EXPLANATION 1: CONGNITIVE APPROACH/THOUGHT DISORDER - DESCRIPTION AO1

Question 1

What is the cognitive explanation?

Answer 1

1. Cognitive explanations for schizophrenia are based on the assumption that the ability to process information is dysfunctional in schizophrenics.
2. This approach has not been able to offer an explanation that can account for all the behaviours seen in individuals with schizophrenia. However, it has tackled some of the key positive and key negative symptoms.

Question 2

What did Christopher Frith propose?

Answer 2

He proposed that the core positive symptoms of schizophrenia could be explained by DIFFICULTIES IN INHIBITING PRECONSCIOUS CONTENT.

Question 3

How do Attention Filters work in a normal person?

Answer 3

1. Normally, our senses receive lots of information from our environment.
2. This information reaches our awareness and we interpret it (this is in our preconscious)
3. The ‘best fit’ of the incoming information gets pushed forward into our consciousness, allowing us to make sense of the information

Question 4

How does Frith think that Attention Filters work in a person with schizophrenia?

Answer 4

1. Frith proposed that in some people, the attentional filters that
   inhibit most of the sensory information from making it out of the preconscious are defective.
2. Frith claims that this leads individuals with schizophrenia to ‘become aware of ambiguous and multiple interpretations of events and find it difficult to select and carry through an appropriate course of action’.
3. This could account for the positive symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and disorganised speech.

Question 5

What is Theory of Mind and how does it work in a normal person?

Answer 5

Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states - beliefs, intents, desires, emotions and knowledge - to ourselves and others. Theory of mind helps us to understand that our own desires and points of view aren’t necessarily the same as others. Also we understand that other people may not have access to the information we have. We are able to understand that our actions and thoughts are caused by ourselves and are generated internally rather than by any external force.

Question 6

How does Frith think that Theory of Mind works in a person with schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Frith proposed that a person with schizophrenia has a compromised theory of mind, where they do not acknowledge that their thoughts are their own and believe that they are being placed there by a third party. They also believe that other people’s thoughts are not their own. Frith believed that many of the symptoms seen in those with schizophrenia are the results of disorders in three separate cognitive systems.

Question 7

What are the 3 separate cognitive systems that Frith believes is the cause of symptoms in people in schizophrenia?

Answer 7

1. The disorders of willed action (i.e., voluntary behaviour) can explain negative and disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia.
2. Disorders of self-monitoring can explain symptoms such as delusions of alien control and vocal hallucinations.
3. Disorder of monitoring other persons’ thoughts and intentions, can lead to symptoms such as delusions of persecution.

Question 8

What is a Negative Cognitive Triad?

Answer 8

Beck believed that depressed people have a negative cognitive triad. This is where they have unrealistic thoughts about:
* The self (I am a bad person)
* The world (my life is terrible)
* The future (things will not improve)

Question 9

What did BECK ET AL propose?

Answer 9

1. Beck et al proposed that individuals with schizophrenia have mental filters that only allow in negative messages.
2. These lead to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia such as flatness of affect, avolition (indifference to surroundings) and anhedonia (not reacting appropriately to pleasurable experiences).
   Beck based his form of CBT on dealing with these three negative views. The cognitive triad can be used to explain the development of negative symptoms that may lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia – but they must be accompanied by some positive symptoms as well.

Question 10

What is Metacognition? (how is it supposed to work in a normal person)

Answer 10

All humans use metacognition, the cognitive monitoring of
one’s own thought processes, which includes the ability to
detect errors in cognitive processing, such as cognitive
distortions. Metacognition also includes thinking about
feelings and the behavioural reactions triggered by
thoughts and feelings. Overall metacognition allows
individuals to ‘view’ their own mental states and the wishes
and intentions of others, allowing them to make sense of
their lives and deal with their ever-changing environments.

Question 11

How is Metacognition in a person with Schizophrenia?

Answer 11

1. Schizophrenics are seen as experiencing
   metacognitive dysfunction, resulting in them experiencing dysfunctional thought processes.
2. Dysfunctional thought processes are especially seen as affecting executive functioning, the higher-level cognitive processes that control and manage other cognitive and behavioural processes.
3. Therefore dysfunctional thought processing in schizophrenics can lead to serious impairments in goal-directed behaviour, attention, memory, cognitive flexibility, self monitoring and inhibition of inappropriate responses and physical motor control of the body.