Biological explanations for Schizophrenia

• What does the bar graph show about genetics and schizophrenia?

  Relationship between genetics and schizophrenia

  
• What is the conclusion regarding the data's validity?

  Data's validity is questionable
• What is the genetic basis of schizophrenia according to Gottesman (1991)?

  • Strong relationship between genetic similarity and SZ risk
  • Large-scale family studies support this

  
• What did early research on schizophrenia focus on?

  Single genetic variation to explain SZ
• Why is schizophrenia considered polygenic?

  It requires several genes to develop

  
• What does aetiologically heterogeneous mean in the context of schizophrenia?

  Different combinations of factors can lead to SZ
• What did Ripke et al. (2014) contribute to the understanding of schizophrenia?

  Identified genetic origins without family history
• How can schizophrenia have a genetic origin without family history?

  Through mutations in parental DNA
• What can cause mutations in parental DNA?

  Radiation, poison, or viral infection
• What correlation exists between paternal age and schizophrenia risk?

  Increased risk with older paternal age

  
• What is the risk of schizophrenia for fathers over 50?

  Over 2%
• What is the dopamine hypothesis in schizophrenia?

  • Dopamine works differently in SZ brains
  • Excess dopamine in certain brain areas

  
• What did the original dopamine hypothesis focus on?

  High dopamine activity in subcortex
• Where is excessive dopamine activity found in schizophrenia?

  Broca’s area related to speech production
• What are neural correlates of negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

  Involvement of the ventral striatum
• What did Juckel et al. (2006) find regarding the ventral striatum?

  Lower activity in SZ patients
• What are the neural correlates of positive symptoms in schizophrenia?

  • Lower activity in superior temporal gyrus
  • Lower activity in anterior cingulate gyrus
• What did Allen et al. (2007) study in schizophrenia patients?

  Auditory hallucinations and brain scans
• What is a strength of the genetic basis of schizophrenia?

  • Strong evidence base from family studies
  • Gottesman's study supports genetic links

  
• What supports the role of dopamine in schizophrenia symptoms?

  • Amphetamines mimic symptoms
  • Antipsychotic drugs reduce symptoms
• How do candidate genes relate to dopamine in schizophrenia?

  They affect dopamine production or receptors

  
• What are weaknesses in the genetic explanation of schizophrenia?

  • Evidence for environmental risk factors
  • Psychological factors like childhood trauma
• What biological risk factors are associated with schizophrenia?

  Birth complications and THC-rich cannabis
• What percentage of schizophrenia patients reported childhood trauma?

  67%
• What evidence supports the role of glutamate in schizophrenia?

  • Raised glutamate found in post-mortem studies
  • Candidate genes involved in glutamate processing
• What does the evidence for glutamate suggest about schizophrenia?

  Other neurotransmitters may play a role