Schizophrenia

Brain U 202August 9, 2012

Aimee DeRungs and Michelle Weise

A Day in the Life with Schizophrenia…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWYwckFrksg

Diagnosis• No lab tests• No imagery• Diagnosis is conducted through a

history of symptoms and reports of behavior from individual, family and friends– Considered a clinical diagnosis

Schizophrenic DisordersSymptoms of

Schizophrenia1.Disorganized

thinking.2.Disturbed Perceptions3.Inappropriate

Emotions and Actions

Positive v. Negative Symptoms

Positive Symptoms•Presence of inappropriate symptoms

Negative Symptoms•Absence of appropriate ones.

Disorganized Thinking(positive)

• The thinking of a person with Schizophrenia is fragmented and bizarre and distorted with false beliefs.

• Disorganized thinking comes from a breakdown in selective attention.- they cannot filter out information.

Delusions (false beliefs)(positive)

• Delusions of Persecution

• Delusions of Grandeur

Disturbed Perceptions(positive)

• hallucinations- sensory experiences without sensory stimulation.

Inappropriate Emotions and Actions(negative)

• Laugh at inappropriate times.

• Flat Effect • Senseless,

compulsive acts.• Catatonia-

motionless Waxy Flexibility

OnsetMales• Typically late

adolescence or early adulthood

Females• 4 to 5 years later

than malesRates are similar for

males and females

• Symptoms and severity will vary

• The younger the diagnosis the more severe the disorder

Types of Schizophrenia

Disorganized Schizophrenia• disorganized speech or

behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion.

• Clang associations • "Imagine the worst

Systematic, sympatheticQuite pathetic, apologetic, paramedicYour heart is prosthetic"

Paranoid Schizophrenia• Preoccupation with

delusions or hallucinations.

• Somebody is out to get me!!!!

Catatonic Schizophrenia• Flat effect• Waxy Flexibility• Parrot like

repeating of another’s speech and movements

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia• Many and

varied Symptoms.

Causes of Dysfunction• Neurochemical Factors

– Dopamine Hypothesis: There is excess dopamine in the brain

– It is currently being questioned if glutamate plays a role

– Marijuana use may trigger schizophrenia in those who have genetic vulnerability

• The thought is THC may increase neurotransmitter activity in dopamine circuits

Causes of Dysfunction

• CT scans and MRI scans suggest a relationship between enlarged ventricles and the occurrence of schizophrenia

• Unknown if this is a consequence or a cause

Causes of Dysfunction• Genetic Vulnerability:

– Twin studies have a 46% concordance rate as compared to 14% for fraternal twins.

– A child born to two schizophrenic parents has a 46% probability as compared to 1% of the general population

Causes of Dysfunction• Neurodevelopmental hypothesis

Disruption of normal

maturational process

before at birth

Subtle neurological

damage

Increased vulnerability

to schizophrenia

Minor physical

anomalies

Prenatal viral infection

Prenatal MalnutritionObstetricalcomplications

Other brain insults

Interview with Dr. Tambyraja

• Neurodevelopmental-As the brain grows, “it grows in the wrong direction” according to Dr. Tambyraja.

• Environment• Urban environment• Viral infection• High emotional expressivity family• Marijuana use

Affect on Person• According to Dr. Tambyraja, a person

with schizophrenia is “not more likely to commit violent acts than other people. It is just as scary to look at as it is to have it. This is a illness of the brain. If the brain is sick it is hard to function. This is not a choice.”

TreatmentTo treat the positive symptoms

antipsychotics used:• Thorazine not as common any more• Risperdal• Seroquel• ZyprexaSome medications are injected every 2-4

weeks. They will need meds the rest of their life.

Side Effects of Drugs• Weight gain• Diabetes • High cholesterol• Muscular stiffness/rigidity

TreatmentTo treat negative symptoms• Psycho social method

– Group and family therapy to help the person cope and integrate into their environment

– This is an essential aspect when the person is diagnosed as a child or when the person doesn’t want to take medication.

Challenging to medicate these symptoms but may be more vital to treat.

Treatment• As the general population

understands and has knowledge about schizophrenia, more compassion and empathy will not only help the individual suffering but help society as a whole.

Ethical Questions

• What happens when a parent refuses treatment for a child?

• What happens when a person refuses treatment for themselves and ends up in the hospital or jail?

• How accountable is a person for their actions while in a psychotic state?

Current Controversies• Prevention…

– With fatty omega 3 acids used as a supplement slow down the progression to a psychotic illness?? Only 1 study done with 70 people done so far…

Impact on Learning• Hard to learn when the brain has

disorganized thoughts and the person isn’t fully functioning in even the basic forms such as daily hygiene.

• The brain “can’t figure out the world”. • Impact on learning is dependent on

onset.

Running Shoes• Analogy

– You can have the best pair of running shoes. They can sit in your closet and do nothing. Or you can go running and make them work for you. Which are you going to choose?

• You can have the meds but are you going to take them?

• You can have the knowledge but are you going to use it to help others?

Bibliography• Kamajain, A. (2012, July 28). Neuroscience.

Retrieved from http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/psychotic-disorder

• Kaplan, H. (2012, 08 08). The ap psychology commune. Retrieved from http://www.appsychology.com/

• Tambyraja, R. (2012, 08 08). Interview by A. DeRungs and M. Weise [Personal Interview]. Schizophrenia interview.

• Weiten, W. (2013 (preview copy)). Psychology themes and variations, 9e. (9 ed.). Belmount: Wadsworth.