Biological explanations of Schizophrenia

Created by: Courtney Horne
Created on: 03-02-14 10:36

Family studies - Found that Schizophrenia is more common among biological relatives of a person with Schizophrenia

The closer the relation, the greater the risk - Children with 2 S parents - 46%. Children with 1 S parent - 13%. Schizophrenic sibling - 9%

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Twin studies - Monozygotic twins share 100% of DNA, whereas dizygotic only share 50%

Joesph - Concordance rate of 40.4% for MZ twins and 7.4% for DZ twins

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Adoption Studies - Allow researchers to disentangle the influence of genetics and the environment

Tienani et al - Studies 164 adopted children whose biological mothers were Schizophrenic, 11 of these children (6.7%) were also diagnosed with Schizophrenia

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Dopamine Hypothesis - Suggests that in Schizophrenics, the messages from neurons that transmit dopamine fire too easily too often with causes the Schizophrenic symptoms

Schizophrenics are thought to have abnormally higher numbers of DZ receptors, resulting in more neurons firing. Dopamine neurons are linked with attention, so disturbances in this process may lead to problems with perception and thought distortions

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Evaluation of Family studies

Rather than a genetic cause, Schizophrenia may run in families simply because of common rearing patterns - Social Learning Theory

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Evaluation of Twin Studies

Twin studies assume the envionment for MZ and DZ twins are similar - However MZ rwins are treated more similarly and experience more identity problems - Joesph - This may result in higher concordance rates for MZ twins, rather the genetic influences

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Evaluation of Genetics in general

No study has found 100% concordance rate which suggests other factors are involved with its development. Interaction effect between nature and nurture suggests the development of Schizophrenia is not entirely deterministic

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Evaluation of Dopamine Hypothesis - Evidence from Drugs

Amphetamines - Dopamine agonist - Stimulates nerve cell containing dopamine and causes synapses to be flooded with dopamine - Large doses can lead to Schizophrenic symptoms

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Evaluation of Dopamine Hypothesis - Evidence from Drugs

Antipsychotic Drugs - These block the action of dopamine and have been found to decrease schizophrenic symptoms

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Evaluation of Dopamine Hypothesis - Evidence from Drugs

L-Dopa - People who take this to treat Parkinsons can experience schizophrenic type symptoms as it raises dopamine levels

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Joesph - Concordance rate of 40.4% for MZ twins and 7.4% for DZ twins

Back

Twin studies - Monozygotic twins share 100% of DNA, whereas dizygotic only share 50%

Card 3

Front

Tienani et al - Studies 164 adopted children whose biological mothers were Schizophrenic, 11 of these children (6.7%) were also diagnosed with Schizophrenia

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

Rather than a genetic cause, Schizophrenia may run in families simply because of common rearing patterns - Social Learning Theory

Back

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Biological explanations of Schizophrenia