Download Schizophrenia

EXPLORING
PSYCHOLOGY
EIGHTH EDITION IN MODULES
David Myers
PowerPoint Slides
Aneeq Ahmad
Henderson State University
Worth Publishers, © 2011
Psychological Disorders
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Schizophrenia
Module 33
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Symptoms of Schizophrenia
 Disorganized Thinking
 Disturbed Perceptions
 Inappropriate Emotions and Actions
Onset and Development of
Schizophrenia
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Understanding Schizophrenia
 Brain Abnormalities
 Genetic Factors
 Psychological Factors
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Schizophrenia
If depression is the common cold of
psychological disorders then schizophrenia is
the cancer.
It is a disease of the brain exhibited in
symptoms of the mind.
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Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Literally translated, schizophrenia means “split
mind”, referring to the split from reality that
shows itself in disorganized thinking, disturbed
perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and
actions.
It is the chief example of a psychotic disorder, one
marked by irrationality and loss of contact with
reality.
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Disorganized Thinking
This morning when I was at Hillside [Hospital], I was
making a movie. I was surrounded by movie stars …
I’m Mary Poppins. Is this room painted blue to get me
upset? My grandmother died four weeks after my
eighteenth birthday.”
(Sheehan, 1982)
Other
forms of delusions
delusions
of
This
monologue
illustratesinclude,
fragmented,
bizarre
persecution
is following
me”) or
thinking
with (“someone
distorted beliefs
called delusions.
grandeur (“I am a king”).
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Disorganized Thinking
Many psychologists believe disorganized
thoughts occur because of a breakdown in
selective attention the normal ability to give
attention to one set of stimuli while filtering out
others.
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Disturbed Perceptions
A schizophrenic person may perceive things
that are not there (hallucinations). These can
occur in any of the senses, but are most often
auditory, frequently voices making insulting
remarks or giving orders.
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Inappropriate Emotions & Actions
A schizophrenic person may laugh at the news
of someone dying or show no emotion at all (flat
affect).
Patients with schizophrenia may continually
rub an arm, rock a chair, or remain motionless
for hours (catatonia).
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Onset and Development of
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia strikes young people as they mature into
adults. It affects men and women but men tend to be struck
earlier, more severely, and slightly more often.
Patients with positive symptoms – the presence of
inappropriate behaviors – may experience hallucinations,
have disorganized speech, and exhibit inappropriate
emotions.
Those with negative symptoms – the absence of appropriate
behaviors – may have toneless voices, expressionless faces, or
rigid bodies.
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Onset and Development of
Schizophrenia
When schizophrenia is slow to develop (chronic/process), usually
displaying negative symptoms, recovery is doubtful.
When schizophrenia rapidly develops (acute/reactive), usually
showing positive symptoms, recovery is better.
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Art by a person diagnosed with schizophrenia
Understanding Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is actually a cluster of disorders.
The subtypes share common features, but also
have distinctive symptoms.
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Brain Abnormalities
Researchers found that schizophrenic patients
express higher levels of dopamine D4 receptors
in the brain.
Brain scans show abnormal activity in the
frontal cortex, thalamus, and amygdala of
schizophrenic patients.
Studies have also found large fluid-filled areas
and an associated shrinking of cerebral tissue.
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Maternal Virus During
Midpregnancy
Schizophrenia has also been observed in
individuals who contracted a viral infection
(flu) during the middle of their fetal
development.
Why might a second trimester flu put a fetus at
risk? Is it the virus or the mother’s response to
it? Or perhaps the medications taken?
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Genetic Factors
Evidence suggests that there is a genetic link in
developing schizophrenia.
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Genetic Factors
But not all identical twins share a schizophrenia
diagnosis, so genes cannot be the whole story.
Brains of identical twins, one with schizophrenia and the
other without.
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Psychological Factors
Psychological and environmental factors can
trigger schizophrenia if the individual is
genetically predisposed (Nicol & Gottesman,
1983).
Courtesy of Genain Family
Genain Sisters
The genetically identical
Genain
sisters suffer from
schizophrenia. Two more than
others, thus there are
contributing environmental
factors.
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