Schizophrenia: Causes, Characteristics and Treatments
Enjoy
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Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, you should be able to
Describe the symptoms associated with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
Discuss some of the challenges associated with making a clear diagnosis
Evaluate the different causes of schizophrenia
Describe different treatment methods and their efficacy
History and Controversies
1883 – Kraepelin first proposed a diagnosis of "Dementia Praecox"
- Progressive and deteriorating illness with no return to the previous functioning
1908 – Bleuler developed four symptom model:
- Ambivalence
- Disturbance of association
- Disturbance of mood
- Preference for fantasy over reality
One of these symptoms on its own wouldn't really be seen as schizophrenia – but when multiple symptoms are shown to be enduring that's when it's diagnosed
Remains a controversial topic:
- Does schizophrenia exist as a distinct state?
- Does it originate from genetic, biological or environmental causes
- Should it be treated by drug therapy, ECT or social and psychological therapies?
- Not sure what the single most effective course of action of schizophrenia – mystery in its treatment that makes it controversial
Symptoms
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(DSM-5):
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganised speech – or sign if deaf
Grossly disorganised behaviour or catatonic behaviour – catatonia is a motor disorder where the limbs become stiff and experience more flexibility – related to the motor cortex. Does not manifest as frequently as it used to – people from South Asia experience catatonia more though unknown why
Negative symptoms: e.g. flattened mood, avolition (lack of normal functioning – an absence of function)
Diagnosis involves the presence of symptoms, but also impairment of social or occupational functioning
Criterion A (positive symptoms)
- Delusions (persecutory, referential, somatic, religious, grandiose)
- Hallucinations (auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory and tactile)
- Disorganised speech (derailment, tangentiality or word salad)
- Grossly disorganised behaviour (e.g. childlike silliness, unpredictable agitation, difficulties with daily tasks or routines, dishevelled or unusual appearance, inappropriate behaviour)
YOU ARE READING
Psychology
Non-FictionI'm a struggling Psychology student with a lot of time on my hands and this is one of the ways I've been trying to make myself study. Lets hope it works. (This is the real, boring psychology with the essays and the sources and the diagrams, not the...
