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Psychology > Schizophrenia > Flashcards

Schizophrenia Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of people affected by schizophrenia also have a substance abuse problems

A

50%

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2
Q

Define schizophrenia

A

A mental disorder characterised by withdrawal from reality

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3
Q

What are positive and what are negative symptoms

A
  • Positive symptoms= Present in schizophrenic people but not in normal functioning people
  • Negative symptoms= Present in normal functioning people but not in schizophrenic people
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4
Q

What are the positive and negative symptoms

A

Positive symptoms:

  • Hallucinations= Sensory experiences that aren’t actually there
  • Delusions= An irrational belief

Negative symptoms:

  • Avolition= Lack of motivation
  • Speech poverty= Don’t talk a lot, if they do it’s monotone
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5
Q

The two psychological explanations for schizophrenia

A

1) Family dysfunction

2) Cognitive explanations / Dysfunctional thought processing

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6
Q

2 AO1 points for family dysfunction

A

1) The characteristics of the schizophrenogenic mother which are:
- High levels of interpersonal conflict
- Difficulty communicating
- Excessively critical and controlling

2) The effect on the child which is:
It causes the child to be in a ‘double bind’ state, which is a state of confusion. Causing the child to be withdrawn, little speech or interaction

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7
Q

1 AO3 mark, Kavanagh (1992) study on effects of a dysfunctional family

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= Meta-analysis of 26 previous studies, measuring relapse rates of schizophrenics who returned to families

Results= -48% rate of relapse when returning to dysfunctional family
- 21% rate of relapse when returning to healthy family

Conclusion= Supporting theory, that household environment impacts rate of schizophrenia

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8
Q

2 more AO3 points for dysfunctional family

A
  • Only evidence for negative symptoms, therefore not a comprehensive theory as it doesn’t explain causation for all symptoms
  • Therapies focussed on family dynamics, are successful in reducing relapses, Supports theory that environment impacts rate of schizophrenia
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9
Q

Cognitive explanations / dysfunctional thought processes

There are two types of thought processing involved according to Frith et al:

A

Metarepresentation

Central control

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10
Q

What is metarepresentation

A

The ability to represent thoughts, concepts and experiences in the mind

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11
Q

What does Frith state about metarepresentation which helps explain positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions

A

Frith states that failure in metarepresentation leads to an inability to distinguish between speech heard externally and internal thoughts

  • Helps to explain positive symptoms such as hallucinations
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12
Q

What is central control

A

The cognitive ability to suppress some thoughts while we perform other actions instead

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13
Q

What test can measure your central control

A

The stroop test

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14
Q

Stirling (2006) study on cognitive explanations

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= Performance of schizophrenia patients on the stroop test was compared with healthy central controls. (Test to measure a persons central control). DV is how quick they can do it

Results= Schizophrenic people take longer

Conclusion= Schizophrenics have no central control, therefore Supports theory

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15
Q

2 more AO3 points for cognitive explanations

A
  • Describing the cognitive deficits explains the symptoms, but doesn’t explain what causes the cognitive dysfunctions, therefore not a comprehensive theory
  • If occurrence is so common in schizophrenics, there could be possible patterns of cognitive deficit, therefore can use the stroop test as a diagnostic tool
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16
Q

Biological treatments

Do antipsychotic drugs cure schizophrenia

A

They don’t cure schizophrenia but they lessen the symptoms

17
Q

What are the two types of drugs for treating schizophrenia

A

Typical and Atypical

18
Q

Describe typical antipsychotics

A
  • Developed In 1950’s
  • Inhibitory action on the dopamine system (decreases chance of adjacent cell producing an electrical impulse)
  • Reduce positive symptoms
  • Many side effects
19
Q

Describe atypical antipsychotics

A
  • Developed In 1990’s
  • Act on both the serotonin and dopamine systems (excitatory and inhibitory)
  • Reduce both positive and negative symptoms
  • Fewer side effects
20
Q

Thornley(2003) study on typical antipsychotics

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= -Meta-analysis on studies comparing effects of chlorpromazine with a placebo

Results= Chlorpromazine resulted in better functioning, reduced symptom severity and lower relapse rates

Conclusion= Typical antipsychotics are effective

21
Q

Davis (1989) study on antipsychotics

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= Compared antipsychotics with placebos

Results= - 70% of cases improved with antipsychotic use
- 25% improved with placebo

Conclusion= Antipsychotic use is effective

22
Q

2 statistics that can help in AO1 about treatment

A
  • Less than 3% of schizophrenics live permanently in hospital in the UK, most live a normal life. This shows treatment is effective enough to allow individuals to live independently
  • Relapse rate for treated schizophrenics is 40% in the first year. This shows people stop taking medications, due to side effects
23
Q

What are the 3 Psychological treatments for schizophrenia

A
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Family therapy
  • Token economies
24
Q

Cognitive behavioural therapy

2 AO1 points

A
  • Aims to change the maladaptive thinking and distorted perceptions of schizophrenia
  • Antipsychotic medication taken prior CBT so psychotic thoughts are less severe
  • Therapist challenges the delusional thoughts
  • Techniques are developed to help patient cope with their hallucinations and delusions:
  • Distractions (turn radio up to not hear hallucinations)
  • Rationalising (asking for evidence/challenge irrational thoughts)
  • Increasing social activity (Homework)
  • Relaxation techniques (Decrease stress when diagnosed)
  • Relapse recognition (Knowing the hallucinations and delusions to know if they come back)
25
Q

Tarrier (2000) study for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

3 conditions for it

A

Participants receiver either of the conditions to reduce schizophrenia symptoms:

1) Antipsychotics and CBT
2) Just antipsychotics
3) Counselling

26
Q

Results for Tarrier’s study on CBT

A

Results = - 1/3 of patients in condition 1 achieved a reduction in positive symptoms

  • 15% of patients in condition 1 were free of all positive symptoms
  • These numbers were lower in both other conditions
  • However, 2 years later they were similar in all groups again

Conclusion= Condition 1 is an effective treatment, but not long lasting

27
Q

Evaluation for CBT

A
  • Rathod study suggests successful CBT depends on relationship between therapist and patient. Therefore validity is questioned
  • CBT helps patient ignore hallucinations instead of reducing them. Therefore, ignoring symptoms isn’t really a treatment
28
Q

Family therapy

2 AO1 points

A
  • About the cause of a schizophrenogenic mother
  • Therapy involves not just the individual but relatives as well

Aims for this treatment like:

  • Form alliance with family members
  • Reduce levels of expressed emotion and stress
  • Improve communication within family
  • Help reach balance between caring and living life
29
Q

Left (1985) study on family therapy

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= Looked at schizophrenics with families high in expressed emotion.
- Comparing 2 treatments: Therapy and family therapy

Results= Relapse rate was significantly less for family therapy than normal therapy (individual), however symptoms began again after 2 years

Conclusion= Family Therapy is effective in short-term. Not long lasting

30
Q

AO3 points for family therapy

A
  • Schizophrenia commission (2003) states that Family Therapy is cheaper than standard care by around £1,000 per patient, every 3 years. Meaning there’s less relapse in family therapy
  • Not all people are in contact with their family. Meaning not everyone can benefit from family therapy
31
Q

Token economies as treatment for schizophrenia

AO1 points

A
  • Uses operant conditioning to reinforce positive behaviours with tokens
  • Token economies are aimed at reducing negative symptoms of schizophrenia
32
Q

Ayllon and Azrin study for token economies

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method= Implemented a token economies system in a hospital for schizophrenic patients

Results= Average Number of chores completed rose from 5 to 42

Conclusion= Token economy is treating negative symptoms (avolition mainly)

33
Q

2 AO3 points for token economies as treatment

A
  • A token economy can only be implemented in a hospital, therefore not comprehensive
  • If patient is not paid immediately, the treatment will not work, therefore cannot be used/generalised in outside settings
34
Q

Interactionist explanations and treatments

What is a Interactionist theory in terms of schizophrenia

A

Schizophrenia is seen as developing through 2 interacting factors

  • Not just having one cause
35
Q

What’s a diathesis

A

A genetic disposition (genetic vulnerability)

36
Q

What does the diathesis model suggest

A

Schizophrenia is caused by an underlying genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and the environment an individual lives in (stress)

37
Q

According to the diathesis model, when are you most likely to develop schizophrenia

A

When you have High diathesis (a gene) and High stress (environment you live in)

39
Q

Study for Diathesis

Method, results, conclusion

A

Method(3 conditions): 1) Antipsychotocs and CBT

2) Just antipsychotics
3) Counselling

Results= 1/3 of patients in condition 1 achieved reduction in positive symptoms

Conclusion= Supports DS theory, as it targets both genetic and environment, which turns out to be most effective

40
Q

AO3 point for interactionist explanation and treatment

A
  • Combined Therapy is expensive in short term, in the long term it saves money due to reduction of relapse
  • A study (Walker 1997) suggests there’s higher levels of cortisol in schizophrenics than non-sufferers causing the high levels of stress. However, no cause and effect as don’t know whether stress causes schizophrenia or schizophrenia causes stress

Psychology (16 decks)

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