schizophrenia -biological explanations for SZ

Question 1

what does the genetic explanation of SZ involve?

Answer 1

.predisposition
.candidate genes
.polygenetic
.aetiologically heterogenous

Question 2

how can a genetic predisposition explain SZ?

Answer 2

.genes predispose people to have SZ and it runs in families
.greater relatedness = higher chance
.Gottesman -concordance rate of 48% in MZ twins, 17% in DZ twins and 9% in siblings

Question 3

what are candidate genes?

Answer 3

.specific genes linked to SZ eg:COMT, gene 9

Question 4

what is meant by polygenetic?

Answer 4

.many genes are associated with SZ -108
.ripke et al (2014) -many code for dopamine suggesting a link between dopamine and SZ

Question 5

what is meant by aetiologically heterogeneous?

Answer 5

.different combinations of these genes can cause the condition in different people

Question 6

what is a strength of the genetic explanation of SZ?

Answer 6

.genetic vulnerability -adopted children of schizophrenics at a greater risk
Tienari et al (2000) -19,000 Finnish children adopted away from SZ mothers. The adoptive parenting compared to a control group of adoptees with no genetic risk
.found 6.7% of children whose mothers were schizophrenic developed the disorder compared with 2% whose mothers weren’t schizophrenic

Question 7

what is a negative to the genetic explanation of SZ?

Answer 7

.methodological issues with studies reduces validity