Non-Biological Explanation of Schizophrenia

• What does the social causation hypothesis suggest about schizophrenia (Sz)?

  Lower social classes have higher Sz incidence
• What factors are associated with the onset of Sz according to the social causation hypothesis?

  Class, social adversity, immigrant status
• What is the correlation between urbanicity and Sz prevalence?

  Positive correlation with rising population density
• How does population density affect social defeat?

  Increases competition and exclusion from majority
• What is the relative risk of Sz in a capital city?

  2.4, or 140% more likely
• What did Vassos et al's meta-analysis reveal about Sz risk in urban areas?

  Risk is 2.37x higher in urban areas
• What does social adversity refer to in the context of Sz?

  Problems in children's growing environments
• How does childhood social adversity relate to Sz development?

  Increases susceptibility to mental disorders
• What did Hjem et al find regarding childhood social adversity?

  It leads to Sz development in later life
• What did O'Callaghan's findings suggest about environmental factors and Sz?

  Not all environmental factors are stress-related
• What socioeconomic factors increase Sz incidence?

  High population density, unemployment, low status
• What did Strauss find about Sz incidence among socioeconomic groups?

  Higher in low socioeconomic groups
• What did Pekka Tienari's study reveal about adopted children and Sz?

  No children in healthy families had Sz
• What is the incidence of Sz among black immigrants in the UK?

  Higher than the general population
• What social stressors affect immigrant populations regarding Sz?

  Education, housing standards, discrimination
• What did Cooper's systematic review find about psychosis rates in ethnic minorities?

  High rates in ethnic minorities like black immigrants
• What did Fernando find about Afro Caribbean individuals and Sz?

  2 to 7 times more likely to develop Sz
• What is the social drift hypothesis?

  • Suggests Sz leads to job loss
  • Reduces socioeconomic status
  • Illness causes social factors, not vice versa
• How can social causation be applied to improve mental health?

  • Celebrate cultural diversity
  • Build positive ethnic identities
  • Develop housing projects to reduce overcrowding
• What are the implications of social causation for mental health interventions?

  • Focus on reducing psychological stressors
  • Address social inequalities
  • Enhance community support systems