If depression is the common cold, schizophrenia is the cancer.
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Transcript of If depression is the common cold, schizophrenia is the cancer.
If depression is the common cold,
schizophrenia is the cancer
The Split MindSchizophrenia is a group of severe
disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions
1. Disorganized thinking is a symptom of schizophreniaThinking is fragmented, bizarre, and often
distorted by false beliefs called delusionsDelusions are false beliefs, often of
persecution or grandeurThose with paranoid tendencies are
particularly prone to delusions of persecution
Jumbled ideas may create what is called word salad
I need a little more allegro in the treatment Disorganized thoughts may result from
a breakdown in selective attentionThose with schizophrenia have great
difficulty focusing and filtering out sensory stimuli while attempting to pay attentionWhat had happened to me…was a breakdown
in the filter, and a hodge-podge of unrelated stimuli were distracting me from things which should have had my undivided attention.
2. Disturbed perceptions is a second symptomHallucinations often occur
Most often the hallucinations are auditory (typically voices talking to them)
Inappropriate Emotions and ActionsEmotions are often utterly inappropriate, split off
from realityWhile some respond inappropriately others
lapse into an emotionless state of flat affectMotor behavior may also be inappropriate
Some perform senseless, compulsive acts
LifeThose with schizophrenia live in a private inner world during their most severe periods
Difficult to hold down a jobGiven a supportive environment some eventually recover to enjoy a normal life but may still experience bouts of schizophreniaOthers remain socially withdrawn
Onset and DevelopmentTypically strikes as young people are
maturing into adulthoodIt is not a cultural disorderSwedish and Danish studies show that
thin young men, and those who were not breastfed, are more vulnerable
For some it gradually developsFor others it appears suddenly,
seemingly as a reaction to stress
Schizophrenia is a cluster of disordersThe subtypes share common features, but have
some distinguishing differencesPatients have positive and negative symptoms
(+)Positive symptoms: hallucinations, talk in disorganized and deluded ways, and exhibit inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage
(-)Negative symptoms: toneless voices, expressionless faces, or mute and rigid bodiesPositive are the presence of inappropriate
behaviorsNegative are the absence of appropriate
behaviorsEven though schizophrenia is a cluster of
disorders, one thing holds true: when schizophrenia is a slow-developing process (called chronic), recovery is doubtful
TypesParanoid: preoccupation with delusions or
hallucinations, often with themes of persecution or grandeur
Disorganized: disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion
Catatonic: immobility (or excessive, purposeless movement), extreme negativity
Undifferentiated: many and varied symptomsRemission: withdrawal, after hallucinations
and delusions have disappeared
UnderstandingBrain abnormalities
Dopamine OveractivityResearchers discovered patients had an
excess of receptors for dopamineSpeculate that such high level may intensify the brain signals in schizophrenia, creating positive symptoms
Researchers are currently studying glutamateImpaired glutamate activity appears to be another source of schizophrenia symptoms
Abnormal brain activity & anatomy
Many studies have found enlarged, fluid filled areas and a corresponding shrinkage of cerebral tissueTwo areas of shrinkage are:
CortexThalamus
Two known risk factors for schizophrenia are low birth weight and oxygen deprivation during delivery
Causes?Maternal Virus During Mid-pregnancy
A third possibility could be a mid-pregnancy viral infection that impairs fetal brain developmentFetal-virus infection lays a contributing role
in the development of schizophreniaGenetic factors
Odds become 1 in 10 for those whose siblings or parents have the disorder and 1 in 2 if the affected sibling is an identical twinIdentical twins share prenatal environment
SchizophreniaEarly warning signs:
A mother whose schizophrenia was severe and long-lasting
Birth complications, often involving oxygen deprivation and low birth weight
Separation from parents Short attention span and poor muscle coordination Disruptive or withdrawn behavior Emotional unpredictability Poor peer relations and solo play