Biological Explanations Of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterised by “alterations in perception, thoughts and consciousness”, these are typically identified as hallucinations and delusions (Sarason & Sarason, 1999). When analysing lifetime prevalence, the common assumption generally suggested that around ‘1 % of the population is diagnosed with schizophrenia’ (Nemade & Dombeck, 2009). However, recent reviews of prevalence rates have argued that these figures are overestimates as only 7 or 8 individuals per 1000 will be affected (Saha, Chant, Welham & McGrath, 2005). The disagreements regarding prevalence highlights how there may potentially be issues in terms of diagnosis, and this may be due to the different classification systems (DSM-5 and the ICD-10)

This essay will contrast the different explanations of schizophrenia, in terms of biological causes, focusing on the idea that schizophrenia is entirely genetic in origin, and as genetic similarity increases so does the risk of developing schizophrenia (Gottesman & Shields, 1982). As well as, psychological explanations such as family environments and interactions, as well as cognitive theories in relation to cognitive deficits and “incorrect inferences” about reality (Sarason et al, 1999).

Biological explanations focus on the physiological basis of schizophrenia, whereby individuals have a genetic pre-disposition. Research has shown that biochemical brain abnormalities can lead to the development of schizophrenia. Previously, the “subcortical hyperdopaminergic assumption” suggested that high levels of dopamine triggered schizophrenia (Van den

There is sufficient evidence to assume that biological explanations are important in the onset of schizophrenia but as previously noted research suggests that a “healthy family environment has a protective effect” for those with a biological risk of developing schizophrenia (Sarason & Sarason, 1999). Therefore, suggesting that genetics and pre-natal influences play an important role in the vulnerability aspect. Whilst potentially, psychological explanations such as defective self-monitoring may have a more important role in the prevention of remission, as positive symptoms such as hallucinations are maintained predominately by the blame being displaced onto external forces, where they are unable to internally identify