structure and processes SZ

Question 1

what’s the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 1

This hypothesis states that SZ is caused by imbalances of dopamine. Either:
They have too many D2 receptors
Their D2 receptors are too sensitive/fire too often
They produce too much dopamine
This explains positive symptoms only

Question 2

what’s hypodopaminergia

Answer 2

too little dopamine

Question 3

whats hyperdopaminergia

Answer 3

too much dopamine

Question 4

how does Hyperdopaminergia is assosiated with positive symptoms

Answer 4

broca’s area produces speech, too much dopamine here leads to the sppech and hearing relates symptoms

Question 5

Hypodopaminergia in cortex is associated with negative symptoms

Answer 5

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the central executive (cognitive processes/decisions). Too little here leads to avolition/catatonia.

Question 6

too much dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway causes what?

Answer 6

positive symptoms

Question 7

what are the positive symptoms

Answer 7

• hallucinations
• delusions
• disorganised speech
• catatonic behaviour

Question 8

too little dopamine in the prefrontal cortex causes what?

Answer 8

negative symptoms

Question 9

what are the negative symptoms?

Answer 9

• avolition
• sppech poverty
• affective flattening
• anhedonia

Question 10

evidence for the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 10

Patel et al. (2010) -
PET scans showed lower dopamine levels in PFC of SZ patients compared to controls

Wang & Deutch (2008) -
Lowered rats’ levels of dopamine in their PFC. This impaired their cognition. They then gave them atypical antipsychotics (improve negative symptoms) and this was reversed.