Biological explanations of sz
Task: Discuss two or more biological explanations for the development of schizophrenia.
One biological explanation for schizophrenia is genetics. This theory states that a person’s genes determine whether they develop schizophrenia or not. Family studies, twin studies and adoption studies have explored the roles of genes in the development of sz. Gottesman conducted a family study and he identified that the closer someone is genetically to a person with sz, the more likely to develop sz. For example, Mz twins have a concordance rate of 48%, Dz is 17%, siblings are 9% and parents is 6%. Therefore the likelihood of suffering from a disorder increases by the closeness of you to the person genetically.
Kety supports Gottesman in the role of genes in the development of sz. He conducted a study with 207 offspring of mothers diagnosed with sz which he called the high risk group, along with a matched control of 104 children with healthy mothers. The children were between the ages of 10 to 18 years. Sz was diagnosed in 16.2% in high risk group compared with 1.9% in low risk group. Erlenmeyer-Kimling conducted a follow up study 25 years later.
Family history and twin studies suggest that genes influence sz. Gottesman found that a correlation between genetic relatedness with a schizophrenic patient and the chance someone would have it. Dz concordance was 17% and Mz was 48%, supporting a genetic influence but because the Mz concordance rate was not 100%, the environment must also play a role. A problem with these studies is that closely related people also live in similar environment, so it might all be due to the environment.
To overcome the issues of shared environment and disentangle, the genetic and environmental issues adoption studies are used where genetically related p’s are reared apart. The Finish adoption study identified 122 adopted away children from schizophrenic biological mothers. This was compared with 135 adopted away children from non-sz mothers.
One biological explanation for schizophrenia is genetics. This theory states that a person’s genes determine whether they develop schizophrenia or not. Family studies, twin studies and adoption studies have explored the roles of genes in the development of sz. Gottesman conducted a family study and he identified that the closer someone is genetically to a person with sz, the more likely to develop sz. For example, Mz twins have a concordance rate of 48%, Dz is 17%, siblings are 9% and parents is 6%. Therefore the likelihood of suffering from a disorder increases by the closeness of you to the person genetically.
Kety supports Gottesman in the role of genes in the development of sz. He conducted a study with 207 offspring of mothers diagnosed with sz which he called the high risk group, along with a matched control of 104 children with healthy mothers. The children were between the ages of 10 to 18 years. Sz was diagnosed in 16.2% in high risk group compared with 1.9% in low risk group. Erlenmeyer-Kimling conducted a follow up study 25 years later.
Family history and twin studies suggest that genes influence sz. Gottesman found that a correlation between genetic relatedness with a schizophrenic patient and the chance someone would have it. Dz concordance was 17% and Mz was 48%, supporting a genetic influence but because the Mz concordance rate was not 100%, the environment must also play a role. A problem with these studies is that closely related people also live in similar environment, so it might all be due to the environment.
To overcome the issues of shared environment and disentangle, the genetic and environmental issues adoption studies are used where genetically related p’s are reared apart. The Finish adoption study identified 122 adopted away children from schizophrenic biological mothers. This was compared with 135 adopted away children from non-sz mothers.