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EnglandPsychologyQuick questions

Paper 2: Applications of Psychology - Clinical psychology

Quick questions on Schizophrenia: symptoms, the dopamine hypothesis and treatments - Edexcel A-Level Psychology

5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.

What are biological explanations?
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The dopamine hypothesis is the central biological explanation.
What are treatments?
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Biological treatment uses antipsychotic drugs. Typical antipsychotics (chlorpromazine) are dopamine antagonists that block D2D_2 receptors and reduce positive symptoms but carry serious side effects, notably tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements). Atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, risperidone) act on dopamine and serotonin, target negative symptoms better and have fewer movement side effects, though clozapine risks agranulocytosis (a fall in white blood cells).
What is q1?
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Outline the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. [3 marks]
What is q2?
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Explain one strength and one limitation of antipsychotic drugs as a treatment. [4 marks]
What is q3?
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Assess the view that schizophrenia is best explained by the diathesis-stress model. [8 marks]

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