The role psychological, social and biological factors play in the etiology of schizophrenia

Paul B.

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The role psychological, social and biological factors play in the etiology of schizophrenia

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Abstract

The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown and scientists are certain that schizophrenia has more than one cause. Many factors have been studied to find out the exact cause of schizophrenia, it has not yet been proven beyond doubt that schizophrenia is a disease entity which has just one single cause, but has a range of causes (Jackson, 1960). This is sometimes why schizophrenia is referred to as "schizophrenic psychoses". Psychological, social and biological factors each contribute to the development of schizophrenia, theorist and scientist in each of theses fields have proposed explanations for schizophrenia. Most research and support, so far has been on the biological factor. Even though this is so it does not mean the psychological and socio-cultural factors play less of a role in the disorder. This essay will focus on the three factors and aim to explore and describe the roles each of them plays in the etiology of schizophrenia.

Introduction
What is schizophrenia?
Several factors influencing the illness
Well known theories of schizophrenia
The biological aspect of schizophrenia
A link between genetics and schizophrenia
The psychological theory
The behavioral model
The cognitive model
Conclusion

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[...] The etiology of schizophrenia. NY, Basic Books Kendler KS, Catherine CM, Kenneth LD (1985a): Psychiatric illness in First Degree Relatives of patients with Paranoid Psychosis, Schizophrenia and Medical Illness. Br J Psychiatry, 147:524 - 531. Kuper.J, (1988). A lexicon of psychology, psychiatry & psychoanalysis. Routledge: London & New York Laing, R. D. (1967). The politics of experience. New York: Pantheon. Lloyd, .P. et al introduction to psychology integrated approach, London. Fontana. Maher, B. (1968). The shuttered Language of schizophrenia. Psychology Today. [...]

[...] Theories of personality and psychopathology, (3rd Edition), New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Grilly, D. M. (2002), Drugs and Human behavior, (4rth Edition), Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Gross, R.D. (1988), Psychology, The Science of Mind and Behaviour, (2nd Edition) Hodder and Stoughton Harrison, P. (1995) Schizophrenia- A misunderstood disease. Psychological review 2-6. Heston, L. L. (1992), Mending minds: A guide to the new psychiatry of depression, anxiety and other serious mental disorders. New York: W. H. Freeman. Iverson, L. L. (1975), Dopamine receptors in the brain 1084- 1089. Jackson, D. (Ed.). [...]

[...] Scientists and researchers have studied many factors in schizophrenia, but still it has not been proven beyond doubt that schizophrenia is a disease entity which only has just one single cause, but however has a range of causes (Jackson, 1960). It appears that the interaction of a number of factors, including genetic factors, complications of pregnancy and delivery that may affect the developing brain, and biological psychological and social stresses, all play a role in the development of the illness (Weinberger & Hirsch, 1995). BIBLIOGGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Bateson, G. (1978). : The double- blind theory- misunderstood? Psychiatry 39, 966- 969. Cookson, Clive "Secrets of Schizophrenia" Financial Times April pg Comer, R.J., (2004) Abnormal Psychology (5th Edition) Worth Publishers W.H. [...]

[...] In adoption studies, children born to parents, of whom one or both are schizophrenic, are adopted early in life into a ‘normal' family and these children are compared either with biological children of the adoptive parents or other adopted children whose biological parents are not schizophrenic. One study using the latter method was that of Heston (1966) - he compared 77 adopted children of schizophrenic mothers with 50 with non- schizophrenic mothers the results showed that the first group was five times as likely to be hospitalized with schizophrenia then the second group. [...]

[...] The biological aspect of schizophrenia falls in to three sub categories- genetics, biochemical and neurodevelopment. A great deal of research has been done in order to show genetics is a component in schizophrenia. Family studies have been conducted since the 1900s in an attempt to identify a genetic link with schizophrenia. Kendler et al (1985) have shown that first- degree relatives of those with schizophrenia are 18 times more at risk then the general population. Unfortunately the family studies done cannot differentiate between genetic and environmental influences. [...]

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