Schizophrenia Evaluations Flashcards
(16 cards)
Gender bias in diagnosis (4)
- Men are more genetically vulnerable to developing the disorder
- Suggests the existence of gender bias in diagnosis of SZ
- Cotton et al. (2009)- female patients typically function better than male patients
- suggests the validity of the criteria are poor
Cultural Bias in diagnosis
People with Afro-Caribbean heritage in the UK are up to 9 times more likely to be diagnosed with SZ
Evaluation of Biological Explanation
Gottesman 1991
Family study found that concordance rates for SZ of 48% for MZ twins and 17% for DZ twins
Suggests there are genetic factors
However the concordance rates is far less than 100% for MZ twins so there must be a role for environmental factors
Positive Evaluation of the dopamine hypothesis
Meta Analysis of 212 studies
Leucht (2012) found that drug treatments that work via normalising dopamine levels were more effective than a placebo
The efficacy of treatments directly influencing the dopamine system supports the dopamine hypothesis
Negative evaluations of Biological Explanations and Dopamine hypothesis
Gottesman - concordance rates far less than a 100 so there must be a role for environmental factors
Curran (2004) - found that dopamine agonists increase levels of dopamine and make SZ symptoms worse
2 Positive Evaluations of Biological Treatments
Meta Analysis of 212 studies
Leucht (2012) found that drug treatments that work via normalising dopamine levels were more effective than a placebo
Suggests drug treatments that target the dopamine system are effective in reducing symptoms
Drug therapies are cheap especially compared to providing hospital treatments
Negative evaluations for Biological treatments
Drug therapies only supress symptoms and not treat the underlying problem which may be cognitive
The severity of side effects - some are mild (on other fc) but can be fatal
Positive Evaluations of the Psychological Explanations of SZ
Tienari (2004)
Found that only 6% of biological children of SZ mothers adopted into psychologically healthy families developed SZ
Compared to 37% of children adopted into dysfunctional families
Negative Evaluations of the Psychological Explanations of SZ
Socially sensitive to suggest that family causes SZ, as this is likely to cause additional stress and anxiety
CBT Evaluations
Sensky (2000) Patients who resisted drug treatments had reduced positive and negative symptoms after 19 CBT sessions
High cost of trained therapist means drug therapy is cheaper
Positive Family Therapy Evaluations
Leff (1985) reviewed aftercare of SZ patients
50% of patients with standard outpatient care relapsed within 9 months
Compared to only 8% who received family therapy
Negative Evaluations of Family Therapy
FT not a cure for the disorder as symptoms, while more manageable, still remain
Token Economies Evaluations
Dickerson (2005) found token economies improve the adaptive behaviour of people with SZ
Only attempt to manage the adaptive behaviour (eg poor motivation) and don’t directly treat SZ
Evaluations of Interactionist Approach
Gottesman (1981) concordance rate of MZ twins 48% and 17% for DZ twins. Concordance rate is below 100 suggesting there must be an interaction with environmental factors
Mechanism by which an adverse psychological event triggering symptoms is still uncertain reducing it as an explanation
Positive Evaluations of Diathesis and Interactionist Approach to treating SZ
Tarrier (1988)
- Assigned patients to routine care (anti-psychotics) or routine care and CBT
- patients in the two combination groups showed lower symptom levels and spent fewer days in hospital receiving care
- Suggests there is clear advantage to adopting an interactionist approach rather than anti-psychotics alone
Negative Evaluations of Diathesis and Interactionist Approach to treating SZ
Interactionist approach to SZ has the same limitations as both treatment options
Combines side effects of side effects of drug therapy and high cost of trained therapist
