Module 51:Schizophrenia

Abnormal PsychologyUnit 13

Schizophrenia• Schizophrenia: disorganized and

delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions.• It is a split from reality.• Most dreaded psychological

disorder. • 1 in 100 people will develop

schizophrenia.

SchizophreniaDisorganized Thinking

• Delusions: false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders.• Those with schizophrenia do not

have selective attention and are easily distracted.• Experiences psychosis (our of touch

with reality).

SchizophreniaDisturbed Perceptions

• Hallucinations: experiencing something that is not there.• Schizophrenics usually hear

hallucinations that insults them or gives them orders.• The voices could tell them that they

are bad and that they should harm themselves.

SchizophreniaInappropriate Emotions and Actions• Emotions do not match reality. • Ex. May laugh when a relative dies.• Sometimes may lapse into flat affect.• Flat affect: a zombielike state of

apparent apathy.• May perform senseless, repetitive

acts.• Ex. May continually rub arm.

Schizophrenia• Catatonia: state of

unresponsiveness even while awake.• Schizophrenics who experience

catatonia may remain motionless for hours and then become agitated.• During most severe times, those

with schizophrenia live in a private inner world, with illogical ideas, and unreal images.

Schizophrenia• Positive symptoms: means that

there is a presence of inappropriate behaviors.• Ex. Hearing voices, suspiciousness,

making up words with no meaning.• Negative symptoms: means that

there is an absence of behaviors.• Ex. Expressionless faces, social

withdrawal, can’t feel pleasure.

Types of Schizophrenia• Schizophrenia is a cluster of

disorders.• There are 5 types of schizophrenia:–Paranoid–Disorganized–Catatonic–Undifferentiated–Residual

Types of Schizophrenia• Paranoid – delusions of grandeur,

persecution, and reference.• The delusions are usually elaborate

and results from misinterpretation of reality.• Ex. They may believe they speak to

God or that they are world leaders (delusions of grandeur).

Types of Schizophrenia• Paranoid schizophrenics may think

that others are plotting against them (delusions of persecution). • They can be a danger as they

attempt to defend themselves against their imagined enemies.• They think they are special and

selected for greatness (delusions of reference).

Types of Schizophrenia• Disorganized – incoherent speech,

inappropriate mood, hallucinations, and delusional thought pattern.• May make no sense when talking

and act in a very bizarre way.• Silly, childlike behavior is typical.

Types of Schizophrenia• Catatonic – Immobility or excessive,

purposeless movements.• People suffering from this disorder

might remain in one position.• They may become “statues”,

holding postures that would normally be impossible to maintain by others.

Types of Schizophrenia• Undifferentiated – Simple

schizophrenia.• Marked by disturbances of thought

or behavior and emotion that do not fit neatly into any of the other categories.• May have one area of dysfunction

and may be perfectly normal in every other aspect of life.

Types of Schizophrenia• Residual – had a history of

schizophrenia, but currently has no positive symptoms.• May still have negative symptoms

such as lack of desire to develop relationships, flat emotional expressions, limited speech, etc.• Person may be in remission.

Explaining SchizophreniaBiological Reasons for Schizophrenia• Too much dopamine may cause

hallucinations and paranoia.• Drugs that block dopamine lessen

the symptoms, while drugs that increase (amphetamines, cocaine) intensify the symptoms.

Explaining SchizophreniaBiological Reasons for Schizophrenia• Low frontal lobe functioning is

common.• PET scans reveal the thalamus was

active during hallucinations.• Also revealed that amydala (fear

center) was active during paranoia episodes.

Explaining SchizophreniaBiological Reasons for Schizophrenia• Shrinkage of cerebral tissue

associated with schizophrenia.• The greater the shrinkage, the more

severe the disorder.• Schizophrenia involves multiple

areas of the brain!

Explaining SchizophreniaWhat causes these brain abnormalities?• Problems during pregnancy.• Low birth weight.• Malnutrition during pregnancy.• Viral infections (flu) during

pregnancy, especially during first two trimesters.

Explaining SchizophreniaAre there genetic factors?

• Normal odds: 1 in 100 • Odds if sibling or parent has

schizophrenia: 1 in 10• Identical twin has it: 1 in 2• Adopted children: No link if adopted

parent has it. There are genetic factors!

Explaining Schizophrenia• No environmental factors contribute to

schizophrenia.• Early warning signs:–Mother with long-lasting

schizophrenia.–Birth complications–Short attention span–Poor muscle coordination–Poor peer relations and solo play