Eduqas A Level Psychology Schizophrenia Exam Questions

About Eduqas A Level Psychology Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of six behaviours in Component 3, of which you study three. You need its characteristics, at least two biological, individual differences and social psychological explanations, and at least two methods of modifying it. The specification lists cannabis, the dopamine hypothesis and enlarged ventricles; thought disorder, the schizophrenogenic mother and sex differences; cultural norms, dysfunctional families and expressed emotion; and antipsychotic drugs and CBT. It links to drug therapy in the biological approach and CBT in the cognitive approach from Component 1. Examiners reward precise symptom terminology and balanced evaluation.

What you need to know

• Characteristics Positive symptoms add to normal experience: hallucinations, delusions and disorganised speech. Negative symptoms involve loss of normal function: avolition, alogia (poverty of speech) and flattened affect. Diagnosis uses classification systems such as DSM-5 and ICD.
• Biological explanations The dopamine hypothesis links positive symptoms to excess dopamine activity in subcortical (mesolimbic) pathways and negative symptoms to low dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. Cannabis (THC) affects brain chemistry; Andreasson et al. (1987) found heavy users among Swedish conscripts were about six times more likely to be diagnosed later. Johnstone et al. (1976) found enlarged ventricles on CT scans.
• Individual differences Thought disorder involves disorganised, illogical thinking and speech. The 'schizophrenogenic mother' (Fromm-Reichmann) described a cold, controlling parent; it has little support. Men tend to show earlier onset and more negative symptoms than women.
• Social psychological explanations Cultural norms affect what is seen as abnormal, for example hearing voices may be valued in some cultures. Dysfunctional families and the double bind (Bateson et al., 1956) send contradictory messages. High expressed emotion (criticism, hostility, over-involvement) is linked to relapse (Vaughn and Leff, 1976).
• Methods of modifying Typical antipsychotics (such as chlorpromazine) block dopamine D2 receptors; atypicals (such as clozapine) also act on serotonin and may help negative symptoms. CBT for psychosis helps patients test the evidence for delusions and cope with voices, alongside medication.

Common mistakes in Schizophrenia

• Saying 'positive' symptoms are good. Positive means added to normal experience, such as hallucinations, not desirable.
• Writing that antipsychotics cure schizophrenia. They reduce symptoms, especially positive ones, and relapse is common when they are stopped.
• Treating the link between cannabis and schizophrenia as proven causation. The relationship is correlational and could reflect self-medication or a shared vulnerability.
• Confusing schizophrenia with 'split personality'. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder involving a split from reality, not multiple personalities.

Try three Schizophrenia exam-style questions