Schizophrenia - Applying Explanations To Modify Schizophrenia

Question 1

Briefly explain how social psychological explanations could be applied to modifying schizophrenia (Dysfunctional Families) [5]

Answer 1

• One social method of modifying schizophrenia would be modifying the home environment through educating caregivers.
• A social cause of schizophrenia is through conflicting messages and high expressed emotion in the home environment (as identified by George Brown).
• If a home environment contains both these factors, it can lead to stress and confusion which is then poorly handled by caregivers which inturn can make schizophrenic symptoms even worse.
• By clinical psychologists offering ‘family interventions’ caregivers can be educated and hopefully lower the high expressed emotion and conflicting messages.This will lead to changes such as reduced expressions of anger/guilt, maintaining reasonable expectations for how the schizophrenic should behave, and reduce the overall stress and burden on relatives.
• In a review by Pharoah et al. (2010) of 53 randomised controlled trials it was concluded that family intervention decreased both the frequency of relapse and reduced hospital admissions.

Question 2

Briefly explain how social psychological explanations could be applied to modifying schizophrenia (Sociocultural Factors) [5]

Answer 2

• Once social method of modifying behaviour would be reducing social isolation through befriending groups.
• A social cause of schizophrenia is self imposed-social isolation, as a result of schizophrenics withdrawing due to the stresses of urbanicity. The self-imposed isolation cuts them off from feedback about what behaviours or thoughts are inappropriate, and in the absence of corrective feedback they behave strangely (explaining the strange behaviours exhibited by schizophrenics).
• Befriending groups are done in a controlled setting and are used to combat the social isolation that SZs have as a form of treatment.
• Through reconnecting schizophrenics with corrective feedback, the aim is that the schizophrenics are less likely to exhibit strange behaviours and behave normally
• Dickerson et al. (2005) found that befriending groups worked well in reducing feelings of alienation and helping individuals build social networks that can buffer against the stressors of the illness.

Question 3

Briefly explain how individual differences explanations could be applied to modifying schizophrenia (Cognitive Approach) [5]

Answer 3

• One method for modifying schizophrenia could be Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
• According to the cognitive explanation, schizophrenia happens because the person interprets events and sensations in a faulty way, e.g. faulty appraisal of voices.
• CBT works by focussing on challenging the schizophrenics faulty thinking. So, to modify schizophrenia schizophrenics should attend regular sessions between the schizophrenic and the therapist.
• The sessions will help schizophrenics to consider and organise their disordered thought in a rational way. They can learn to live with the voices they hear in order to manage the symptoms.
• Therapists will challenge beliefs by asking the schizophrenic to discuss evidence they have to dismiss delusional thinking, for example. Kuipers et al found 50% of schizophrenics given CBT had improved over 9 months compared to 31% given standard care.

Question 4

Briefly explain how Biological explanations could be applied to modifying schizophrenia (Dopamine hypothesis) [5]

Answer 4

• One biological method of modifying schizophrenia would be conventional antipsychotic drugs. A biological cause of schizophrenia is an imbalance of neurotransmitters, particularly high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine
• Conventional antipsychotics will therefore modify schizophrenia by lowering the levels of dopamine in the synapse
• Conventional antipsychotics work by blocking the dopamine receptors (D2) on the postsynaptic ending and preventing the message to produce more dopamine being carried to the next neuron. The production of dopamine then depletes so the levels of dopamine in the synapse reduces.
• Dopamine activity along the mesolimbic pathway is reduced and this reduces positive symptoms the schizophrenic might be experiencing, like delusions and hallucinations
• Cole et al found 75% of schizophrenics given a conventional antipsychotic were ‘much improved’ compared to 25% given a placebo.

Question 5

What is the basic structure

Answer 5

• one social/biological/individual differences method of modifying SZ is…
• A social/biological/individual differences cause of schizophrenia
• This method of modifying works by…
• Research supporting this method comes from…who did…and found….