However, there is a limitation to cognitive theories as cognitive theories in themselves do not really explain the causes of Sz but simply describe some of the symptoms in cognitive terms. Therefore, in order to explain the origins of Sz, they need to be combined with the biological model. Therefore cognitive theories may not be able to offer a full explanation of Sz, but they may help to explain the origins of particular symptoms. However, an advantage of the cognitive explanation is that it acknowledges biological explanations too, using neurophysical models. Meyer-Lindenberg found a link between excessive dopamine in the personal cortex and poor working memory. This is linked to the dopamine explanation of schizophrenia. Although a criticism of the cognitive explanation is that large amounts of supporting evidence from the cognitive model of Sz have its roots in biological evidence suggesting cognitive faults must originate in biology with regards to Sz and so the cognitive model may be too over-dependant on biological theories and approaches.
A major disadvantage of cognitive theories is that there is no unequivocal evidence to support the model. Unlike various biological explanations of Sz, it is nearly impossible to obtain any empirical or scientific support and therefore we cannot rely solely on this model. For example Helmsley has tried to link his cognitive model to an underlying neurological system, in particular to the hippocampus and related brain structures. However, there is very little clear-cut empirical evidence. On the other hand, there has been some promising research supporting his ideas however, this research involves the use of animals. This is a problem as we cannot learn much about human behaviour from animal experiments as humans live in a more complex social world and have much more complex cognitions. Therefore we cannot generalise any animal research findings to humans and at the very least we need to verify these animal findings with findings from human studies.
We can also argue that cognitive explanations of Sz, such as Frith’s model are too reductionist in that they fail to take into account the role of environmental factors. Environmental factors such as the role of social and family relationships have contributed to explanations of Sz and so we cannot disregard them completely. Research has shown that a major stress factor has been associated with a higher risk of schizophrenic episodes is the occurrence of stressful life events, for example the death of a close relative. In a study by Brown and Birley, it was found that prior to a schizophrenic episode, patients who had experienced Sz had reported twice as many stressful life events compared to a healthy control group. Bateson et al also suggested the double-bind theory where children who receive contradictory messages from their parents are more likely o develop Sz. For example, a mother telling her son she loves him yet, at the same time turning away in disgust. It is thought that the child will receive conflicting messages about verbal and non verbal communication and these interactions prevent coherent constructions of reality, and in the long terms manifest itself into Sz symptoms. Another family variable associated with Sz is a high degree of expressed emotions. Expressed emotion refers to a family communication style that involves criticism, hostility and over-involvement and high levels of expressed emotion are associated with high relapse rates, suggesting that this also has an impact on explaining Sz. As the cognitive model fails to recognise any of these environmental factors, a disadvantage is that it is possibly too simplistic.
The cognitive model also fails to explain some important questions associated with Sz such as, why some people recover and others do not and so this suggests that Sz is more complex than explained in the cognitive models. Also it tells us nothing about the prognosis of the disorder.
Another psychological explanation of Sz is the psychodynamic approach. The basic assumption of the psychodynamic model is that our adult characteristics are rooted in our childhoods experiences are are a result of problems between the developing personality. Also, that unconscious repressed instinctual drives and negative child experiences are mainly responsible for an individual’s problems. Freud believed that if the world of a schizophrenic has been particular harsh in the childhood environment, the indivudals may regress to an earlier stage in development before the ego was properly developed and before he or she had developed realistic awareness of the external world and so Schizophrenics have a loss of contact with reality because their ego is no longer functioning properly. The psychodynamic approach explains some symptoms such as auditory hallucinations as the schizophrenics attempt to establish the ego.
One major criticism of the psychodynamic explanation of Sz is that there is no evidence to support this view and it fails to explain the complexity of the disorder. There is little empirical research evidence to suggest that Schizophrenics regress back to an earlier life stage, as most schizophrenics do not resemble very young children.
The approach is also unscientific as it is different to falsify. For example, a person may admit to negative feelings or may deny such feelings-but such denial could be taken to indicate that they are simply regressing such feelings and so whatever the person says could be taken to indicate negative feelings
The psychodynamic approach does not offer effective treatments. In general, psychodynamic treatments aim of find childhood conflicts however; this is no relevant for Sz. Comer found that psychodynamic therapy for Sz has generally proved to be unsuccessful which suggests that the psychodynamic explanation for Sz is not accurate. Recent research has actually suggested that psychodynamic therapies far from making schizophrenics better, may actually make them worse which suggests that the explanation is heavily flawed.
Rosen tried to claim some success with the treatment of psychoanalysis however; he was heavily criticised and accusing of using patients who were not Sz and faking data. Therefore his data was discredited.
The psychodynamic theory also does not account for why Sz develops so suddenly in late teens and early twenties, and therefore emphasised the importance of biological factors
To support the psychodynamic explanation of Sz, some of the symptoms such as loss of contact with reality, can be accounted for with the regression to an early stage of development.
by
rking190 (student)
