Schizophrenia - biological explanations

Question 1

what is the genetic basis of SZ

Answer 1

• family studies
• candidate genes

Question 2

what are family studies

Answer 2

Gottesman
- someone with an aunt who has SZ has 2% chance
- with a sibling = 9%
- identical twin = 48%

Question 3

what are candidate genes

Answer 3

Ripke et al (2014)
- data from genome studies
- genetic makeup of 37,000 with SZ compared to a control of 113,000
- 108 separate genetic variations were associated with a risk of SZ
- aetiologically heterogenous

Question 4

what is the strength of genetic basis

Answer 4

Tinerai et al (2004)
- adoption study
- biological children of parents who have SZ were at high risk even if they had been adopted

Question 5

what is the limitation of genetic basis

Answer 5

• environmental factors also influence
• psychological risk factors - childhood trauma leaves people more vulnerable to mental health problems

Question 6

what are neural correlates

Answer 6

• brain structure or function
• dopamine

Question 7

what is the dopamine hypothesis

Answer 7

• low DA in prefrontal cortex explain cognitive problems - negative symptoms
• cortical hypodopaminergic leads to subcortical hypodopaminergic - high levels of dopamine

Question 8

what is the strength on neural correlates

Answer 8

• amphetamines increase DA and worsen symptoms in people with SZ and induce symptoms in people without
• antipsychotic drugs reduce DA activity and reduce intensity of symptoms
• DA involved in symptoms of SZ

Question 9

what is the limitation of neural correlates

Answer 9

• post mortem and live scanning studies have found raised levels of NT glutamate in brain regions of people with SZ