SCHIZOPHRENIC DISORDER

Schizophrenic Disorders – a class of disorders marked by disturbances in thought that spill over to affect perceptual, social, and emotional processes.

Delusions are false beliefs that are maintained even though they clearly are out of touch with reality. –Man believes he is a tiger with a deformed body (15 years.) –May believe that their private thoughts are being broadcast to other people. –May believe thoughts are being injected into their mind. –Delusions of grandeur lead to people believing they are famous or very important. –Loosening of associations

Hallucinations are sensory perceptions that occur in the absence of a real, external stimulus or are gross distortions of perceptual input. –Almost always auditory; they hear people talking to them. –Insulting; “You’re an idiot for shaking his hand.” –Argumentative; “You don’t need a bath!” –Commands; “Prepare your home for visitors from outer space.”

Disturbed emotions –Flattening of emotions –Inappropriate emotions –Erratic and unpredictable Social withdrawal Poverty of speech Abnormal motor behavior

Paranoid Type – This type is dominated by delusions of persecution, along with delusions of grandeur. Believe that they have many enemies who want to harass and oppress them. Suspicious of friends and family or mysterious, unknown people. To make sense of the persecution they will often develop delusions of grandeur.

Catatonic Type – high level of motor disturbances, ranging from muscular rigidity, to sporadic muscle control. Some go into a catatonic stupor, motionless, seem incoherent of environment. Others go into hyperactive excitement, out of control. Not very common and seems to be declining.

Disorganized Type – severe deterioration of adaptive behavior. Emotional indifferences. (Wrong emotional response for a situation.) Complete social withdrawal. Aimless babbling and giggling. Delusions seem to center on body organs. “ My brain is melting out my ears.”

Undifferentiated Type – Mixture of schizophrenic symptoms. Clearly schizophrenic, but cannot be placed into a particular subtype. Fairly common.

Critics say four subtypes have no value because Catatonic is disappearing & Undifferentiated cases are not a subtype but a hodgepodge of “leftovers”. –Propose two categories: Negative symptoms & Positive symptoms. Neg. – low emotions, social withdrawal, impaired attention. Pos. – hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behavior, thought association problems.