Chapter Ten: Psychological Disorders

Schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis that fragments the thought processes in personality.

WHAT'S AHEAD

• What's the difference between schizophrenia and a "split personality"?
• Why do most researchers consider schizophrenia a brain disorder?
• Could schizophrenia begin in the womb?

KEY CONCEPTS

Introduction
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Theories of Schizophrenia

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Introduction [p.359]

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

..Psychosis

An extreme mental disturbance characterized by distorted perceptions and irrational behavior.

..Schizophrenia

• The personality loses its unity due to a fragmentation of thought processes that spill over to other aspects of behavior.
  
  
• This is not "split personality" as was seen in the description of multiple personality.
  
  
  • In multiple personality disorder, there are two or more intact personalities.
    
    
  • In schizophrenia, words are split from meaning, thought is split from emotion, perceptions split from reality, and actions split from motives.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia [p.359]


INTRODUCTION

The symptoms of schizophrenia have been placed into two categories.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

..Two Types of Symptoms

• Positive Symptoms

  Positive Symptoms?

  
  
  
  • Additions to normal behavior.
    
    
  • Not really positive.
    
    
  • Exaggerations of normal thinking and behavior patterns.

    
    

• Negative Symptoms
  
  
  • Loss or absence of normal traits or abilities.

..Positive Symptoms

1. Bizarre delusions - false beliefs.
   
   
   • "Delusions of identity" - believing one is a famous person.
     
     
2. Hallucinations - sensory experiences in the absence of sensory stimulation.
   
   
   • Usually auditory.
     
     
3. Disorganized, incoherent speech - jumble of ideas.
   
   
   • "Word salad"
     
     
4. Grossly disorganized and inappropriate behavior.
   • Ranging from childlike silliness to violent behavior to catatonic stupor (withdrawn and motionless).

..Negative Symptoms

• Loss of motivation.
  
  
• Impoverished speech.
  
  
• Emotional flatness.
  
  
• Social withdrawal.

GLOSSARY

		schizophrenia
		psychosis

LINKS About Schizophrenia Resources

• weblink: Student resource page on Schizophrenia.
• weblink: Comprehensive mental health resources.
• weblink: Diagnostic criteria.
• weblink: Association for Humanistic Psychology .

Theories of Schizophrenia [p.361]

INTRODUCTION

Although there are those who believe the label of schizophrenia should be dropped entirely, other believe they should be retained because the same core symptoms appear in many cultures.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

..1. Structural brain abnormalities [ rewind to Chapter 4, Brain, Neurons, and Hormones.]

• Decreased brain weight.
  
  
• Decreased volume in temporal lobe and limbic system.
  
  
• Fewer neurons in the prefrontal cortex.
  
  
• Enlargement of the ventricles.
  
  
• Abnormalities in the thalamus
  
  
  • Traffic control center for incoming sensations.
    
    
  • May explain oversensitivity to stimuli which causes individual to withdraw.

..2.2. Neurotransmitter abnormalities [ rewind to Chapter 4, Brain, Neurons, and Hormones.]

• High levels of dopamine.
  
  
• May have low levels of serotoinin which has as one role the inhibition of dopamine.

..2.3. Genetic Predisposition

• 1-2% risk of developing schizophrenia in the general population.
  
  
• 12% risk if you have one parent with schizophrenia.
  
  
• 35-46% risk if you have two parents with schizophrenia.
  
  
• 48% risk if you have an identical twin with schizophrenia.
  
  
• If you don't understand this trend [rewind to Chapter 2, heredity and traits discussion.]

.
.2.4. Prenatal Abnormalities - fetal brain damage

• Malnutrition during pregnancy.
  
  
• Infectious virus during prenatal development.
  
  
  • Explains odd patterns of schizophrenia symptoms.

  • Lies latent for many years.
    
    
  • Has seasonal births and viruses are seasonal.
    
    
  • Second trimester is most critical.

..2.4. The Vulnerability-stress Model

• Genes or brain damage alone don't guarantee schizophrenia, and a vulnerable person growing up in a good environment may not show the symptoms of schizophrenia.
  
  
• Likely combination of risk factors that produce schizophrenia (Copenhagen High Risk Project):
  
  
  • Existence of schizophrenia in the family.
    
    
  • Physical Trauma at birth that might have affected the brain.
    
    
  • Exposure to flu virus or prenatal trauma during the 2nd trimester.
    
    
  • Unstable, stressful environment in childhood and adulthood.
    
    
  • Emotionally disturbed parents.

LINKS About Theories of Schizophrenia

• weblink: Anatomy of the brain in Schizophrenia .
• weblink: Fetal brain development and Schizophrenia.
• weblink: Schizophrenia and malnutrition.
• weblink: Genetic risk factors.
• weblink: More on altered neural circuits in Schizophrenia.
• weblink: Scientific American comment on virus theory.
• weblink: Vulnerability-stress factors (comprehensive article) .

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