Schizophrenic Disorders

Schizophrenia definition:

disorder characterized by irrational thought, delusions, deterioration of adaptive behavior, distorted perception, hallucinations and disturbed emotion

Delusions:

false beliefs that are maintained even though they are clearly out of touch w/ reality

Hallucinations:

false sensory perceptions in the absence of real/external stimulus

Types of schizophrenia:

1. Paranoid

2. Undifferentiated

3. Disorganized

4. Catatonic

Paranoid schizophrenia:

dominated by delusions of persecution & grandeur

Catatonic schizophrenia:

striking motor disturbances:

• catatonic stupor: muscular rigidity seen in withdrawn state

• catatonic excitement: random motor movement

Disorganised schizophrenia:

• frequent incoherence

• obvious deterioration in adaptive behavior

• virtually complete social withdrawal

Undifferentiated schizophrenia:

people who don’t fit into the other three categories

Schizophrenic symptoms:

• disorganised thinking & speech

• hallucinations

• delusions

Etiology:

Biological:

• twin & adoption studies suggest genetic vulnerability

• too much dopamine production at synapses

• enlarged brain ventricles (indicator of deterioration of nearby brain tissue)

• neurodevelopmental hypothesis: disruptions of normal brain maturation processes during prenatal development / at birth

Environmental:

• family members engaging in high expressing emotions - degree to which a relative displays critical or emotionally over-involved attitudes - increase relapse rates

• high stress increases vulnerability