Sz explanations
Cards (38)
- - neural correlates
- sz caused by genes passed down from biological parent to child, the closer related you are to someone with sz, the more likely you are to develop it
- 108, different combinations or single genes, so is polygenic
- study found that MZ twins reared apart were 58% concordant, suggesting that genetics have an influence as concordance rates are high. HOWEVER, MZ twins share 100% same genes so if it was just due to genetics the rate would be 100%, therfore environmental influence must have a role
- 47 adopted children (mothers had sz) were compared to control gorup with no history of family sz. Found 16% group developed sz whereas 0% from control group, suggesting genetics must play a role
- 1930, identical quadruplet sisters who all developed sz, they had a bad home life with mentally unstable parents. Supports theory as shared 100% same genes and all devloped sz, HOWEVER bad homelife environmnetal factor could have increase likelyhood to develop sz
- considered socially sensitive as puts blame on parents if child develops sz, and if children know they are at high likelihood of developing sz, they are more likely to develop it. HOWEVER, could stop them from triggering factors e.g. smoking
- generic counselling, supports high risk people and uses environmental interventions to reduce the risk
- vulnerability may not be triggered unless there are certain environmental factors/ stressors present
- symptoms of sz caused by abnormal levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, (excitatory which increases rate of firing)
- - hypodopaminergia
- higher than usual levels of dopamine in the subcortex (central areas of the brain), linked with positive symptoms.
- lower than usual levels of dopamine in the cortex (outer part of the brain), where less dopamine is being transmitted across synapses, linked with negative symptoms.
- higher levels of dopamine in post-mortems conducted on patients with sz compared to patients with no sz, supports higher rates of dopamine linked to sz. HOWEVER, only correlation, no cause and effect relationship, therefore where dopamine levels high before or after developing sz?
- anti-psychotics are effective treamtnet of sz and work by decreasing dopamine levels, therefore clear link between antipsychotics and dopamine treating sz. HOWEVER, treatment-aetiology fallacy shouldn't be made because it could just be masking the symptoms.
- the measurements of the structure or function of the brain that correlate with experiences or behaviours (e.g. sz)
- + adds support to the excess of dopamine leading to positive symptoms (e.g hallucinations)
- - implies brain areas around border of ventricles have shrunk, so ventricular spaces became larger as a result
- all correlations- remains unclear whether the unusual activity or abnormality in brain areas is the cause of the sz or a symptom of having the disorder/taking medication
- cognitive explanation
- - expressed emotion
- argues that maladaptive relationships and communication between family members in a source of stress leading to sz
- a psychodynamic explanation where the mother is cold, rejecting and controlling, creating a family climate of tension and secrecy. This leads to distrust that develops to paranoid delusions and then sz
- communication in the family is an important risk factor, theory proposes that symptoms of sz are an expression of contradictory patterns of interaction in the family, leading to delusions and disorganised thoughts
- expressed emotion is a qualitative measure of amount of emotion expressed, measures prediction of relapse in sz. expressed emotions include: hostility towards patient, emotional over-involvement and crisitcism of patient
- relapse in high EE is 48% compared to 21% in low, supports expressed emotion might trigger relapse
- + practical applications, put recovering patients in low EE environments
- - hard toc lassify family as high/ low EE as families often changing
- arguesd that behaviours like sz are result of faulty mental processing and cognitive biases (focuses of attention)
- sz patients often have defecits in working memory which can impact their ability to engage in complex cognitive trials. impairment may cause difficulties in organising thoughts, maintaining attention and problem solving
- sz is associated with dysfunctional thought processing, they have cognitive bias where they see themselves as being targeted, leading to belief that they are under control and thoughts are being implanted in their head
- 2) central control dysfunction
- the ability to reflect on our thoughts and behaviours and allows us insight into our own intentions and goals and interpretation of the actions of others.
- disrupt our ability to recognise our own actions and thoughts as being carried out by ourselves, - delusions
- ability to suppress or override automatic thoughts, actions and speech in response to stimuli
- derailment of thoughts and spoken sentences because each word triggers associations and the patient cannot supress automatic responses to these- speech poverty + disorganised language
- + practical applications, CBT
- - problem with cause and effect, is it cognitive defectis which causes sz behaviour or is the sz that causes the cognitive defecits?