors – reduce the action. Reduce positive symptoms

Question 20

Atypical anti - psychotics

Answer 20

clozapine (binds dopamine, serotonin and glutamate receptors). Reduces negative symptoms as well as improves mood

Question 21

Biological treatment - evaluation

Answer 21

chemical straitjackets
can lead to tardive dyskinesia 
Clozapine works 30 -50% of the time when all other treatments fail. 
Only work if they believe it does. 
Symptoms return if stop taking.

Question 22

Family therapy

Answer 22

to reduce chance of relapse. Educates family on SZ, improves communication to decrease expressed emotion. Carried out with all members of immediate family. Aims to teach more effective stress management techniques. helps family members achieve a balance between caring for the individual and maintaining their own lives, it reduces anger and guilt

Question 23

Family therapy - evaluation

Answer 23

can place blame on family – socially sensitive. Pharaoh - meta - analysis found family interventions help the patient to understand their illness and to live with it, developing emotional strength and coping skills, thus reducing rates of relapse

Question 24

Token economy

Answer 24

behaviour management technique. Used in long term hospitalisations. Used to encourage normal and functional behaviour such as washing or dressing. Token given immediately after behaviour. Tokens can build up to reward for patient. Based on operant conditioning

Question 25

Token economy - evaluation

Answer 25

is it ethical to deprive people of favourite food in order to force behaviour. Paul and Lentz – led to better overall patient functioning and less behavioural disturbance

Question 26

CBTp

Answer 26

aims to challenge delusions through experiments. Meet one on one for at least 16 sessions. Taught to recognise dysfunctional thoughts and alter irrational thinking.

Question 27

CBTp - evaluation

Answer 27

recommended treatment (but only given sometimes). May not be appropriate for people with avolition.

Question 28

Diathesis - stress model

Answer 28

Understanding that biological and environmental factors interact to cause SZ.

Question 29

Meehl

Answer 29

without susceptibility, SZ will never develop. Need schizogene.
Concordance rates are never 100% which suggests that environmental factors also play a role

Question 30

Interactionism - evaluation

Answer 30

interactionist treatment found to be most effective – drugs and CBT, drugs and counselling and drugs (combo groups had fewer symptoms
Tienari – adoption thing, costs of combined treatment