Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia About 1 in every 100 people are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Disorganized thinking. Disturbed perceptions. Inappropriate emotions and actions.

Disorganized Thinking The thinking of a person with schizophrenia is fragmented and bizarre; also distorted with false beliefs. Disorganized thinking comes from a breakdown in selective attention - they cannot filter out information. Often causes . . .

Delusions (false beliefs) Delusions of Persecution Delusions of Grandeur

Delusions What delusions are present in this example? “I was reading a magazine today and found the section that was secretly written just for me by Tom Brokaw. I know this because he told me he would tell me special things during the news last night – he knows that I am very, very smart and will be able to solve some of the world’s problems if I can only get the needed information. Sometimes I don’t read the paper because Barbara Walters doesn’t want me to know special things – so she will take my thoughts right out of my head, and I will forget I am supposed to have special messages sent to me. Or sometimes she’ll make me think that Tom is not my special friend. She even put a secret high-powered thought transmitter into my brain.” What delusions are present in this example?

Disturbed Perceptions Hallucinations- sensory experiences without sensory stimulation (usually auditory like voices in their head).

Inappropriate Emotions and Actions Laugh at inappropriate times. Flat Effect - (zombielike state). Senseless, compulsive acts. Catatonia - motionless for hours.

Positive vs. Negative Symptoms Positive Symptoms Presence of inappropriate symptoms Negative Symptoms Absence of appropriate ones.

Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized Schizophrenia Disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion. Word salad: Confused usage of words without obvious meaning or relationship. “Because he makes a twirl in life, my box is broken help me blue elephant. Isn’t lettuce brave? I like electrons, hello.” Clang associations: Rhyming to express themselves. “Today is the day that I say March, April, and May without delay, if I may say. High-powered transmitters permitters me to know no way. Yesterday was a rain delay- a damp, lamp.”

Disorganized Schizophrenia Loose Associations: Ideas jump from one to another “The problem is insects.  My brother used to collect insects.  He’s now a man 5 foot 10 inches.  You know, 10 is my favorite number.  I also like to dance, draw, and watch television.” Neologisms: Made up words that only have meaning to person using them. “I made a movie once.  It had lots of stars.  The cameraman was my friend.  The sound technician was excellent.  Where are the mics and cameras hidden? Is this logomouth here to get me nervous?”

Paranoid Schizophrenia Preoccupation with delusions or hallucinations of persecution. Always looking over your shoulder like somebody is out to get you!

Catatonic Schizophrenia Flat effect. Waxy Flexibility. Immobility and/or parrotlike repeating of another’s speech and movements .

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Many varied symptoms. "Undifferentiated schizophrenia" is used as a label for cases of schizophrenia that don't match any of the established types of schizophrenia.

Residual Schizophrenia This subtype is diagnosed when the patient no longer displays prominent positive symptoms (i.e. hallucinations). The person does show some negative symptoms like speaking little or being apathetic.

Causes of Schizophrenia No known single cause. Possible causes: Excess of dopamine receptors. Low activity in frontal lobes.

Causes of Schizophrenia Possible causes: Enlarged ventricles in the brain. Shrinkage of brain tissue in limbic system. Prenatal viruses.