Biological explanation

• What does the genetic explanation propose about schizophrenia?


  It proposes that schizophrenia is inherited and runs in families.
• What is the concordance rate for schizophrenia in MZ twins?


  48%
• What is the concordance rate for schizophrenia in DZ twins?


  17%
• How do the concordance rates in twins relate to the risk of schizophrenia in the general population?


  They suggest that sharing more genetics increases the likelihood of developing schizophrenia.
• What is the risk of schizophrenia in the general population?


  1%
• What does it mean that schizophrenia is polygenic?


  It means that schizophrenia is caused by numerous genes.
• What is the relationship between schizophrenia and dopamine activity?


  People with schizophrenia often have abnormal dopamine activity.
• How do the proposed genes related to schizophrenia affect an individual's risk?


  Each gene increases the risk of developing schizophrenia by a small amount.
• How can individuals with schizophrenia differ genetically?


  Each person can have different combinations of the genes linked to schizophrenia.
• Why might MZ twins be more likely to share schizophrenia than DZ twins?


  Because MZ twins share more similar experiences, such as receiving the same level of criticism and control.
• What does the similarity in appearance between MZ twins suggest about the cause of schizophrenia?


  It suggests that schizophrenia may be due to environmental factors rather than genetics.
• Why do DZ twins have higher concordance rates for schizophrenia than typical siblings?


  Because they are born at the same time and may share more similar experiences that lead to schizophrenia.
• What have adoption studies found regarding children of people with schizophrenia?


  They are at an increased risk of schizophrenia even if adopted into a family with no history of the disorder.
• What does biological determinism propose about schizophrenia?


  It proposes that schizophrenia is determined by genetics, which are out of the individual's control.
• How can biological determinism affect individuals with schizophrenia?


  It can result in feelings of hopelessness, worsening their symptoms and leading to additional mental health difficulties.
• What is a potential consequence of blaming relatives for passing on candidate genes for schizophrenia?


  It can lead to hostility within families, which may worsen schizophrenic symptoms.
• What does the biologically reductionist view fail to consider in the development of schizophrenia?


  It fails to consider the impact of additional factors, such as a dysfunctional family environment.
• What is the diathesis-stress model in relation to schizophrenia?


  • Schizophrenia develops when an individual has a vulnerability (e.g. genetic)
  • In addition to a stressor (e.g. family dysfunction)
• What is the main criticism of the biologically reductionist approach to schizophrenia?


  It oversimplifies the condition by attributing it solely to genetics.
• Neural correlates


  The idea that there is a correlation between abnormalities in brain structure/function and symptoms of schizophrenia.
• What does the dopamine hypothesis propose about schizophrenia?


  It proposes that schizophrenia can result from hyperdopaminergia and hypodopaminergia.
• What is hyperdopaminergia in the context of schizophrenia?


  It refers to too much dopamine activity in the subcortex of the brain.
• What causes hyperdopaminergia according to the dopamine hypothesis?


  There are too many D2 receptors for dopamine to bind to.
• How does increased dopamine activity affect neurons?


  It makes neurons more likely to fire.
• What are some positive symptoms of schizophrenia linked to hyperdopaminergia?


  Hallucinations and delusions.
• What is hypodopaminergia in the context of schizophrenia?


  It refers to too little dopamine activity in the cortex.
• What causes hypodopaminergia according to the dopamine hypothesis?

  There is reduced binding of dopamine to D1 receptors in the prefrontal cortex.
• Why is the prefrontal cortex significant in the context of schizophrenia?


  It is responsible for decision making and is linked to negative symptoms.
• What are some negative symptoms of schizophrenia linked to hypodopaminergia?


  Avolition and speech poverty.
• How is speech poverty related to dopamine activity in schizophrenia?


  It is linked to reduced dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex.
• What are the key components of the dopamine hypothesis regarding schizophrenia?

  • Hyperdopaminergia: too much dopamine in the subcortex
  • Causes: too many D2 receptors
  • Effects: positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions)
  • Hypodopaminergia: too little dopamine in the cortex
  • Causes: reduced binding to D1 receptors in the prefrontal cortex
  • Effects: negative symptoms (avolition, speech poverty)