Categorize the following disorders as anxiety, mood, dissociative, or somatoform. Arachnophobia Depression PTSD Dissociative Identity Disorder Hypochondria OCD Bipolar disorder Depersonalization disorder Conversion disorder

Schizophrenia is usually considered the most serious psychological disorder and can be very disabling. Schizophrenia is characterized by a loss of contact with reality. The three types of schizophrenia are paranoid, disorganized, and catatonic schizophrenia

What are the basic symptoms of schizophrenia? What are the three major types of schizophrenia? How do psychological and biological explanations of schizophrenia differ?

Schizophrenia: characterized by loss of contact with reality. –Can be very disabling and can lead to the affected person’s inability to function independently –First appears in young adulthood –Usually develops gradually, but can also appear suddenly

Most striking symptoms are: –Hallucinations –Delusions –Paranoid –“Shutter Island” –Grandeur –“Beautiful Mind” –Thought disorders Other symptoms include social withdrawal, impaired social skills, loss of normal emotional responses. Occasionally, may go into a catatonic stupor: an immobile, expressionless, comalike state. Symptoms must persist for at least 6 months for a full schizophrenia diagnosis Otherwise, schizoform diagnosis (1-5 months), psychotic break due to a stressor (<1month)

Genes and environment The illness occurs in 1 percent of the general population, but it occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. Twins? 40 to 65 percent chance Despite some genetic role, no gene causes the disease by itself. Scientists think interactions between genes and the environment are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many environmental factors may be involved, such as exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other not yet known psychosocial factors.

Paranoid Schizophrenia Delusions of frequent auditory hallucinations that center on one theme, often a theme of persecution Hear voices Everyone is “out to get them” Delusions may be of any of the 5 senses Prison smell Tasting poison

Disorganized Schizophrenia Incoherent in their thought and speech and disorganized in behavior Delusions and hallucinations are unconnected Emotionless or inappropriate emotions

Catatonic Schizophrenia Activity may slow to a stupor and the suddenly switch to agitation May hold unusual, uncomfortable body positions for long periods of time, even after legs and arms swell and stiffen

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Does not fit within any of the other 3 categories May exhibit symptoms of all three of some combination thereof

Antipsychotic Medications Psychosocial Treatment Rehabilitation Family education Cognitive behavioral therapy Teaching them to “test” delusions Attempting to simply ignore the voices

There is no known cure Even with treatment, a return to “normalcy” is extremely rare Psychotic symptoms may disappear, but others will most likely not Social withdrawal, impaired social skills, loss of normal emotional responses

Psychological Views Result of overwhelming of the ego by urges from the id. Fantasies become confused with reality. Family environment may spur disease, but does not cause it. Biological Views Studies try to link abnormal brain functioning and structure with specific symptoms. Heredity, complications during pregnancy and birth, and birth during winter were all shown to affect rates of schizophrenia. Multifactorial Model Biological and psychological factors may interact in development. The model suggests that even severely dysfunctional environmental factors are not enough to lead to the disease.

Write which 3 things you find most important to know about schizophrenia.

What are the basic symptoms of schizophrenia? What are the three major types of schizophrenia? How do psychological and biological explanations of schizophrenia differ?