Discuss some of the causative factors of schizophrenia, including genetic influences, neurotransmitter imbalances, prenatal viral exposure, and psychological stressors.

What will be an ideal response?

Sample Answer: Evidence from family, twin, and adoption studies suggests that genes may make people vulnerable to schizophrenia, although there does not appear to be a single gene responsible, but rather a combination of multiple genes. Basically, the more genes you share with someone who has the disorder, the higher your risk of developing it. Neurobiological evidence suggests that dopamine is implicated in schizophrenia because antipsychotic drugs that treat the disease are dopamine antagonists, amphetamines can mimic psychotic symptoms, and antipsychotic drugs can produce motor symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. However, the relationship is complicated and involves both abnormal receptor function and alterations in prefrontal activity involving glutamate transmission. Fetal exposure to viral infection, pregnancy complications, and delivery complications have all been implicated in the schizophrenia. Stress has been implicated as trigger for schizophrenia in people who are already vulnerable to the disease. Chaotic family environments and expressed emotions in which people are very critical of the schizophrenic can exacerbate symptoms.