Schizophrenia- Biological explanation

Question 1

Is there is a genetic component to schizophrenia which means that some individuals are predisposed to it?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

What do family studies show?

Answer 2

The closer the degree iof genetic relatedness, the greater the risk

Question 3

What is the concordance rate of sz for identical twins? What is the concordance rate of the rest of the population?

Answer 3

-48%
-1%

Question 4

Why are adoption studies useful?

Answer 4

They separate the environmental and genetic factors which proves that there is a genetic element

Question 5

What did Tiehari et al study show/ procedure?

Answer 5

-11/164 adoptees whose biological mothers had been diagnosed with SZ had also been diagnosed
-4/197 who were in the control group (whose biological mothers had not been diagnosed) were diagnosed
-Shows that there is a genetic element

Question 6

What are candidate genes?

Answer 6

Genes that play a specific role in a disorder making it more likely for you to develop it

Question 7

What is meant by schizophrenia being polygenic?

Answer 7

-Multiple genes are responsible for it being caused
-As many as 108 genes
-

Question 8

What is the disadvantge of schizophrenia being polygenic?

Answer 8

There is little predictive power

Question 9

What are genes associated with SZ usually linked to?

Answer 9

The functioning of neurotransmitters such as dopamine

Question 10

How is dopamine involved with schizophrenia?

Answer 10

-It is active in the limbic system which governs emotions
-Dopamine helps to regulate attention
-If processes involving dopamine are disturbed it can create problems with attention, perception and thought which are all characteristics of SZ

Question 11

What is an excess of dopamine associated with?

Answer 11

Positive symptoms

Question 12

Why do SZ patients have abnormal levels of dopamine?

Answer 12

-Have abnormally high levels of D2 receptors on receiving neurons
-Results in more dopamine binding, so more neurons are firing