Schizophrenia “split mind” Beautiful Mind Donnie Darko

What is it? Not to be confused with multiple personality disorder. Chronic brain disease where there is a distortion of reality and disturbances in affect, behavior, and cognition. Approximately 1% of population or about 2 million Americans suffer. Earlier onset in males than in females but affect both equally.

Causes? We do not fully understand all the factors that develop schizophrenia. Genetic? Chemical defect? Dopamine Abnormality in the brain? Larger ventricles Psychosocial factors?

Symptoms Negative- loss or decrease of normal functions Delusions Positive- excess or distortion of normal functions Delusions Hallucinations Disorganized speech/thinking Disorganized behavior Inappropriate affect Negative- loss or decrease of normal functions Alogia- poverty of speech Flat affect Avolition- no initiation Withdrawal from others

Types Paranoid – delusions, vivid hallucinations usually of persecution Disorganized – in speech, thought, & emotions Catatonic – extreme withdrawal with extreme excitement, catatonic episodes Undifferentiated – mixture of positive & negative symptoms

Treatment Antipsychotic drugs that lower dopamine – chlozaril Therapy