Schizophrenia

By: Emily Gleesing

If depression is the common cold,
chronic schizophrenia is the cancer.

What is Schizophrenia?
Group of severe disorders characterized by
disorganized and delusional thinking,

Fragmented
Bizarre
Distorted by false beliefs
Delusions:
False beliefs

Paranoid tendencies
Word Salads
A bunch of thoughts thrown together

disturbed perceptions,
Hallucinations:
Sensory Experiences with out sensory stimuli
Can be
Visual, auditory (usually male), tactile, olfactory, and gustatory

inappropriate emotions and actions.

Flat Effect:
Emotionless state

Motor behavior
Catatonia:
Immobility

Disrupts social relationships

Literally means split mind

National Institue of Mental Health . (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved November 08, 2014, from National Institue of Mental Health : http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

History of Schizophrenia
Documented as far back as old Pharaonic Egypt
Thought it was demonic possession
Would drill holes in the skull
Would release the demons

The Greek and Roman general public had an awareness of

psychotic disorders.
People who were abnormal, whether due to mental
illness, mental retardation, or physical deformities were
generally treated the same
The name was coined by Eugen Bleuler in 1911.
Also coined positive and negative symptoms

Schizophrenia . (2010). History of Schizophrenia. Retrieved November 08, 2014, from Schizophrenia : http://schizophrenia.com/history.htm#

Positive vs. Negative Symptoms

Positive Symptoms: refer to mental disturbances in the
patients perception of reality that do not exist objectively.
Example: Hallucinations and delusions of grandeur (may feel
like famous or important people).

Negative Symptoms: refer to mental abilities which the

patient has lost or abilities that the patient can no longer
perform. Often looks like depression.
Example: lack of interest in activities and expressing little to no
emotions.

Positive Symptoms are the presence of inappropriate

behavior and negative symptoms are the absence of
appropriate behaviors.
http://www.studentsforrecovery.com/pages/schizophrenia
Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Types of Schizophrenia
Acute Schizophrenia
Reaction to life stress; appears suddenly, and
recovery is more likely due to positive symptoms
(reacts to drug therapy).

Chronic Schizophrenia
Slow-developing process, doubtful recovery;
emerges from a long history of social inadequacy
(lower socio-economic); demonstrates negative
symptoms
.

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers

Subtypes
Paranoid
Preoccupation with delusions or hallucinations often with themes of
persecution or grandiosity
John Nash
A Beautiful Mind

Disorganized
Disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotions

Catatonic
Immobility, extreme negativism, and for parrot like repeating of ones
emotions or movements

Undifferentiated
Many and varied symptoms

Residual
Withdrawal, after hallucinations and delusions have disappeared

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Causes
Genes and environment
Only 1% of general population, 10% with first degree
relative, and 40-65% chance with identical twin.
Famine
No one gene causes it.
Environment also plays a factor.
Womb environment
Louis Wain

http://www.cerebromente.org.br/gallery/gall_leonardo/fig1-a.htm

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Causes
Different brain chemistry and structure
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine and glutamate

Ventricles in brain
Fluid filled cavities in brain are larger with people who
have schizophrenia.

Some areas have less gray matter

Some areas have more or less activity
When brain is developing in the teen years, these
changes could trigger psychotic symptoms.

http://www.thoseconspiracyguys.com/genetics-disease-schizophrenia-cluster-different-genes-just-one

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Causes
Brain Abnormalities continued
Dopamine Overactivity
More dopamine receptors
Types of Symptoms created by high levels of dopamine:
Increase in brain signals and creating positive symptoms

Drugs block these receptors

Glutamate affects those with negative symptoms

Anatomy differences
Frontal Lobe
Activity diminishes

Thalamus and Amygdala

Activity is heightened

Cortex and Thalamus

Smaller than usual

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Causes
Maternal Virus during Pregnancy
The mother getting the flu after the first trimester
as shown a correlation with a diagnosis of
schizophrenia in the fetus
Most at risk during fall and winter

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Who is at risk?
Effects men and women equally.
Men though tend to be struck earlier, more severely
Up to four years earlier
More symptoms
Chronic

Effects all ethnic groups at similar rates.

Positive symptoms start around 16 to 30.
When schizophrenia is a slow- developing process,
recovery is doubtful.
.

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers

Early Warning Signs

Mother whom is schizophrenic and it was severe
and long lasting
Birth complications
Separation from parents
Short attention span and poor muscle coordination
Disruptive or withdrawn behavior
Emotional unpredictability
Poor peer relations and solo play
.

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers

Treatments
Antipsychotic Drugs
Reduce symptoms, does not cure the illness.
Usually function by blocking the receptor sites for dopamine.
Example:
Thorazine
dampen responsiveness to irrelevant stimuli

Side effects:
Tardive dyskinsia
Involuntary movements of the facial muscles, tongue, and limbs.

Obesity
Diabetes

35 to 45% saw improvement after longer term treatment

Help most with positive symptoms

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

National Institue of Mental Health . (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved November 08, 2014, from National Institue of Mental Health : http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

Treatments
Atypical antipsychotics
Target both dopamine and serotonin receptors
Example:
Clozapine

Hope to help those with negative symptoms as

well

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

Treatments
Psychosocial support and therapy
Help individuals learn how to function in
appropriate, effective ways.
Examples:
Social skills, vocational counseling, and job training

Should be paired with antipsychotics to help with

success

Meyers, D. G. (2011). Meyer's Psychology for AP. Hope College Holland, Michigan : Worth Publishers .

National Institue of Mental Health . (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved November 08, 2014, from National Institue of Mental Health :
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml