Family studies carried out by Gottesman in 1991 helped to look into this further. His studies concluded the following: Throughout the general population, 1% had the disease, 13% of children of people with it suffered but the highest family group connected to the person who suffered from schizophrenia was identical twins with 47%. This information proves that there is obviously a link between genetics and schizophrenia as it would seem the more genetically linked you are to a person suffering from schizophrenia, the more likely it is for that person to suffer from it themselves. However, the highest percentage of people most likely to inherit the disease from another person, identical twins, only account for 47% which is less than half of the population who could inherit, meaning that genetics are not entirely to blame and cant be seen as a completely accurate explanation for schizophrenia. The current belief is that there are a number of genes that contribute to susceptibility of schizophrenia, but none exhibit full responsibility for the disease.
The risk is highest for an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia. He or she has a 40 to 65 percent chance of developing the disorder (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 2009). It’s been proven that schizophrenia does run in families. However, the fact that there are multiple causes for schizophrenia including outside factors such as environmental causes proves the point further that no test screening is ever completely and entirely accurate. For example, just because a person gets the screening, and it comes back negative, doesn’t mean they may not develop schizophrenia later on in life.
The first explanation of phobias is the genetic explanation, which argues that phobias are hereditary. Most if the family studies conducted by researchers have found that relatives of those with phobias are more likely to suffer phobias themselves compared with relatives of non-phobic controls. A twin study by Slater and Shields 1969 found 41% concordance in 17MZ twin pairs versus 4% in 28 DZ twin pairs for any type of anxiety disorder. However even though studies have proven to support the genetic problems there are a number of difficulties with family studies. The main problem is that in most cases family members share the same environment so it can be argued that it was the environment that caused them to equally learn the behaviour instead of the genetic relationship.
Discuss biological explanations for depression (24marks) One of the most popular explanations of depression is genetics; this theory states that genes are to blame for the presence of depression. It also argues that depression, like many other illnesses, is an inherited one which runs in families. McGuffin et al (1996) conducted research on concordance rates using 177 identical and fraternal twins. They found that the concordance rate was 46% for identical twins, but only 20% for fraternal twins; these findings are significant as the concordance rate for identical twins is over double of that for fraternal twins. These findings support the biological explanation as it suggests that depression has a genetic factor.
Janicak et al found that concordance rates for MZ twins are about 48% compared to 17% for DZ twins. Joseph conducted a meta-analysis of a variety twin studies, there was a concordance rate for MZ twins are about 40.4% compared to 7.4% for DZ twins. also Gottesman and Shields used the Maudsly twin register and found 58% of separated twins were concordant for schizophrenia. Another way that the bauture nurture debate is trying to be resolved is using bothe family and adoption studies.tienari et al study looked at164 finish adoptees that had biological mothers with schizophrenia it was found that 11 of the 164 were also diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to 4 of the 197 control adoptees who did not have biological mothers with schizophrenia. The studty therefore found that there were high rates of chronic schizophrenia in adoptees who had biological parents with chronic schizophrenia but had an adopted parent who was considered to be ‘normal’.overall it shows that therfe is not one right
Genetics Factor Behind Childhood Schizophrenia This research paper examines the role of genetic and environmental risk factors in the development of childhood schizophrenia. Childhood schizophrenia appears to be a disorder of development that results from a series of neurological insults from fetal life onward. Whether or not schizophrenia manifests in the result of a conglomeration of these factors, both genetic and environmental. Schizophrenia undoubtedly has a genetic component. The risk of inheriting schizophrenia ranges from about 10% for those who have one first-degree family member (mother, father, sister, brother) with the disease to about 40%-65% if the disease affects both parents and an identical twin.
“It occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. People who have second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the disease also develop schizophrenia more often than the general population” (Schizophrenia, 2009). There isn’t just one gene that is associated with schizophrenia, but scientists believe there are several genes that are linked to the disorder. “Other recent studies suggest that schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making important brain chemicals malfunctions. This problem may affect the part of the brain involved in developing higher functioning skills” (Schizophrenia, 2009).
Nick Almeida Stephanie Branch Rachel Johnson Intro. Abnormal Psychology Adolescent Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the total population. It is characterized by sets of positive and negative symptoms which vary from patient to patient, but in general affects the normal functioning in social and occupational settings. The focus of this paper will be on the causes, diagnoses, and treatments associated with adolescent schizophrenia. It is important to effectively understand adolescent schizophrenia because the disorder can last a lifetime; learning the base causes, the dynamics of a strong diagnosis, and the most effective treatments can greatly improve a patient’s probability
Most people diagnosed with schizophrenia are aged between 18 and 35, with men tending to be diagnosed at a slightly younger age than women. There’s no complete answer to why some people develop symptoms of schizophrenia when other people do not. And, because of differences of opinion about the definition of schizophrenia and its symptoms, it’s not easy to identify what might cause it. The most common theories are: Dopamine - There is evidence that too much dopamine may be involved in the development of schizophrenia, but it’s still not clear how, or whether everyone diagnosed with schizophrenia has too much
Schizophrenia is defined as a psychotic disorder in which people are disturbed by their own thoughts. Whether it be voices or illusions people that suffer from this illness tend to distort reality. Schizophrenia is usually diagnosed between the ages of 16-30, though it is still being researched today, we are not certain how schizophrenia is developed. Some scientists believe that schizophrenia is caused by a gene malfunction; other scientists say it is caused by family genetics. There are three main symptoms of schizophrenia, delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorder.