43 Chapter 16: Discussion Questions / Chapter Assignments

Chapter 16 questions

1. Create a table of the four diseases discussed in this chapter. Create columns for 1) naming the disease, 2) identifying the symptoms, 3) exploring causes, 4) discussing animal models, and 5) reviewing the treatments. After you create your own, join a small group to compare and contrast the information you have gathered. Discuss any differences. Edit if necessary.
2. In class, debate the maladaptive evolutionary response of anxiety.
3. No treatments for anxiety are discussed in this chapter. Conduct a quick internet search. What are some treatments currently used for anxiety? Do they differ by presentation?
4. Activity – A Beautiful Mind movie – Watch in class (or Watch at home and report as an individual activity). Be prepared to discuss your observations of the main character in terms of diagnosis.
5. Activity – Awakenings movie – Watch in class (or Watch at home and report as an individual activity). Be prepared to discuss your observations of one of the main characters in terms of their work. (Follow up: Compare and contrast the fictional Dr. Malcolm Sayer with the real Dr. Oliver Sacks.)
6. Do you know of other substances or drugs, beyond lithium, that have three levels – no effect, therapeutic range, and toxic range?
7. Name at least 2 positive symptoms and at least 2 negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
8. Name and describe the 2 hypotheses of the cause of schizophrenia.
9. Name and explain the three types of validity we discussed in the context of studying psychiatric diseases with animal models.
10. Describe one of the animal behaviour experiments discussed. What does it test for and how is it measured?
11. Compare and contrast 2 different diseases of the brain from Chapter 16 in terms of treatments, causes, and symptoms.
12. Why is it important to understand that there is a brain basis of psychiatric disorders?
13. Convince a friend with no neuroscience knowledge that schizophrenia has a brain basis.

Note: Some of these questions (Questions 7-13) were developed by, or with the assistance of, students in the PSYC 232 class of Winter 2025.