Week 3 schizophrenia intro

1. Schizophrenia Questions
1. Differentiate between positive and negative
symptoms.
2. What are the major symptoms of schizophrenia?
3. Differentiate between hallucinations and
delusions?
4. How long does one have to exhibit the
symptoms to be diagnosed with schizophrenia?

3. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you:
• Must be able to describe (Ao1) the biological
explanation of schizophrenia.
• Should be able to describe the social
explanation of schizophrenia.
• Should be able to compare the two descriptions.
Pg. 20

4. Biological Approach
• Nature debate – schizophrenia a result of our
genetic inheritance or our brain functioning.
– defective version of a gene, called PPP3CC to
produce an imbalance in levels of dopamine

5. Inherit PPP3CC
Gene
Imbalance in
dopamine
levels
Resulting in excessive
or reduced levels in
the brain
Excessive – limbic
system – positive
symptoms – type I
Lack of – prefrontal
cortex-negative
symptoms-type II
The Dopamine
Hypothesis
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and has many
functions in the brain, including important
roles in motivation, mood, attention, working
memory, and learning.

6. Type I & Type II Symptoms
Schizophrenia has been linked to
increased levels of dopamine.
This can happen in specific areas of the
brain such as the limbic system
(emotions).
Too much dopamine in this area is linked
to positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
e.g. delusions and Type I schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is also sometimes linked to
decreased levels of dopamine.
This can happen in specific areas of the
brain such as the pre-frontal cortex
(intellectual functioning).
Too little dopamine in this area is linked
to negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
e.g. poor cognitive functioning and Type
II schizophrenia.

7. Social Explanation
• The social causation hypothesis
suggests that those from lower
social classes who are living in
urban areas are more at risk of
developing schizophrenia.
• Being in a lower social class
increases the stress factors for a
person, for example the stress
resulting from high population
density, high levels of
unemployment, poor housing and
low socioeconomic status. Such
factors are associated with living
in inner cities.

10. • Must be able to describe (Ao1) the biological
explanation of schizophrenia.
• Should be able to describe the social explanation
of schizophrenia.
• Should be able to compare the two descriptions.

11. www.jamiesflipped.co.uk
@jamiesflipped