Question 1

What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms are 'added' experiences that are not normally present, such as hallucinations (sensory experiences without external stimulus) and delusions (fixed false beliefs). Negative symptoms are 'missing' normal functions, like avolition (lack of motivation), speech poverty (reduced speech), and affective flattening (reduced emotional expression). Positive symptoms are often more responsive to antipsychotic medication, while negative symptoms are harder to treat.

Question 2

How does the dopamine hypothesis explain schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The dopamine hypothesis suggests that schizophrenia results from excessive dopamine activity in certain brain areas. High dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway is linked to positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations), while low dopamine in the prefrontal cortex is linked to negative symptoms. Evidence includes the fact that antipsychotic drugs (which block dopamine receptors) reduce positive symptoms, and drugs like amphetamines (which increase dopamine) can induce psychotic symptoms.

Question 3

What is the role of family dysfunction in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Family dysfunction theories suggest that abnormal family environments contribute to schizophrenia. The 'schizophrenogenic mother' concept (cold, controlling, and rejecting) was an early idea, but it lacks evidence and is sexist. More supported is 'expressed emotion' (EE), where high levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement from family members are linked to higher relapse rates. EE is not a cause but a trigger for relapse in vulnerable individuals.

Question 4

Can schizophrenia be cured?

Accepted Answer

There is no cure for schizophrenia, but treatments can manage symptoms effectively. Antipsychotic medication helps control positive symptoms, while psychological therapies like CBT can help patients cope with delusions and hallucinations. Family therapy reduces relapse by lowering expressed emotion. With ongoing treatment, many people with schizophrenia lead fulfilling lives, though negative symptoms may persist.

Question 5

What is the interactionist approach to schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The interactionist approach (or diathesis-stress model) combines biological and psychological factors. It proposes that a genetic vulnerability (diathesis) interacts with environmental stressors (e.g., trauma, cannabis use) to trigger schizophrenia. For example, the dopamine hypothesis is biological, but stress can increase dopamine levels. This approach is supported by research showing that adopted children with a genetic risk are more likely to develop schizophrenia if raised in a dysfunctional family.

Question 6

How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is diagnosed using criteria from the DSM-5 or ICD-10. A person must show at least two positive or negative symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech) for most of a month, with signs of disturbance lasting at least six months. Diagnosis is clinical, based on interviews and observation, and must rule out other conditions like bipolar disorder or substance abuse. There is no biological test, which raises issues of reliability and validity.

Schizophrenia

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