Schizophrenia Part 1 - Biological Explanations

Question 1

Genetics

Answer 1

Genetic vulnerability & role neural correlations are interrelated

Question 2

Family studies

Answer 2

Closer genetic make up = higher concordance rates

Question 3

Twin studies

Answer 3

Compares MZ and DZ concordance rates

Question 4

Adoption studies

Answer 4

Compares concordance rates between adopted children with their bio parents and adopted parents.

Question 5

Candidate genes

Question 6

Polygenic

Answer 6

Multiple genes involved

Question 7

Aetiologically heterogenous

Answer 7

Different combinations lead to the condition in different people

Question 8

What is the best known neural correlate?

Answer 8

Dopamine

Question 9

Hyperdopaminergia

Answer 9

• Original dopamine hypothesis

Higher levels in sub-cortex linked with symptoms

Question 10

Hypodopaminergia

Answer 10

• Updated dopamine hypothesis

Low DA in prefrontal cortex could explain N symptoms

Question 11

N differences in the brain of Sz patients - ENLARGED VENTRICLES

Answer 11

BROWN ET AL - Sz patients’ brains were 6% lighter

Question 12

N differences in the brains of Sz patients - GREY MATTER

Answer 12

Result of EV
Reduced functional neurones in T & F lobes and the thalamus

Question 13

N differences in the brains of Sz patients - SMALLER BRAIN SIZE

Answer 13

HAJIMA - 2.6% reduction size

Question 14

Lifetime risk

Answer 14

1%

Question 15

HILKER ET AL - twin study

Answer 15

CR: 33% identical
7% non-identical

Question 16

Dopamine synthesis

Question 17

What increases dopamine?

Answer 17

• L-Dopa
• Amphetamine

Question 18

What decreases dopamine?

Answer 18

• Antipsychotics/Phenothiazines

Question 19

HOWES ET AL - D hypothesis

Answer 19

Pre-frontal cortex could be associated with some N symptoms.

Question 20

Which pathway does TOO LITTLE dopamine take?

Answer 20

Mesocortical

Question 21

Which pathway does TOO MUCH dopamine take?

Answer 21

Mesolimbic