supporting evidence of explanations of schizophrenia

Question 1

supporting evidence of genetic explaination of SZ?

Answer 1

Gottesman (1991) found that the closer the genetic relationship to someone with SZ, the higher the likelihood of SZ developing. For example, the occurrence of SZ in the general population is approx. 1%, but if you have a parent with SZ, this jumps to 6%. ​

Question 2

supporting evidence of dopamine hypothesis as an explanation of SZ?

Answer 2

Falkai et al (1988)= Autopsies have found that people with schizophrenia have a larger than usual number of dopamine receptors​. Found an increase of dopamine receptors in brain structures and receptor density (excess of dopamine found in left Amygdala)​
Concluded that dopamine production is abnormal for schizophrenia compared to “normal controls”

Question 3

supporting evidence of psychodynamic explanation of SZ?

Answer 3

Mednick (1984)​​= Identified 207 children considered to be at a high risk of developing schizophrenia due to being raised in dysfunctional families​​ (mothers were temperamental, cold, rejecting and emotionally aggressive)​​ compared to a control
None of the participants or their mothers had a diagnosis of schizophrenia at the beginning of the study​​
Within 10 years, 17 of the high risk group were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and only 1 in the control group​​

Question 4

supporting evidence of cognitive explanation of SZ?

Answer 4

Barch et al (1999)= 2 groups of P’s – people with SZ vs people without. ​
All participants completed the Stroop test. ​
Found that people with SZ were slower and made more mistakes on the Stroop test compared to controls. ​

Question 5

supporting evidence of dysfunctional families explanation of SZ?

Answer 5

Berger (1960) interviewed schizophrenics and found that they reported a higher rate of recall of double bind statements by their mothers than non-schizophrenics.​
​

Question 6

supporting evidence of socio-cultural factors as a explanation of SZ?

Answer 6

Faris and Dunham (1939)​= Reported a greater incidence of schizophrenia when comparing densely populated inner city areas with less populated outskirts of the city ​
(Urbanicity)

Question 7

supporting evidence of antipsychotics as a method of modifying SZ?

Answer 7

Cole et al= found that 75% of patients were considered ‘much improved’ compared to 25% of control group who received a placebo of typical antipsychotics.

Question 8

supporting evidence of CBT as a method of modifying SZ?

Answer 8

Kuipers et al (1997)= 60 individuals with SZ, seen to be ‘medication resistant’ were randomly allocated to one of two condition, CBT plus standard care​ and Standard care only ​
findings:
P’s in the CBT plus standard care condition –50% improved symptoms ​
Standard care only – 31% improvement​