SZ- Biological Explanations

Question 1

Genetics -

Family studies

Answer 1

The graph shows the closer the genetic link the higher the risk of developing SZ.
When both parents have it the child has 46% chance of developing it
But when one parent only 17%

However spouses of sz patients have a 2% risk of developing SZ which supports environmental link as they aren’t related Just married. So can argue environmental factors as living with them they can pick up their behaviours. This is an increase from 1% chance of general population

Question 2

Genetics-

Twin studies

Answer 2

MZ twins- 48%
DZ- 17%

MZ significantly higher than DZ supports a genetic link as MZ twins have more of the same DNA and genetic material (100%)
Could argue if one MZ twin has SZ the other should have 100% chance of getting it, which could suggest environmental link

Question 3

Limitation of using twin research to support genetic link

Answer 3

Sample size- not a lot of identical twins with SZ, identical twins are rare and so is SZ therefore identical twins with SZ is even rarer so it will be hard to get a lot of research that is valid to support the genetic link

Question 4

Genetics -

Adoption studies

Answer 4

Children who are adopted but their biological had SZ have 6% risk of developing it. On the graph it shows if one parent has SZ they have a 17% risk shows there may be environmental factors as they aren’t living with biological parent so the percentage decreases. But also shows genetic link as even tho they aren’t living with parent they have more of a risk than the general population

Question 5

Limitation of using adoption studies to support a genetic cause of SZ

Answer 5

Sample size is very small and therefore difficult to generalise. Not many children who are adopted have parents with SZ hard to conduct research

Question 6

Neural correlates

Answer 6

Measurements of the structure or function of the brain that correlate with an experience