Schizophrenia Flashcards
What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that usually occurs in late adolescence or early childhood, but it can occur at any time in life.
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), it is classified as a psychosis, as the sufferer has no concept of reality. Essentially the illnesses is due to a breakdown of the patients personality.
Worldwide disease (culturally universal). 1% of population develops schizophrenia. More than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year.
When Does Schizophrenia Occur?
Peak is 25-30 years and cases prior to adolescence are rare.
No gender differences.
The disease usually appears earlier in men than women (Warner 1994).
Twice as many men as women between the ages of 15 and 24 years are diagnosed.
Between ages 25 to 34 years, the incidence of females rises.
After 35 years of age, the two sexes are similar and rate of incidents.
Treatments Of Schizophrenia?
Available treatments can relieve many symptoms, but most people with schizophrenia can continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives.
It has been estimated that no more then one in five individuals recover completely. Although recovery from schizophrenia is rare, recent research has given hope to sufferers and their family members.
New insights into the disorder have come from several areas of psychology; such as:
- molecular genetics (the study of populations),
- brain imagery (e.g. MRI),
- brain function studies.
Positive Symptoms Of Schizophrenia?
Positive symptoms are symptoms that are not usually present in a normal person.
Positive symptoms reflect an excess of distortion or normal functioning. People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as:
- hearing internal voices not heard by others,
- believing that other people are reading their mind or controlling their thoughts,
- believing other people are plotting to harm them.
The symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behaviour can be so disorganised that they may be incomprehensible of frightening of others.
Delusions In Schizophrenia?
- Delusions of persecution: The belief that others want to harm them, threaten or manipulate you. Schizophrenics may believe that they are being spied on, that nasty rumours are being spread about them or that people are plotting to kill them.
- Delusions of grandeur: This is the idea that you are an important individual, even godlike and have extraordinary powers. One of the most frequent of this type of delusion is the belief that they are Jesus Christ.
- Delusions of control: Individuals may believe that they are under the control of an alien force that has invaded their mind and or body. This may be interpreted, for example, as the presence of spirits or implanted radio transmitters.
Hallucinations In Schizophrenia?
Hallucinations involve disturbances in perception (rather than disturbances in thoughts).
They are false perceptions that have no basis in reality.
The most common hallucinations are auditory ones (hearing voices) but can include smell, touch and site.
There may appear to be a single person talking or many, and they may be familiar or unfamiliar. Many schizophrenics report hearing voices that instruct them to do something, or that tell them they are wicked and evil. Sometimes they instruct the patient to do something that could be harmful to themselves or others.
Negative Symptoms In Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia can cause negative symptoms, which cause a decline in functioning.
Negative symptoms appear to reflect a loss of normal function.
For example, sufferers may not be able to work at a job that requires the same level of skill or concentration they held before they became ill, or they may lose all ability to withstand the stress of working.
The illness can also affect their ability to function at home; for instance, they may be unable to complete household chores, raise their children or maintain an active social life.
Speech Poverty?
Speech poverty is the inability to speak properly due to lack of ability to produce fluent words.
This is thought to reflect slowing or blocked thoughts. It can be shown as short and empty replies to questions.
Avolition?
Avolition is the reduction, difficulty, or inability to start and continue with goal directed behaviour.
It is often mistaken for apparent this interest.
Examples of avolition include:
- no longer being interested in going out and meeting with friends,
- no longer being interested in activities that the person used to show enthusiasm for,
- no longer being interested in anything,
- sitting in the house for many hours a day doing nothing.
