Schizophrenia
Exam Technique for Psychology
1) Contextualise the points by linking them to the question and the research mentioned
2) Create flashcards on the research studies and know them
3) Follow a methodical and logical structure
4) State when you are evaluating and moving on to the next point
5) Always write a conclusion for evaluation questions
6) Have both breadth and depth
7) Provide a balanced argument
8) Use the PEEL structure if it helps
A01 Biological Explanation Genetics
A01 Point Content
Brief into genetics ● Schizophrenia includes an inheritance gene
● 4 areas of research to try and discover (family, twin and
adoptive studies + genetic breakthrough of the C4)
Link into next point & ● Twin studies
description ● Indicates that concordance rates of monozygotic twins
are higher than dizygotic twins because they share
100% of their genes compared to 50% of them.
Therefore, we expect it to be higher.
Describe a study to ● To illustrate, Gottesman (1991)
illustrate (extra info) ● Concordance rates: Monozygotic twins (48%) compared
to Dizygotic twins (17%)
Link into next point & ● Family studies
description ● Where the inheritability of schizophrenia depending on
how severe the symptoms were and how closely related
to your the schizophrenia person
Describe a study to ● Gottesman and Shields (1982)
illustrate (extra info) ● Individuals whose parents had an identical schizophrenic
twin had 17% chance of being schizophrenic themselves
Link into next point & ● Adoption studies
description ● Used to overcome issues of shared genes and
environment
● If birth families = high concordance rates (genetic factor)
● If adopted families = high concordance rates
(environment factor)
Describe a study to ● Tienari et al (2000) studied 164 adoptees
illustrate (extra info) ● Biological schizophrenic mothers: where 6.7% or 11
children had the illness
● Biological non-schizophrenic mothers: where 2% or 4
children had the illness
Linking into the ● Genetic Breakthrough (MIT and Harvard)
, identification of genes ● Identified a gene believed to increase the risk of
schizophrenia
Describe a study to ● The gene C4 (Complement Component 4) increases the
illustrate risk of schizophrenia
● Involved in eliminating connections between neurons (a
common development process during teen years)
● Where excessive pruning is performed
Polygenic, Epigenetic ● Expression of genes from monozygotic twins can be
Explanation, Diathesis affected by the environment
Stress Model, ● Activation or repression (explains why one twin may
develop schizophrenia while the other doesn’t)
A03 Biological Explanation Genetics Evaluation
Evaluation Slide Concluding statement
references
Supporting 14 to 21, There’s substantial support for the genetic component of
evidence 29, 47, 48, schizophrenia with studies and high concordance rates such
49 as identifying over 108 specific locations in human genes
that link to schizophrenia.
Evidence 15, 31 to 35 The majority of the evidence against the biological
against explanation includes how the gene may be activated or
repressed by environmental stressors the individual
experiences. The diathesis-stress model suggests that there
is a genetic and environmental role in developing
schizophrenia.
Although concordance rates between monozygotic twins are
high, if there is only a genetic component, then theoretically
they would have a 100% of developing shiczophrenia.
Methods 34, 35, 13, Much research in this area suffers from small samples or
27, 31 unscientific methodology. It is often impossible also to fully
rule out the environment, and the fact that twins are treated
similarly.
They’re also mostly based on heritability studies (twins,
family and adoptive studies) which are non-experimental
and therefore cause-and-effect relationships cannot be
drawn.
Controversi 45, 46 Individuals such as Joseph (2004) point out that adoption
es studies fail to take into account selective placement and
Kringlen (1987) contribute to the discussion that adoptive
parents may not adopt the children if they find out their
parents have schizophrenia. The main conclusion among
the controversies takes into account external factors that
Exam Technique for Psychology
1) Contextualise the points by linking them to the question and the research mentioned
2) Create flashcards on the research studies and know them
3) Follow a methodical and logical structure
4) State when you are evaluating and moving on to the next point
5) Always write a conclusion for evaluation questions
6) Have both breadth and depth
7) Provide a balanced argument
8) Use the PEEL structure if it helps
A01 Biological Explanation Genetics
A01 Point Content
Brief into genetics ● Schizophrenia includes an inheritance gene
● 4 areas of research to try and discover (family, twin and
adoptive studies + genetic breakthrough of the C4)
Link into next point & ● Twin studies
description ● Indicates that concordance rates of monozygotic twins
are higher than dizygotic twins because they share
100% of their genes compared to 50% of them.
Therefore, we expect it to be higher.
Describe a study to ● To illustrate, Gottesman (1991)
illustrate (extra info) ● Concordance rates: Monozygotic twins (48%) compared
to Dizygotic twins (17%)
Link into next point & ● Family studies
description ● Where the inheritability of schizophrenia depending on
how severe the symptoms were and how closely related
to your the schizophrenia person
Describe a study to ● Gottesman and Shields (1982)
illustrate (extra info) ● Individuals whose parents had an identical schizophrenic
twin had 17% chance of being schizophrenic themselves
Link into next point & ● Adoption studies
description ● Used to overcome issues of shared genes and
environment
● If birth families = high concordance rates (genetic factor)
● If adopted families = high concordance rates
(environment factor)
Describe a study to ● Tienari et al (2000) studied 164 adoptees
illustrate (extra info) ● Biological schizophrenic mothers: where 6.7% or 11
children had the illness
● Biological non-schizophrenic mothers: where 2% or 4
children had the illness
Linking into the ● Genetic Breakthrough (MIT and Harvard)
, identification of genes ● Identified a gene believed to increase the risk of
schizophrenia
Describe a study to ● The gene C4 (Complement Component 4) increases the
illustrate risk of schizophrenia
● Involved in eliminating connections between neurons (a
common development process during teen years)
● Where excessive pruning is performed
Polygenic, Epigenetic ● Expression of genes from monozygotic twins can be
Explanation, Diathesis affected by the environment
Stress Model, ● Activation or repression (explains why one twin may
develop schizophrenia while the other doesn’t)
A03 Biological Explanation Genetics Evaluation
Evaluation Slide Concluding statement
references
Supporting 14 to 21, There’s substantial support for the genetic component of
evidence 29, 47, 48, schizophrenia with studies and high concordance rates such
49 as identifying over 108 specific locations in human genes
that link to schizophrenia.
Evidence 15, 31 to 35 The majority of the evidence against the biological
against explanation includes how the gene may be activated or
repressed by environmental stressors the individual
experiences. The diathesis-stress model suggests that there
is a genetic and environmental role in developing
schizophrenia.
Although concordance rates between monozygotic twins are
high, if there is only a genetic component, then theoretically
they would have a 100% of developing shiczophrenia.
Methods 34, 35, 13, Much research in this area suffers from small samples or
27, 31 unscientific methodology. It is often impossible also to fully
rule out the environment, and the fact that twins are treated
similarly.
They’re also mostly based on heritability studies (twins,
family and adoptive studies) which are non-experimental
and therefore cause-and-effect relationships cannot be
drawn.
Controversi 45, 46 Individuals such as Joseph (2004) point out that adoption
es studies fail to take into account selective placement and
Kringlen (1987) contribute to the discussion that adoptive
parents may not adopt the children if they find out their
parents have schizophrenia. The main conclusion among
the controversies takes into account external factors that
