Schizophrenia Flashcards
(41 cards)
Curran et al (evaluation)
+ of genetic explanation of schz
Found that medication that increases dopamine aggravates schizophrenia and causes schizophrenic symptoms in non-sufferers
Neural correlates
Measurements of the structure or function of the brain that correlate with an experience
Ventral striatum
Reward system
Associated with avolition and negative symptoms
Juckel et al (2006)
Measured activity in the ventral striatum and found that there was lower activity in this area of the brain in schizophrenics compared to controls.
Superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus
Temporal gyrus - associated with auditory information
Anterior cingulate gyrus - decision making
Correlated with positive symptoms
Allen (2007)
Looked at schizophrenic sufferers with auditory hallucinations. Found low activation compared to controls.
Prefrontal cortex
Function: helps people think logically and organise their thoughts
Many schizophrenics have lower activity in this area, which could be linked to delusions and disorganised thought
Basal ganglia
Function: located deep inside the brain and affects movement and thinking skills
Research has shown that this structure is larger in schizophrenics which could cause motor dysfunction
Amygdala
Function: responsible for basic feelings such as fear, lust and hunger
Smaller in schizophrenics which can lead to loss of emotion
Ripke et al (2014)
+ of neural correlates
Particular genetic variations increase the risk of schizophrenia, as they impact different neural areas
Correlation vs causation (evaluation)
- of neural correlates
The correlation between levels of activity in the ventral striatum and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms may cause less activity. Another factor could influence it.
Evaluation of dopamine hypothesis (2 strengths, 2 weaknesses)
+ Drugs that increase levels of dopamine (e.g. amphetamines) produce psychotic symptoms.
+ An excess number of dopamine receptors have been found in Broca’s area, which is linked to speech production and auditory hallucinations.
- Clozapine is the most effective drug at reducing schizophrenic symptoms. It acts on serotonin as well as dopamine.
- High levels of dopamine could actually be a symptom of schizophrenia rather than cause it.
Meltzer (2012) (2 evaluations)
+ of drug treatments
Clozapine more effective and is effective in 30-50% of treatment-resistant cases.
Atypical antipsychotics reduced the frequency of side effects
Thornley (2013) (evaluation)
+ of drug treatments
Chlorpromazine compared with placebo. 1121 participants showed that chlorpromazine was associated with better overall functioning.
Double binds
Bateson (1956)
Parents predispose children to schizophrenia by communicating with them in a muddled manner. The child receives two conflicting messages at the same time.
Read et al (2005) (evaluation)
+ of family explanations of schz
Reviewed 46 studies of child abuse and schz
69% of adult women in-patients with schz had a history of child abuse. 59% of men.
Child of its time (evaluation)
- of family explanations of schz
Homosexuality was illegal at the time so doesn’t consider the father
Central control
Schz - inability to suppress automatic thoughts and speech triggered by other thoughts
Other cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
Abnormal thought processing
Reduced processing in ventral striatum and reduced processing of information in temporal and angulate gyri
Stirling et al (2006) (evaluation)
+ of cognitive explanation of schz
Information processing is different in schizophrenics. Used stroop test on schizophrenics (30) and controls (18) and schizophrenics took over double the length of time to process the activity.
NICE (2014) (evaluation)
+ of cognitive explanation of schz
Success of cognitive therapies such as CBT. Consistent evidence suggesting that by evaluating the content of delusions, CBT was more effective at treating and reducing symptoms than drugs
How does family therapy work? (6)
Uses a number of strategies:
- Education on schizophrenia
- Creating a support network
- Learning how to express feelings in constructive ways, such as for problem solving and feelings of anger and guilt
- Set reasonable goals
- Reduce burden of care for family members
- Encouraging relatives to set limits while maintaining separation if needed
Pharoah et al (2010) (evaluation)
Could be strength or weakness of family therapies
Meta-analysis of 53 studies investigating effectiveness of family therapies vs drug therapies
Findings:
- Mixed results as to whether it improved patient’s mental state.
- Compliance with medication increased.
- Ability to socialise increased but not hard functions such as independent living
- Reduction in risk of relapse and hospital admittance for 24 months after
Garety et al (2008) (evaluation)
+ of family therapies
Relapse rates of schizophrenics sits at approximately 25% when engaging in family therapy to reduce expressed emotion. This is compared to 50% relapse in those receiving standard care alone.
