Psychological Explanations for Schizophrenia

Which of the following is NOT a psychological explanation for schizophrenia?

• Family dysfunction

• Cognitive explanations

• Dysfunctional thought processing

• Neurochemical imbalance

The term ‘family dysfunction’ refers to:

• Processes within a family that protect against mental illness

• Poor communication, parental conflict, and high levels of expressed emotion

• The biological processes within a family

• The way siblings interact with each other

The ‘schizophrenogenic mother’ is characterised as:

• Overprotective and loving

• Cold, rejecting, and controlling

• Permissive and neglectful

• Warm and supportive

The double-bind theory suggests that schizophrenia can develop due to:

• Genetic predisposition

• Contradictory messages within family communication

• High dopamine levels

• Structural abnormalities in the brain

Expressed emotion (EE) in families includes all of the following EXCEPT:

• Verbal criticism

• Hostility towards the person

• Emotional over-involvement

• Increased dopamine levels

According to research, high levels of expressed emotion in families may contribute to:

• Increased intelligence

• Relapse in schizophrenia patients

• Increased emotional resilience

• Reduction in schizophrenia symptoms

Cognitive explanations for schizophrenia focus on:

• Brain structure abnormalities

• Dysfunctional thought processing

• The role of diet and lifestyle

• The effects of medication

Frith et al. (1992) identified two types of dysfunctional thought processing in schizophrenia. These are:

• Faulty perception and impaired attention

• Metarepresentation dysfunction and central control dysfunction

• Low IQ and memory loss

• Overactive brain function and poor decision-making

Dysfunction in metarepresentation leads to:

• Impaired ability to understand the intentions of others

• Poor physical coordination

• Enhanced problem-solving skills

• Increased emotional intelligence

The central control dysfunction in schizophrenia is linked to:

• An inability to ignore automatic responses

• A lack of interest in socialising

• Increased creativity

• Improved memory recall