...Compare and contrast psychological and biological explanations of schizophrenia. Jessica F Smith University Of Sussex Schizophrenia has been termed a heterogeneous group of disorders with varied etiologies (Walker, Kestler, Bollini, & Hochman, 2004) which includes biological, social, cognitive and psychodynamic perspectives. To progress knowledge of schizophrenia, this essay focuses on how the biological and psychological explanations are independent and interdependent and how they may differentiate from one another. This includes: how our biological predisposition, neuro transmitter dysfunction and genetic inheritance, affects how people with schizophrenia respond to social environments, the importance of socio-economic factors and their ability to shape psychotic symptoms, and how people with schizophrenia have faulty cognitions, which arguably develop from social influence and upbringing. The overruling theory, that is important in explanations of schizophrenia, is known as the Diathesis Stress Model (Davey, 2011), which identifies that psychotic symptoms arise from a combination of both biological predisposition and environmental stress. Servan-Schreiber, Bruno, Carter, & Cohen, (1998) alleviate that dopamine is an important neurotransmitter with a function in regulating movement and guiding attention. The dopamine hypothesis suggests that the dysfunction of movement and attention in those with schizophrenia may be a result of excess dopamine due to an increase...
Words: 2340 - Pages: 10
...Discuss biological explanations of schizophrenia AO1- (4 marks) Biological explanations of schizophrenia argue that the causes of schizophrenia and physiological rather than psychological. Evidence to support this comes from research into genetics, as well as biochemical factors. Firstly, genetic research has considered rates of schizophrenia found in biological relatives, monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ). This research includes family studies. Schizophrenia is more common among biological relatives with schizophrenia and the closer then family member e.g. a sister the greater the risk of developing schizophrenia. They found children with 2 schizophrenic parents have a concordance rate of 46% compared with children who have one schizophrenic parent, concordance rate is 13%. In addition, MZ twins have a higher concordance rate at 40.4% than DZ twins at 7.4% in terms of developing schizophrenia. Researchers have also tried to find twins separated at birth and at least one twin was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Gottesman and Shields found 58% of twins were concordant for schizophrenia. In contrast, more recent studies, using blind studies, have reported lower concordance rates for MZ twins. However, it is still arguing findings support the genetic inheritance of schizophrenia. Similarly, adopted children are looked at to test whether schizophrenia is an environmental influence or genetically inherited. They have been looking at children who were adopted and later...
Words: 1141 - Pages: 5
...Understanding Schizophrenia: a Biological Approach NAME: Maria Saldias DATE: 4-28-2011 TITLES OF ARTCILES: 1-“ What Causes Schizophrenia”, by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.& the National Institute of Mental health12,Nov,2006. 2- “The Concept of Progressive Brain Change in Schizophrenia: Implications for Understanding Schizophrenia”, by Linn E. Delisi. 2008 INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a brain disorder, which interferes with normal brain functioning. It is mainly characterize by major disturbances in perception, language, thought, emotions and behavior. Furthermore, it can also trigger hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and lack of motivation (Rosenberg and Kosslyn). Experts now agree that schizophrenia develops as the result of the combination of a biological predisposition, and the kind of environment the person is exposed to. However, not until recent days, schizophrenia was thought to have “no “organic” cause and thus related to the psychological environment that one was born into” (Delisi). In “What Causes schizophrenia, by Grohol, even though the author emphasis how genetic, behavioral and other factors, are interrelated in the development of the disorder, he emphasis his article in how the tools of biomedical research are being used to search for genes or critical moments of brain development. At the same time, “The concept of Progressive Brain Chain in Schizophrenia: Implications...
Words: 1531 - Pages: 7
...flight or fight) and its a syndrome because there are many symptoms to stress. Selye had a 3 stage model which has 3 stages Alarm- this is when the SAM and HPA pathways both open up, SAM is when the endocrine system releases adrenaline that increases heart rate, dilutes eyes and makes blood vessels constricts, The HPA creates more energy by releasing cholesterol that turns protein into glucose for extra energy. The second stage Resistance- This is when the body appears normal and heart rate reduces ect but its having a big effect on the body. The last stage is Exhaustion- This is when the body has been depleted of protein and can cause long term illnesses that are stress related (CHD) Chemotherapy- The use of antipsychotics to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia have extremely high levels of dopamine and this can cause both negative and positive effects, the positive effects are things such as visual and aural hallucinations, the try to treat this by the use of conventional and atypical drugs, both which aim to change dopamine levels by blocking off receptors so that not as much dopamine can be...
Words: 1331 - Pages: 6
...is it possible to explain Schizophrenia from a biological perspective? Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder. It is a disease that makes it extremely difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses to others, and to behave normally in social situations. People with schizophrenia may also have difficulty in talking, remembering and behaving appropriately. Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is a neurological disorder that affects the cognitive functions of an individual. The cause of this illness to this day is still unknown, but there are several theories of how an individual may get schizophrenia. Because there are so many symptoms of the disease and because the symptoms can vary quite significantly among several individuals and even within the same individual over time, the diagnosis of schizophrenia can be quite difficult. Schizophrenia is sometimes seen as a functional disorder with professionals often referring to it as a sociological phenomenon, meaning patients with schizophrenia are normal people driven insane by the insane world (Gelder, et al., 1989). However, with many years and numerous advances in genetics/brain imaging, molecular biology and neuroscience over the years, evidence has been found for the biological bases underlying schizophrenia. There have been quite a few theories of possible causes. Firstly, a lot of family studies...
Words: 1808 - Pages: 8
...Outline and evaluate 2 biological explanations for schizophrenia.’ 24 Marks One biological explanations for schizophrenia is genetic factors, which can be studied through twin studies. If the concordance rate is 100% in MZ twins it means that the characteristic is genetically determined because monozygotic twins share the same genes and environment. This was shown by Gottesman and Shields, who reviewed the results of 5 twin studies looking for concordance rates for schizophrenia. These studies looked at 210 MZ twins and 319 DZ twins. It was found that in MZ twins there was a concordance rate of 35-58% compared with dizygotic (DZ) twin rates that ranged from 9-26%. They also found a concordance rate in MZ twins of 75-91% when the sample was restricted to the most severe form of schizophrenia. This can show that there is a link with genetics and schizophrenia. However, the twin studies have all assumed that the shared environmental effects for MZ and DZ twins are equal which may be incorrect. In addition twins are not representative of the wider population. This is because it is a very small sample and there are very few MZ twins in the population and only 1% are Schizophrenic. This shows the sample may not be generalizable to the public. In addition family studies support the idea that there is a genetic influence in schizophrenia. For example, if a parents is schizophrenic and a child becomes schizophrenic it would be likely that genetic factors responsible because...
Words: 1021 - Pages: 5
...Schizophrenia and Childhood Disorders PSY/410 September 1, 2012 Schizophrenia and Childhood Disorders Schizophrenia can affect anyone at any age, but most cases develop between adolescence and age 30. Children can be affected by schizophrenia, but this is uncommon (NAMI, 1998). For many people schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. The following paper will discuss the many components of schizophrenia that make it unique as well as the aspects of lifespan development disorders. A quick review of the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of these two disorders will hopefully inspire the reader to research further. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a disorder that keeps a person from managing his or her emotions, thinking clearly, or being able to relate to others. According to NAMI (1998, para. 1) schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects approximately two million or 15% of Americans today. There are two main symptom classis of schizophrenia: positive and negative. The positive symptoms or class I symptoms are what is referred to by Hansell and Damour (2009) as overt or heightened senses/characteristics. Negative or class II symptoms are a lack of behavioral characteristics that are not there. NAMI (1998, para. 7) notes that in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a patient must have psychotic, "loss-of-reality" symptoms for at least six months and show increasing difficulty in functioning normally. When looking...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development Cathy Perry Psy 410 September 26, 2011 Lara Ashbaugh Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development Schizophrenia and lifespan developmental disorders reduce the normal functioning of individuals suffering from them. These disorders consist of components that vary extensively; therefore defining and understanding each component within the individual’s circumstances is of extreme importance. This is especially true when diagnosing childhood disorders. Identifying and understanding these components assists in creating more effective therapeutic applications, intervention, and prevention of these disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Schizophrenia Biological Components Evidence suggests the predisposition of schizophrenia is inherited, however the genetic factor must also interact with environmental factors such as viruses, toxins, drug use, or injuries sustained prior to birth (PubMed Health, 2010). Biological components of schizophrenia consist of brain structures and functions. Several abnormalities in brain function appear to be associated with schizophrenia. This disorder is better understood by its complex neuro-developmental basis instead of a dopamine hypothesis. This hypothesis claims that there is excessive dopamine in the neural system that is the reason for schizophrenia to develop. Emotional Components Studies on the effects of expressed emotion (EE) on schizophrenic patient’s...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
...(Donnabrown119) Unit 9: Final Project: You Are a Forensic Psychologist Kaplan University Donna Brown119 Monday, November 23, 2015 Deviant behavior is any behavior that is contrary to the dominant norms of society. There are many different theories on what causes a person to perform deviant behavior, including biological explanations, psychological explanations, and sociological explanations. Numerous theories have been established to explain criminal behavior. While some theories are not as common, others have evolved and are used in many criminal studies today. Up-to-date criminologists combine the most relevant characteristics of sociology, psychology, biological, and social-psychological to advance their understanding of criminal behavior. Professionals in this field study factors that contribute to criminal activities, make relevant policy recommendations and draw conclusions based on those assessments. (Varying Theories on Crime, 2015) Several theories attempt to explain criminal behavior. Most theories assume: * Crime is part of human nature. * Crime is based on biological, psychological, and/or economic aspects. One of the earliest approaches to explaining the causes of crime was the classical theory, which is defined as a product of the Enlightenment, based on the assumption that people exercise free will and are consequently completely responsible for their actions. In the classical theory, human behavior, including criminal behavior, is...
Words: 2646 - Pages: 11
...illness has been acknowledged for thousands of years. Those who were different, or acted different from what main stream society felt was the norm; those who committed adultery, those pregnant out of wedlock, or even those who were mentally different, were all singled out, treated the same, and considered abnormal. Abnormal behavior cannot simply be defined into a single definition, with no definite line that can be crossed which separates whether someone on one side of the line has abnormal tendencies, with someone on the other side which is considered normal behavior. This paper focuses on Schizophrenia, a major mental illness, and will discuss and evaluate the symptoms, causes, and treatments which are currently being used. The human mind can be fragile, and there are many diseases and disorders that can affect it. Some may be serious while others are minor and barely recognizable. Schizophrenia is just one of those diseases which can encompass being both minor and serious. The definition for a mental illness is an illness that affects a person's mind, thoughts, emotions, personality, or behavior. Just like a physical illness, mental illness also shows symptoms that make it possible for the mental disorder or illness to be identified. Some of the recognizable symptoms can be extreme moods, sadness, anxiety, and inability to think clearly, or remember well. It does not mean, that just because a person may experience some of these symptoms, that she or he is suffering from a mental...
Words: 3704 - Pages: 15
...plan: ‘Discuss the biological approach to psychopathology’. PARAGRAPH 1- A01: Intro- explain the biological approach including key assumptions. • Biological approach regards abnormality as an illness or disease. • Assumes all mental disorders are related to some change in the body. • Mental disorders are related to the physical structure and functioning of the brain. • Seen people with psychological abnormality as ‘patients’ who are ‘ill’ and require ‘treatment’ to ‘cure’ them of disease. • Four possible factors that cause abnmormality: 1. Genetic Factors 2. Biochemistry 3. Infection 4. Brain Damage PARAGRAPH 2- AO1/2: Explain one cause of abnormality according to the biological approach and give supporting evidence. Brain damage. • Suggests that mental illnesses are caused by abnormal brain structure due to genes, development, illness or trauma. • Damage to the structure of the brain can lead to abnormal behaviour. • Once brain damage has caused mental illness there is little to be done to stop it. Examples • Alzheimer- a type of dementia caused by the malformation and loss of cells in a number of areas of the nervous system. • Alcohol and drugs can also damage the brain, which may result in korsakoffs syndrome – prefound impairment of memory most commonly caused by alcohol. Evidence. • Lawrie showed that an average schizophrenic lateral ventricle were 40% bigger than controls. This suggests that brain damage has caused schizophrenia. PARAGRAPH 3 –...
Words: 833 - Pages: 4
...Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown of though process and by deficit of typical emotional responses. This is characterized as psychosis as people suffering from this disorder are not in touch with reality. Symptoms of schizophrenia include positive, negative and secondary symptoms. According to Schneider, positive symptoms include hallucinations whereby you hear voices- usually arguments, repeating of thoughts, derogatory, obscene voices which may order the patient to commit acts of violence. Positive symptoms also include delusions whereby patients believe other people are trying to harm them as well as personal grandeur where they believe they are much greater, more powerful and more influential than they really are. According to Slater and Roth, negative symptoms of schizophrenia include a lack of energy, lack of interest in life and hygiene as well as the inability to make decisions. This is referred to as avoilation. Thought process disorder is also another negative symptom. This is the inability to keep to the point, words are thrown together and the inability to finish sentences. Patients experiencing negative symptoms of schizophrenia may also experience loss of emotional responses as well as sudden mood change. Secondary symptoms are additional symptoms that occur from having schizophrenia. These include depression, loss of job and friends etc. There are three main types of schizophrenia. Disorganised, catatonic and paranoid schizophrenia...
Words: 1259 - Pages: 6
...Approaches Biological Theories According to the text, there are several biological theories of schizophrenia and evidence indicates genetic transmission, although genetics does not fully explain who develops this disorder. Secondly, some patients show structural and functional abnormalities in specific areas of the brain, which may contribute to the disorder. Thirdly, many people with schizophrenia have a history of birth complications or prenatal exposure to viruses, which may affect brain development. Then fourthly, neurotransmitter theories hold that excess levels of dopamine contribute to schizophrenia. There are Genetic Contributors to Schizophrenia such as Family, Twin, Adoption studies that have all indicated the presence of a genetic component to the transmission of Schizophrenia. Scientists believe that different genes are responsible for different symptoms of the disorder. Studies have also found that there are Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities related to Schizophrenia. Scientists have long believed that the brains of those with this disorder differ from those who do not have it. Scans such as PETs, CAT scans, and MRIs are some of the technological ways of determining this fact. As mentioned in another module 7 assignment, Birth Complications are corresponded with those who have Schizophrenia along with Prenatal Viral Exposure. Psychosocial Perspectives Social Drift and Urban Birth have had studies that supposedly link them with Schizophrenia. Studies...
Words: 678 - Pages: 3
...Mental Illness and Schizophrenia Mental Illness and Schizophrenia Joyce Dalton PSY350: Physiological Psychology Instructor: Brandy Goldston February 5, 2012 Mental Illness and Schizophrenia Mental illness has been acknowledged for thousands of years. Those who were different, or acted different from what main stream society felt was the norm; those who committed adultery, those pregnant out of wedlock, or even those who were mentally different, were all singled out, treated the same, and considered abnormal. Abnormal behavior cannot simply be defined into a single definition, with no definite line that can be crossed which separates whether someone on one side of the line has abnormal tendencies, with someone on the other side which is considered normal behavior. This paper focuses on Schizophrenia, a major mental illness, and will discuss and evaluate the symptoms, causes, and treatments which are currently being used. The human mind can be fragile, and there are many diseases and disorders that can affect it. Some may be serious while others are minor and barely recognizable. Schizophrenia is just one of those diseases which can encompass being both minor and serious. The definition for a mental illness is an illness that affects a person's mind, thoughts, emotions, personality, or behavior. Just like a physical illness, mental illness also shows symptoms that make it possible for the mental disorder or illness to be identified. Some of the recognizable symptoms...
Words: 3768 - Pages: 16
...illness has been acknowledged for thousands of years. Those who were different, or acted different from what main stream society felt was the norm; those who committed adultery, those pregnant out of wedlock, or even those who were mentally different, were all singled out, treated the same, and considered abnormal. Abnormal behavior cannot simply be defined into a single definition, with no definite line that can be crossed which separates whether someone on one side of the line has abnormal tendencies, with someone on the other side which is considered normal behavior. This paper focuses on Schizophrenia, a major mental illness, and will discuss and evaluate the symptoms, causes, and treatments which are currently being used. The human mind can be fragile, and there are many diseases and disorders that can affect it. Some may be serious while others are minor and barely recognizable. Schizophrenia is just one of those diseases which can encompass being both minor and serious. The definition for a mental illness is an illness that affects a person's mind, thoughts, emotions, personality, or behavior. Just like a physical illness, mental illness also shows symptoms that make it possible for the mental disorder or illness to be identified. Some of the recognizable symptoms can be extreme moods, sadness, anxiety, and inability to think clearly, or remember well. It does not mean, that just because a person may experience some of these symptoms, that she or he is suffering from a mental...
Words: 3714 - Pages: 15
