If depression is the common cold,

schizophrenia is the cancer

The Split MindSchizophrenia is a group of severe

disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions

1. Disorganized thinking is a symptom of schizophreniaThinking is fragmented, bizarre, and often

distorted by false beliefs called delusionsDelusions are false beliefs, often of

persecution or grandeurThose with paranoid tendencies are

particularly prone to delusions of persecution

Jumbled ideas may create what is called word salad

I need a little more allegro in the treatment Disorganized thoughts may result from

a breakdown in selective attentionThose with schizophrenia have great

difficulty focusing and filtering out sensory stimuli while attempting to pay attentionWhat had happened to me…was a breakdown

in the filter, and a hodge-podge of unrelated stimuli were distracting me from things which should have had my undivided attention.

2. Disturbed perceptions is a second symptomHallucinations often occur

Most often the hallucinations are auditory (typically voices talking to them)

Inappropriate Emotions and ActionsEmotions are often utterly inappropriate, split off

from realityWhile some respond inappropriately others

lapse into an emotionless state of flat affectMotor behavior may also be inappropriate

Some perform senseless, compulsive acts

LifeThose with schizophrenia live in a private inner world during their most severe periods

Difficult to hold down a jobGiven a supportive environment some eventually recover to enjoy a normal life but may still experience bouts of schizophreniaOthers remain socially withdrawn

Onset and DevelopmentTypically strikes as young people are

maturing into adulthoodIt is not a cultural disorderSwedish and Danish studies show that

thin young men, and those who were not breastfed, are more vulnerable

For some it gradually developsFor others it appears suddenly,

seemingly as a reaction to stress

Schizophrenia is a cluster of disordersThe subtypes share common features, but have

some distinguishing differencesPatients have positive and negative symptoms

(+)Positive symptoms: hallucinations, talk in disorganized and deluded ways, and exhibit inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage

(-)Negative symptoms: toneless voices, expressionless faces, or mute and rigid bodiesPositive are the presence of inappropriate

behaviorsNegative are the absence of appropriate

behaviorsEven though schizophrenia is a cluster of

disorders, one thing holds true: when schizophrenia is a slow-developing process (called chronic), recovery is doubtful

TypesParanoid: preoccupation with delusions or

hallucinations, often with themes of persecution or grandeur

Disorganized: disorganized speech or behavior, or flat or inappropriate emotion

Catatonic: immobility (or excessive, purposeless movement), extreme negativity

Undifferentiated: many and varied symptomsRemission: withdrawal, after hallucinations

and delusions have disappeared

UnderstandingBrain abnormalities

Dopamine OveractivityResearchers discovered patients had an

excess of receptors for dopamineSpeculate that such high level may intensify the brain signals in schizophrenia, creating positive symptoms

Researchers are currently studying glutamateImpaired glutamate activity appears to be another source of schizophrenia symptoms

Abnormal brain activity & anatomy

Many studies have found enlarged, fluid filled areas and a corresponding shrinkage of cerebral tissueTwo areas of shrinkage are:

CortexThalamus

Two known risk factors for schizophrenia are low birth weight and oxygen deprivation during delivery

Causes?Maternal Virus During Mid-pregnancy

A third possibility could be a mid-pregnancy viral infection that impairs fetal brain developmentFetal-virus infection lays a contributing role

in the development of schizophreniaGenetic factors

Odds become 1 in 10 for those whose siblings or parents have the disorder and 1 in 2 if the affected sibling is an identical twinIdentical twins share prenatal environment

SchizophreniaEarly warning signs:

A mother whose schizophrenia was severe and long-lasting

Birth complications, often involving oxygen deprivation and low birth weight

Separation from parents Short attention span and poor muscle coordination Disruptive or withdrawn behavior Emotional unpredictability Poor peer relations and solo play