Schizophrenia

Schizophrenic DisordersLiterally means “split mind”

• About 1 in every 100 people are diagnosed with schizophrenia.

• General onset is between 18-24

• Affects men and women equally, but men’s symptoms are more severe

Schizophrenia is characterized by:

1. Disorganized and delusional thinking.

2. Disturbed perceptions. 3. Inappropriate emotions and

actions.

Positive v. Negative Symptoms

Positive Symptoms•Presence of inappropriate symptoms

Negative Symptoms•Absence of appropriate ones.

Disorganized Thinking & Speech (+)

• Thinking is fragmented and bizarre and distorted with false beliefs.

• Breakdown in selective attention.- they cannot filter out information strong correlation with ADHD

Disorganized speech (“word salad”)

Delusions (false beliefs) (+)

• Delusions of Persecution

• Delusions of Grandeur

Disturbed Perceptions (+)

• hallucinations- sensory experiences without sensory stimulation.

Inappropriate Emotions and Actions (-)

• Laugh at inappropriate times.

• Flat Effect • Senseless,

compulsive acts.• Catatonia-

motionless Waxy Flexibility

Possible Symptoms of SchizophreniaPersonality deterioration

Incoherent speech (word salad)Very primitive or inappropriate behavior (laughing at a funeral)

Inappropriate affect (mood)Uncontrolled grinning and laughter

Shabby appearanceDelusions of grandeur or persecution that result from a misinterpretation of reality

Periods of excitability followed by deep withdrawal

Parrot-like repeating of other’s speech and movements

Waxy flexibilityAgitation Brian Wilson of

the Beach Boys

Mary Todd Lincoln

Economist John Nash (A Beautiful Mind) John Hinckley Jr.

Dopamine Overactivity

Researchers found that schizophrenic patients express higher levels of dopamine receptors in the brain.

causes/effects(?) of schizophrenia

Knowing this, what kind of medication would a person suffering with schizophrenia most likely be

prescribed:

a dopamine AGONISTOR

a dopamine ANTAGONIST?

Abnormal Brain Activity

Brain scans show abnormal activity in the frontal cortex, thalamus, and amygdala of

schizophrenic patients.

Paul T

hompson and A

rthur W. T

oga, UC

LA

Laboratory of N

euro Im

aging and Judith L. R

apport, National Institute of M

ental Health

causes/ effects (?) of schizophrenia

Enlarged VentriclesB

oth Photos: Courtesy of D

aniel R. W

einberger, M.D

., NIH

-NIM

H/ N

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causes/ effects (?) of schizophrenia

Viral InfectionSchizophrenia has also been observed in

individuals who contracted a viral infection (flu) during the middle of their

fetal development.

causes (?) of schizophrenia

genetic factorsThe likelihood of an individual suffering

from schizophrenia is almost 50% if their identical twin has the disease

Lifetime riskof developingschizophrenia

for relatives of

a schizophrenic

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3

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2

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Generalpopulation

Siblings Children Fraternaltwin

Childrenof two

schizophrenia

victims

Identicaltwin

Psychological and environmental factors can trigger schizophrenia if the individual is

genetically predisposed.

Genain Sisters

The genetically identical Genainsisters suffer from schizophrenia. Two more than others, thus there are contributing environmental factors.

Biopsychosocial model

Personality Disorders

• Well-established, maladaptive ways of behaving that negatively affect people’s ability to function.

• Dominates their personality.

Three Clusters• Ten distinct personality clusters are

characterized into three basic clusters

Odd, eccentric cluster• Paranoid Personality Disorder• Schizoid Personality Disorder• Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Dramatic, emotional, erratic cluster• Antisocial Personality Disorder• Borderline Personality Disorder• Histrionic Personality Disorder• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Anxious, fearful cluster• Avoidant Personality Disorder• Dependent Personality Disorder• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Cluster A: Odd Eccentric Cluster

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others and a constant suspicion that people around you have sinister motives.

• Usually without any basis for mistrust

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• They search for hidden meanings in everything and read hostile intentions into the

actions of others. •Quick to challenge the loyalties of friends and loved ones •Often appear cold and distant to others. •Usually shift blame to others and tend to carry long grudges.•3% of population•Blame others for own shortcomings

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• People with schizoid personality disorder avoid relationships and do not show much emotion

• Humorless They genuinely prefer to be alone and do not secretly wish for popularity.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• Characterized by a need for social isolation, odd behavior and thinking, and often unconventional beliefs such as being convinced of having extra sensory abilities.

• Some people believe that schizotypal personality disorder is a mild form of schizophrenia.

Cluster B: Dramatic, Emotional,

Erratic cluster

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Lack of empathy.• Little regard for other’s

feelings.• View the world as hostile

and look out for themselves.

• Don’t usually think about consequences

• Prone to criminal behavior– Tend to lie and steal

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Often referred to as sociopaths or psychopaths

• Evidence is seen in behaviors in childhood or early adolescence

• They often blame the victim for their own stupidity

• Middle to late adulthood tendencies tend to diminish

Biological Link to Anti-Social Behavior?

• PET scans illustrate reduced activation in a murderer’s frontal cortex Normal Murderer

Borderline Personality Disorder• characterized by instability of interpersonal

relationships, self-image, and impulsivity

People with this disorder are prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger. Most commonly diagnosed

Histrionic Personality DisorderThey need to be the center of attention all the time, often interrupting others in order to dominate the conversation.

Exaggerate friendships and relationships, believing everyone loves them

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• Having an unwarranted sense of self-importance.

• Thinking that you are the center of the universe.

Justin Bieber at the Anne Frank House: “I hope Anne Frank would have been a belieber.”

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Start at 2:34

They tend to be choosy about picking friends, since they believe that not just anyone is worthy of being their friend.

They are generally uninterested in the feelings of others and may take advantage of them.

Cluster C:Anxious, Fearful

Cluster

Avoidant personality disorder

• Characterized by a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation.

• Consider themselves to be socially inept or personally unappealing, and avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed or humiliated.

Dependent Personality disorder • Characterized by a pervasive psychological

dependence on other people. • Has difficulty making everyday decisions without

an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Characterized by a general psychological inflexibility, rigid conformity to rules and procedures, perfectionism, and excessive orderliness.

• People with OCPD tend to stress perfectionism above all else, and feel anxious when they perceive that things aren't "right".

Facticious DisordersFacticious Disorders: are conditions in

which a person acts as if he or she has an illness by deliberately producing, feigning, or exaggerating symptoms.

Ex. Münchausen syndrome: psychiatric disorder where one fakes physical or psychological illnesses or diseases to gain sympathy for themselves. Münchausen syndrome by proxy: involves inflicting physical symptoms on others usually a child to gain sympathy.

Other Disorders

• Paraphilias (pedophilia, zoophilia, hybristophilia)

• Fetishism • sadist, masochist• Eating Disorders• Substance use

disorders• ADHD

Percentage of Americans Who Have Ever Experienced Psychological Disorders

Disorder White Black Hispanic Men Women Totals

Ethnicity Gender

Alcohol abuse or dependence 13.6% 13.8% 16.7% 23.8% 4.6% 13.8%

Generalized anxiety 3.4 6.1 3.7 2.4 5.0 3.8

Phobia 9.7 23.4 12.2 10.4 17.7 14.3

Obsessive-compulsive disorder 2.6 2.3 1.8 2.0 3.0 2.6

Mood disorder 8.0 6.3 7.8 5.2 10.2 7.8

Schizophrenic disorder 1.4 2.1 0.8 1.2 1.7 1.5

Antisocial personality disorder 2.6 2.3 3.4 4.5 0.8 2.6