Subtitle Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia A psychological disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished or inappropriate emotional responses Nearly 1 in 100 people (60% men) 24 million across the world

Symptoms Literally means “split-mind” Not a personality split, but a split from reality A good example of psychosis (a psychological disorder in which a person loses contact with reality, experiencing irrational ideas and distorted perceptions)

Disorganized Thinking and Disturbed Perceptions Delusions- false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders Those with paranoid tendencies are particularly prone to delusions of persecution “word salad” jumbled ideas within sentences “A little more allegro in the treatment” “Liberationary movement with a view to the widening of the horizon”

Hallucinations Sensory experiences without sensory stimulation Mostly of the time, they are auditory, frequently voices making insulting remarks or giving orders Disorganized thoughts may result from a breakdown in selective attention (cannot filter out other information)

Diminished And Inappropriate Emotions Expressed emotions of people with schizophrenia are often utterly inappropriate, split off from reality laughing at a family member’s death, crying when others laugh, becoming angry for no apparent reason, etc A Flat- Effect- emotionless state Most also have difficulty perceiving facial emotions and reading others’ states of mind

Diminished And Inappropriate Emotions Motor behavior may also be inappropriate Some perform senseless and compulsive acts (continually rocking or rubbing an arm) Catatonia- may remain motionless for hours then become agitated

Diminished And Inappropriate Emotions Difficult to hold a job In the most severe periods, they live in a private inner world preoccupied with illogical ideas and unreal images Given a supportive environment and medication, over 40% of patients will have a periods of a year or more of normal life experience Many others remain socially withdrawn and isolated or rejected throughout much of their lives

Onset and Development of Schizophrenia Usually strikes as young people are maturing into adulthood, no national boundaries, men and women Usually hits men earlier, more severely, and slightly more often May appear suddenly (reaction to stress) May appear gradually (long history of social inadequacy and poor school performance

Onset and Development of Schizophrenia Positive symptoms- experience hallucinations, talk in disordered and deluded ways, exhibit inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage Negative symptoms- toneless voices, expressionless faces, mute and rigid bodies Positive symptoms (presence of inappropriate behaviors) and negative symptoms (absence of appropriate behaviors)

Onset and Development of Schizophrenia When it is slow-developing, chances of recovery are doubtful (chronic) Those with chronic schizophrenia often exhibit the persistent and incapacitating negative symptom of social withdrawal When it develops rapidly (after particular life stresses) (acute) , recovery is much more likely. Positive symptoms are more likely to be responsive to drug therapy

Understanding Schizophrenia Dopamine Activity- excess of dopamine receptors Speculation that a hyper-responsive dopamine system may intensify brain signals in schizophrenia, creating positive symptoms such as hallucinations and paranoia Dopamine blocking drugs reduce symptoms, and those that increase dopamine (amphetamines/cocaine) intensify these symptoms

Abnormal Brain Activity and Anatomy Many people with chronic schizophrenia have abnormal activity in multiple brain areas Some have low activity in the frontal lobes (critical for problem solving, reasoning, and planning) Decline in brain waves that reflect synchronized neural firing in the frontal lobes This may impact the integrated functioning of neural networks, possibly contributing to schizophrenic symptoms

Abnormal Brain Activity and Anatomy One study took scans while people were hallucinating Saw/heard something that brain became extremely active, including the thalamus- structure deep in the brain that filters incoming sensory signals Paranoia- increased activity in the amygdala

Abnormal Brain Activity and Anatomy Many studies have found enlarged, fluid-filled areas and a corresponding shrinkage and thinning of cerebral tissue (current/future people) Cortex, corpus callosum, and thalamus

Causes? No perfect answer Mishaps during prenatal development or delivery, low birth weight, maternal diabetes, older paternal age, oxygen deprivation during delivery, famine…..

Maternal Virus During Pregnancy Midpregnancy viral infection that impairs fetal brain development Increased risk if fetal development occurred during a flu epidemic Born in densely populated areas, where viral diseases spread more readily Born in the spring/winter months (after the fall/winter flu season) Mothers who report being sick with influenza during pregnancy Blood drawn from pregnant women with higher levels of antibodies  fetal/viral infections play a contributing role in the development of schizophrenia

Genetic Factors Is there a predisposition for this disorder? Yes, some do) The 1 in 100 odds become 1 in 10 among those who have a sibling or parent with the disorder, 1 in 2 if the sibling is an identical twin Adopted children have an elevated risk if the biological parent is diagnosed

Psychological Factors No environmental causes have been discovered that will, even with moderate probability, produce schizophrenia Following high risk/low risk individuals Possible early warning signs Mother with severe/long lasting schizophrenia Birth complications (oxygen deprivation and low birth weight) Separation from parents Short attention span and poor muscle coordination Disruptive or withdrawn behavior Emotional unpredictability Poor peer relations and solo play