The biological approach to schizophrenia

Question 1

What are the three main causes of schizophrenia according to the biological approach?

Answer 1

Genetics, dopamine hypothesis, neural correlates

These factors interact to influence the development of schizophrenia symptoms.

Question 2

What percentage chance is there for a child to develop schizophrenia if both parents have the disorder?

Answer 2

46%

This statistic was derived from a review of over 40 studies by Gottesman in 1991.

Question 3

In Tienari et al (2000) study, what percentage of adopted children with schizophrenic mothers developed schizophrenia?

Answer 3

6.7%

This was compared to 2% in control adoptees with no relatives having schizophrenia.

Question 4

What does the dopamine hypothesis suggest about neurotransmitter levels in schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Excess dopamine in certain brain regions leads to positive symptoms

This includes hallucinations and delusions due to neurons firing too easily.

Question 5

What did Leutch et al (2013) find regarding anti-psychotic drugs?

Answer 5

All drugs tested were significantly more effective than placebo

This effectiveness was measured in treating both positive and negative symptoms.

Question 6

What cognitive functions are impaired in schizophrenia patients due to issues in the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 6

Planning, reasoning, and judgment

These impairments are linked to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 7

What changes in the brain may contribute to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia?

Answer 7

Damage in the hippocampus and connections with the prefrontal cortex

This can affect dopamine release and impair executive functions.

Question 8

What did Vita et al. (2012) find regarding grey matter volume in schizophrenia patients?

Answer 8

Progressive reduction in cortical grey matter volume over time

This reduction was specific to discrete cortical areas and active in the early stages of the disease.

Question 9

What is a strength of biological explanations of schizophrenia?

Answer 9

Research support from multiple studies

Studies include Gottesman (1991), Tienari et al (2000), Leutch et al (2013), and Vita et al. (2012).

Question 10

What is a limitation of biological explanations compared to psychological explanations?

Answer 10

They may not account for why some individuals with genetic predispositions do not develop the disorder

Family-based explanations may provide more appropriate insights.

Question 11

What is a critique of the reductionist nature of biological explanations?

Answer 11

They only address causes at a cellular and chemical level

This may ignore broader psychological and social factors.

Question 12

True or False: The diathesis-stress approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of schizophrenia.

Answer 12

True

It accounts for multiple factors influencing the disorder.

Question 13

What challenges exist in diagnosing schizophrenia?

Answer 13

Misdiagnosis can occur, leading to unclear understanding of its causes

This includes potential contamination of research samples by other disorders.

Question 14

What are the difficulties associated with twin studies in schizophrenia research?

Answer 14

Separating environmental and genetic influences

This complicates the conclusions drawn from such studies.

Question 15

What is a limitation related to neurochemistry and neuroanatomy research in schizophrenia?

Answer 15

Establishing cause and effect is difficult due to correlational research

This limits certainty about the causes of schizophrenia.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: The dopamine hypothesis neglects other neurotransmitters such as _______ and _______.

Answer 16

serotonin, acetylcholine

These neurotransmitters may also play a role in the disorder.