Practise explaining genetic, dopamine and cognitive accounts of schizophrenia, applying them to symptoms and evaluating their reductionist or holistic scope.
Prisha is hearing voices that seem real to her but no one else in her family can hear them. She tells her doctor about the voices and that her identical twin sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia three years ago. Prisha's doctor diagnoses her with schizophrenia.
Outline two explanations for Prisha's diagnosis, based on what she told her doctor.
For each characteristic:
Award 2 marks for a detailed explanation of schizophrenia linked to Prisha. Award 1 mark for a basic explanation of schizophrenia linked to Prisha.
Likely explanations
Genetic (Gottesman and Shields)
Cognitive (Firth)
Example:
Prisha may have been diagnosed with schizophrenia because it is genetic and Prisha's twin sister was diagnosed three years ago. (1) Gottesman and Shields found that there was a concordance rate of approximately 50% between identical twins. (1) OR Research has found there was a higher concordance rate for identical twins compared to non-identical twins. (1)
Prisha may have schizophrenia due to an inability to recognise her own internal voice and instead interprets this as an external voice. (1) Frith describes this as an inability to self-monitor internal thoughts. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
4
\% not required for full marks.
If no \% then need to mention that concordance is higher between identical compared to non-identical.
Can allow biochemical linked to hearing voices.