B2B W2T1

Question 1

What is the sociodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

A hypothesis that integrates psychological processes, neurobiology, epidemiology, and neurodevelopment to explain schizophrenia

This hypothesis suggests interactions among various factors leading to the disorder.

Question 2

What are the three key areas of understanding schizophrenia that have advanced over the last two decades?

Answer 2

• Psychological processes
• Epidemiology
• Neurobiology

These areas include risk factors, environmental components, and neurotransmitter roles.

Question 3

The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia has been around since which year?

Answer 3

1976

It has undergone many attempts to refute it but remains influential in understanding schizophrenia.

Question 4

What imaging techniques are used to study dopamine function in schizophrenia?

Answer 4

• PET
• SPECT

These techniques measure proteins and molecular processes in the brain.

Question 5

True or false: There is a major change in dopamine receptors in patients with schizophrenia.

Answer 5

FALSE

Studies show almost no alteration in dopamine receptors in patients, particularly those who have never taken antipsychotic medication.

Question 6

What aspect of the dopamine system is primarily altered in schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Pre-synaptic synthesis and release of dopamine

This alteration is linked to the development of psychosis.

Question 7

What is the significance of dopamine synthesis capacity in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia?

Answer 7

Elevated dopamine synthesis capacity is linked to the development of schizophrenia

This was observed in individuals who later developed psychosis.

Question 8

What relationship was found between dopamine synthesis capacity and prodromal symptoms?

Answer 8

Higher dopamine synthesis capacity correlates with more severe prodromal symptoms

This indicates a potential early marker for the development of schizophrenia.

Question 9

What does the meta-analysis of dopamine synthesis and release capacity in schizophrenia reveal?

Answer 9

A large effect size elevation in dopamine synthesis and release capacity in patients compared to controls

This indicates significant dysregulation in the dopamine system in schizophrenia.

Question 10

What are the prodromal symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 10

• Subtle cognitive impairments
• Anxiety and depressive symptoms
• Social withdrawal
• Subjective cognitive changes

These symptoms precede the full-blown symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 11

What is the role of stress in the context of dopamine and schizophrenia?

Answer 11

Stress can activate dopamine neurons, potentially influencing the onset of psychosis

This relationship is an area of ongoing research.

Question 12

What is the main genetic factor associated with schizophrenia?

Answer 12

Highly heritable

A number of gene variants increase the risk for schizophrenia.

Question 13

What does dopamine synthesis capacity indicate in the context of schizophrenia?

Answer 13

Genetic basis and environmental factors

There is a genetic component to dopamine synthesis capacity, but about 50% of its variance is not due to genes.

Question 14

Name one environmental risk factor that increases the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Answer 14

• Childhood adversity
• Being a migrant
• Urbanicity
• Life events

Each of these factors has an odds ratio greater than one, indicating increased risk.

Question 15

What is the odds ratio for childhood adversity as a risk factor for schizophrenia?

Answer 15

2.8

This indicates a significant increase in the chances of developing schizophrenia.

Question 16

True or false: Urbanicity has an odds ratio of 1.7 for increasing schizophrenia risk.

Answer 16

TRUE

Living or growing up in an urban environment increases the risk of schizophrenia.

Question 17

What common factor can be associated with many environmental risk factors for schizophrenia?

Answer 17

Psychosocial stress

Factors like childhood abuse or migration can lead to significant psychological stress.

Question 18

How does stress affect the dopamine system?

Answer 18

Increases dopamine release

Stress can lead to significant changes in dopamine receptor binding.

Question 19

What was observed in studies regarding dopamine release in individuals exposed to early trauma?

Answer 19

Greater dopamine release in adulthood

There is a correlation between early trauma and dopamine release later in life.

Question 20

What type of task is often used to study stress response in research?

Answer 20

Mental arithmetic tasks

These tasks are standardized to ensure similar stress levels across participants.

Question 21

What is the relationship between dopamine release and stress in individuals with schizophrenia?

Answer 21

Greater sensitivity to stress and more dopamine release

Individuals with schizophrenia show more extensive dopamine release in response to stressors.

Question 22

What role does dopamine play in the brain beyond reward signaling?

Answer 22

Predicting future salient events

Dopamine neurons signal changes in the prediction of various outcomes, not just rewards.

Question 23

What is the significance of conditioned stimuli in dopamine neuron activity?

Answer 23

Indicates prediction of rewards

Dopamine neurons fire in response to stimuli that predict rewards, rather than the rewards themselves.

Question 24

What is the impact of dopamine dysregulation on symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 24

Leads to altered perception and response to stimuli

Disruption in dopamine signaling can affect how individuals with schizophrenia interpret their environment.

Question 25

What is the role of **dopamine** in identifying important stimuli?

Answer 25

Dopamine helps identify what is an important-- salient stimulus-- and what is irrelevant ## Footnote Disruption in the dopamine system may lead to misinterpretation of irrelevant stimuli as important.

Question 26

What does **ARMS** stand for in the context of mental health?

Answer 26

At Risk Mental State ## Footnote This group includes individuals with prodromal symptoms who may develop schizophrenia.

Question 27

How do **controls** and people at risk of schizophrenia differ in their perception of irrelevant stimuli?

Answer 27

* Controls: Rated irrelevant stimuli as less than 10% important * At-risk individuals: Rated irrelevant stimuli as significantly more important ## Footnote This indicates a potential cognitive bias in those at risk of developing schizophrenia.

Question 28

True or false: People with schizophrenia tend to have a **higher IQ** than the general population.

Answer 28

FALSE ## Footnote On average, people with schizophrenia tend to have a lower IQ, although there are exceptions.

Question 29

What are some **psychosocial risk factors** that may contribute to cognitive biases in schizophrenia?

Answer 29

* Childhood abuse * Adversity * Migration * Stress and life events ## Footnote These factors can lead to a negative view of the world and a sense of lack of control.

Question 30

What is the relationship between **acute psychosocial stress** and dopamine in schizophrenia?

Answer 30

Acute psychosocial stress increases dopamine release and synthesis capacity ## Footnote This alteration may lead to a paranoid interpretation of stimuli.

Question 31

What evidence supports the idea of **dysregulated dopamine** in the development of psychosis?

Answer 31

* Increased dopamine synthesis capacity in individuals transitioning to psychosis * Seven out of eight individuals showed increased capacity after a psychotic episode ## Footnote This suggests a further dysregulation in dopamine as psychosis develops.

Question 32

What cognitive bias is commonly observed in people with schizophrenia?

Answer 32

Externalising attributional style ## Footnote This bias leads individuals to perceive events as threatening and out of their control.

Question 33

What is the **feedback loop** mentioned in relation to psychosis?

Answer 33

Psychosis causes further stress, leading to more dopamine release ## Footnote This creates a vicious cycle of symptoms and dopamine dysregulation.

Question 34

What is the significance of **dopamine synthesis capacity** in schizophrenia?

Answer 34

Elevated dopamine synthesis and release capacity is a major change in the disorder ## Footnote This alteration is significant and precedes the onset of psychotic symptoms.

Question 35

How do **risk factors** for schizophrenia affect both biology and psychology?

Answer 35

They impact dopamine regulation and cognitive schemas ## Footnote This dual effect contributes to the development of psychosis.

Question 36

What is the **integrated model** presented in the lecture?

Answer 36

A model that combines psychological, epidemiological, neurobiological, and neurodevelopmental factors in understanding schizophrenia ## Footnote It seeks to explain how these factors lead to psychosis and the first episode of schizophrenia.