Discuss Biological Explanations of Schizophrenia Essay

re are several different explanations for the trouble schizophrenia. One of these explanations is the biological model. This model explains schizophrenia through biological faults, for example viral infections and brain abnormalities.Genetic FactorsSome psychologists say that schizophrenia can be passed down generations, meaning that some people inherit the disorder from their parents.Twin research has consistently shown that identical twins arrest a greater risk of developing schizophrenia, if their twin has the disorder, than non-identical twins. Gottesman put together monozygotic twins form a concordance pose of 48%, whilst dizygotic twins have a concordance rate of 17%.Evaluation of Genetic FactorsThis research shows that in that respect is a definite correlation between genetics and the risk of developing schizophrenia.However, no twin research has found a 100% concordance rate therefore it is impossible the say that genes definitely cause schizophrenia, as other factors c learly have an influence.Also, some psychologists argue that the high concordance rates found could be caused by being brought up in a family with a schizophrenic, so the child mimics the schizophrenic behaviour, rather than by genetics.The dopamine HypothesisThe dopamine hypothesis says that schizophrenia is caused by an increased reaction to dopamine in the brain. This could be because there is too much of the hormone dopamine in the brain, or conversely because there is an abnormally high number of dopamine sense organs in the brain. This model says the excess sensitivity to dopamine results in the brain causes the symptomsof schizophrenia.Evaluation of the Dopamine HypothesisAutopsies have found an unusually high number of dopamine receptors in the brain of schizophrenics (Owen et al, 1987), however, this evidence is varied and inconclusive.Grilly (2002) found that patients who suffered from Parkinsons and took the drug L-dopa, which increases dopamine levels, showed signs of sc hizophrenic symptoms. This suggests the increase in dopamine could result in schizophrenia.Problems with this explanationThere are problems of the dopamine hypothesis. One is that antipsychotic drugs, which block dopamine receptor dont always help patients. This suggests something else must cause schizophrenia as well otherwise the drugs would help all the patients.Brain dysfunction utilise brain imaging techniques, such as P.E.T scans, researchers have found many schizophrenics have enlarged ventricles, on average 15% larger than normal. Some psychologists trust that the increase in the size of these ventricles is what leads to the schizophrenic symptoms.EvaluationThe brain imaging scans support this explanation in itself, its clear that a lot of schizophrenics have different brain structures to normal people, so there must be some correlation between the two.Research by Meyer-Lindenberg (2002) found that reduced practise of the prefrontal cortex is linked to dopamine abnormaliti es. This could provide anexplanation of why brain dysfunction could cause schizophrenia, not show a correlation.Viral transmittalSome researchers suggest that brain abnormalities that lead to schizophrenia could be caused by viral infection. For example, contracting diseases such as Flu or Syphilis in the womb may relate to developing schizophrenia in later lifeEvaluation of Viral TheoryTorrey (2000) found that more schizophrenics are born(p) in the winter, when it is cold and exposure to viruses is higher, than in other months. Although this link is only correlational it suggests viruses do affect the chance of developing schizophrenia