Biological explanations

• Genetic Basis (Family Studies) 


  Schizophrenia is heritable through transmission of DNA/genes. Family Studies have established that schizophrenia is more common with

  biological relatives of a person with SZ and that the closer the degree of geneticrelatedness, the greater the risk.

  Gottesman found that MZ twins have a concordance rate of 48%, Dz twins 17% and cousins 2%.
• What is Dopamine?

  A neurotransmitter that has an excitatory effect.
• Hyperdopaminergia

  This involves high levels or activity of Dopamine in the subcortex.
• Which symptoms connected to excess of Dopamine In broca’s Area?

  For example, an excess of dopamine receptors in Broca’s area (which is responsible for speech production) may be associated with poverty of speech and / or the experience of auditory hallucinations.
• Hypodopaminergia

  Goldman-Racik identified a role of low activity of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex (responsible for thinking and decision making) in the Negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Neural Correlates of Schizophrenia

  Neural correlates explain schizophrenia by suggesting that there is a correlation between brain structure and function and symptoms of schizophrenia.

  For example, enlarged ventricles (fluid-filled cavities in the brain) are Associated with negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Weakness of research into Biological explanations

  A weakness of biological research into schizophrenia is methodological issues. For example, twin studies assume MZ and DZ twins have equivalent environments, with higher concordance in MZ twins attributed to genetic similarity. However, Joseph argues that MZ twins are treated more similarly, share more experiences, and face greater identity confusion, while DZ twins may be of different sexes and treated as regular siblings. Thus, differences in concordance rates between MZ and DZ twins may reflect environmental, not genetic, factors.
• Strength of Biological explanations of Schizophrenia

  A strength of biological explanations of schizophrenia is that there is supporting research for the dopamine hypothesis. For example Antipsychotic drugs work by blocking activity of dopamine in the brain and work by blocking activity of dopamine in the brain which reduces symptoms of schizophrenia. This provides strong support for the dopamine hypothesis. Therefore it’s important to avoid the treatment of cusation fallacy. 
• Weakness- reductionism

  A weakness of biological explanations is their reductionism. While they offer valuable treatments for schizophrenia, they overlook psychological factors like family dysfunction. This means that focusing on solely biological aspects can lead to reductionism. However, the diathesis-stress model addresses this by acknowledging how biological vulnerabilities interact with environmental stressors, such as family issues. This comprehensive approach provides a deeper understanding of schizophrenia and leads to more effective strategies.