Option 2 Key Terms

Positive symptoms

Symptoms that represent an addition to normal functioning, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that occur without external stimuli and are perceived as real.

Speech poverty

A negative symptom of schizophrenia characterised by reduced spontaneous speech.

Avolition

A negative symptom involving lack of motivation to initiate or sustain goal‑directed behaviour.

Symptom overlap

The phenomenon where symptoms of schizophrenia are shared with other mental disorders, complicating differential diagnosis.

Cultural bias

The influence of a clinician’s cultural assumptions on the interpretation of a patient’s symptoms, potentially leading to inaccurate diagnoses.

Concordance rate

The proportion of twin pairs in which both members develop the same disorder, used to estimate genetic influence.

Neuroimaging

Imaging techniques (e.g., MRI, PET) that reveal structural or functional brain differences associated with psychiatric conditions.

Expressed Emotion

A measure of the emotional climate within a family, particularly criticism, hostility, and emotional over‑involvement directed at a relative with a mental disorder.

Cognitive Deficits

Impairments in attention, working memory, and executive function that are commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia.

D2 receptor antagonism

Blockade of dopamine D2 receptors, which reduces positive symptoms of schizophrenia but increases the risk of extrapyramidal side effects.

Extrapyramidal symptoms

Movement disorders such as dystonia, akathisia, Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia caused by dopamine receptor blockade.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

A structured, time‑limited therapy that targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviours to alleviate symptoms.

Expressed Emotion (EE)

A family communication style characterised by criticism, hostility, or emotional over‑involvement, associated with higher relapse rates in schizophrenia.

Diathesis

A genetic or biological predisposition to develop a mental disorder.

Stress

Environmental factors or life events that can trigger the onset of a mental disorder in predisposed individuals.

Evolutionary explanations

Theories that suggest food preferences have developed as adaptive traits to enhance survival and reproductive success.

Social learning

The process of learning behaviors and preferences through observation and interaction with others, particularly in a cultural context.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that regulates various functions, including hunger and satiety.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite, produced in the stomach.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to self-imposed starvation.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating hunger, thirst, and various autonomic functions.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

Perfectionism

A personality trait characterized by a person's striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, often linked to eating disorders.

Genetic predisposition

An increased likelihood of developing a particular condition based on genetic factors.

Neural mechanisms

Processes within the nervous system that influence behavior and physiological responses.

Obesity

A medical condition characterized by excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.

Eating Behaviour

The patterns and habits associated with food consumption, influenced by psychological, social, and biological factors.

Cortisol

A steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, involved in various bodily functions including metabolism and immune response.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

A complex set of interactions among the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that regulates stress response and various bodily functions.