1. Schizophrenia

2. What is schizophrenia?
A group of disorders characterized by confused and disconnected thoughts, emotions, and perceptions
Not a problem of emotion, but rather one of cognition
A class of disorders marked by disturbances in thought that spill over to affect perceptual, social, and emotional processes
Literally means “split minds”- term devised by Eugen Bleuler in Prior to this it was called dementia
Not two separate personalities but a split between the intellectual and emotional parts of a singular personality

3. How common is schizophrenia?
It affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide
May not sound like a lot but it is about 4 million people
However, the odds increase to 1 in 10 if schizophrenia is already in the family

4. What are the symptoms?
Irrational thought and delusions (false beliefs that a person maintains in the face of contrary evidence)
Distorted perception; Hallucinations (perceptions that have no direct external cause; occur in the absence of real, external stimulus)
Deterioration of Adaptive behaviour (example: personal hygiene)
Disturbed emotion; disturbances of affect (may show inappropriate emotional responses)

5. Types of schizophrenia
Paranoid type
Catatonic Type
Dominated by delusions of persecution, along with delusions of grandeur.
They may think they have enemies and be suspicious
Believe themselves to be important people
Common form of schizophrenia
Marked by striking motor disturbances, ranging from muscular rigidity tor random motor activity
Remain motionless for long periods

6. Types of schizophrenia
Disorganized type
Undifferentiated type
Severe deterioration of adaptive behaviour
Prominent symptoms: emotional indifference, frequent incoherence, and virtually complete social withdrawal, hallucinations, giggling for no apparent reason
Encompasses the basic symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate emotions, and thought disorders
Fairly common

7. What are the causes of schizophrenia?
Biological influences: Genetics
10% chance if it is in your family, 46% chance if both parents have the disorder
Neurochemical factors: Changes in the activity of one or more neurotransmitters
Excess dopamine activity has been implicated as a possible cause of schizophrenia (dopamine hypothesis)
Structural abnormalities of the brain: Often show signs of signs of deteriorated brain tissue and sometimes enlarged brain ventricles

8. What are the causes of schizophrenia?
Family and Interactions:
Bad experiences during childhood
Family communication and expression of emotions
Defective interpersonal communication during childhood
Stress
Triggers schizophrenia in individuals that are vulnerable to the disorder

9. Treatment of schizophrenia
Management of schizophrenia depends largely on medications (antipsychotic drugs) and on psychosocial interventions (therapy)
No single approach is widely considered effective for all patients

10. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqRYgICgdU