1. Biological Explanation of Schizophrenia

2. Biological explanations for schizophrenia
Genetics
The dopamine hypothesis
Neural correlates

3. Underlying assumptions

4. Genetics Heredity Lifetime risk- 1 in a 100
High proportion of schizophrenics have a close relative with the disorder.
Gottesman (1991)
What does this table mean?
Relative with schizophrenia
Chance of developing schizophrenia
None
1 in 100
Parent
1 in 10 (13% concordance in twin study)
Identical Twin (MZ)
1 in 2
Non-identical Twin (DZ)
1 in 8
2 parents with schizophrenia
46% concordance rate in twin study

5. Genetic Evaluation? Is the research method conclusive? Reductionism
Determinism

6. Are paedophiles' brains wired differently?
Dr James Cantor, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, spends much of his time exploring the brains of paedophiles using MRI scans. He has reached a startling and controversial conclusion.
"Paedophilia is a sexual orientation," he says. "Paedophilia is something that we are essentially born with, does not appear to change over time and it's as core to our being as any other sexual orientation is."
Cantor found that the brains of the paedophiles he studied were wired differently to non-paedophiles - something he describes as effectively a "cross-wiring" of the brain.
"It's as if, in these people, when they perceive a child, it's triggering the sexual instincts instead of triggering the nurturing instincts," he says.
Cantor's work provides an alternative explanation of how paedophilia develops. However, it carries with it the stark implication that, if you are born a paedophile, you are condemned to stay a paedophile.
How could this link to another evaluation point for the genetic explanation of Schizophrenia?

7. Before we start… Essays Teaching Plan until Christmas Tracking Sheet
2 mark questions

8. The Dopamine Hypothesis: Using the explanations from the textbook draw the relevant diagram
Excess of dopamine- Fire to easily
Too many D2 receptors on post- synaptic
Associated with Positive symptoms
Example of Amphetamines- hallucinations and delusions

9. One student from each table to label on the board

10. Examples from Drugs Amphetamines- A DA agonist. What happens?
Key Terms:
Agonist; a chemical that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response. Causes an action.
Antagonist; blocks the action of the agonist, causes an action opposite to that of the chemical.
Examples from Drugs
Amphetamines- A DA agonist. What happens?
‘Cocaine- Psychosis’.
Speed
Crystal Meth
Ketamine
Mephodrome
MDMA
Adderall
L-Dopa- a DA Agonist prescribed for Parkinson disease- leads to symptoms of Schizophrenia.
Antipsychotics- next lesson

11. What is meant by Neural Correlates?

12. Neural Correlates through Brain Scanning (Davis and Kahn ‘91)

13. Neural Correlates through Brain Scanning (Davis and Kahn ‘91)
Prefrontal Cortex
Subcortical
Patel et al ‘10, PET Scans, lower DA dorsolateral PFC than controls
Excess Dopamine
Deficit in Dopamine

14. How to structure AO1 Underlying assumptions of the approach.
Explanation of the theory in context.
Examples where possible to show understanding.
If appropriate a behavioural prediction.

15. Learning to think! In two groups assign each person a relevant hat.
Put the hat on.
Complete your section of the page.
Share with your group.
Share with the class.

16. DA Hypothesis and Neural Correlates Evaluation?
Possible discussion points:
Use of evidence to support / refute- Success of Drug Therapy
Comparison with psychological explanations- cant do yet
Value of the diathesis-stress approach- cant do yet
Implications, eg determinism, early identification, consequences for treatment
Reductionism – explanation at a basic cellular and chemical level and consequences of this

17. AO3 on A3 Evidence from Drug Therapy Reductionism Determinism
Which drugs?
What do they do?
How does it support DA Hypothesis?
How does it support Neural Correlates Explanation?
On the other hand can you rely on correlational evidence? Consider the Treatment Aetiology Fallacy
Reductionism
What does it mean and how are these explanations reductionist?
Why is this an issue in terms of how realistic it is, and how well it represents a complex human being, and why ignoring these higher order factors could be an issue in treatment, how it could lead to relapse.
Counter argue it by suggesting strengths of reductionism in terms of it being good scientific practice- remember the quote from Einstein.
Determinism
What does it mean and how are these explanations determinist?
Why is this an issue in terms of how much motivation it gives patients, how much responsibility it takes from them, how, difficulties in placing blame, challenges for the judicial system.
Counter argue by suggesting strengths of determinism in terms of it being more scientific, allowing us to establish a cause of the issue, which has allowed us to develop treatment, which has alleviated symptoms for many patients, which has had a good impact on the economy.

18. Essay Plan: Genetic AO1 Underlying Assumptions of Biological Approach
Explain what heredity means
Explain what concordance means
Explain the rationale for the use of family studies in this area
Outline the life time risk and the findings of Gottesman ‘91
AO3
Separation of genetics and environmental influences
Reductionism
Determinism

19. Essay Plan: Dopamine Hypothesis
AO1
Underlying Assumptions of Biological Approach
Explain what dopamine is
Explain what neural correlates means
Explain area related to positive symptoms (subcortical, mesolimbic, excess)
Explain area related to negative symptoms (prefrontal, mesocortical, deficit)
Explain how this is evident through brain scans
AO3
Success of Drug therapy
Reductionism
Determinism

20. Essay Plan: Neural Correlates
AO1
Underlying Assumptions of Biological Approach
Explain what dopamine is
Explain the process taking place at the synapse when there is an excess firing (key bio. Terms)
Explain the process taking place at the synapse when there is are too many D2 receptors (key bio. Terms)
Explain how this is evident through the example of Amphetamines
AO3
Success of Drug therapy
Reductionism
Determinism

21. Group Essay Plans
Groups of 4- A3 Planning- neat for photocopying for the group.
Genetic Explanation
Dopamine Hypothesis
Neural Correlates
1 Person for AO1
1 Person for each AO3 points

22. Knowledge Quiz
Using the Key Term and the Assessment Objective you have been given write a question for the class.
Offer a mark allocation (1, 2 or 3 marks).
Prizes for winners so make it challenging!
Genetic- AO1
Dopamine Hypothesis- AO1
Neural Correlates- AO1
Reductionism- AO3
Determinism- AO3
Drug use- AO3
Amphetamines- AO1
Positive Symptoms – AO1
Gottesman AO1
Negative Symptoms- AO1
Twin Studies- AO3
Cause and Effect- AO3
Concordance Rate- AO1

23. Key Terms Pictionary!