Cognitive explanations of Schizophrenia Flashcards
Define cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
- Emphasises the role of dysfunctional thought-processing
- This is particularly evident in individuals displaying positive symptoms of schizophrenia; delusions and hallucinations
What is a cognitive explanation?
An explanation that focuses on the role of mental processes in understanding a phenomenon
How is disruption to normal through processing seen in schizophrenia?
Through its symptoms
What areas of the brain are associated with reduced information processing in schizophrenia?
- Ventral striatum - negative symptoms
- Temporal gyrus - positive
- Cingulate gyrus - positive
What does lower-than-usual information processing suggest about cognition in schizophrenia?
Cognition is impaired in schizophrenia
Who identified the two types of dysfunctional through processing and what year? Name the two
Christopher Frith et al (1992)
- Meta representation
- Central control
Define metarepresnation?
The cognitive ability to reflect on behaviours and thoughts, allowing insights into one’s intentions and goals
How does dysfunction in meta representation explain hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia?
The disruption in ability to recognise one’s own thoughts and actions as self-generated can lead to hallucinations of voices and delusions such as self-insertion
Define central control
The cognitive ability to suppress automatic responses while performing deliberate actions
How can the inability to suppress automatic thoughts and speech lead to disorganised speech and though disorder in schizophrenia?
Each word triggers associations that cannot be suppressed
How can cognitive factors contribute to schizophrenia?
Problems with attention, memory, and reasoning, may contribute to schizophrenia by affecting how a person interprets and responds to their environment.
What are some examples of how cognitive factors can affect individuals with schizophrenia?
- Misinterpreting sensory information
- Difficulty processing complex social cues.
What is family therapy?
Family therapy takes place with family members rather than individual clients which aims to improve the communication and interaction between family members
How do some therapists see the family concerning schizophrenia?
They see the family as the root cause of the condition in line with psychological theories like the schizophrenic mother and the double bind theory
What is the main focus of most family therapies nowadays?
Most family therapists are concerned with reducing stress within the family which may contribute to the risk to a person’s relapse
