once i had multiple personalities, but now we are feeling well. i don't suffer from insanity, i...

• Once I had multiple personalities, but now we are feeling well.

• I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute.

• I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. • The best thing about being schizophrenic is

that I'm never alone. • Just because you are paranoid doesn't

mean people aren't out to get you! • Hypochondria is the only illness that I don't

have. • I've always been a hypochondriac. As a little

boy, I'd eat my M&M's one by one with a glass of water.

Psychological Disorders

People are fascinated by the exceptional, the unusual, and the abnormal. This fascination

may be caused by two reasons:

1. During various moments we feel, think, and act like an abnormal individual.

2. Psychological disorders may bring unexplained physical symptoms, irrational fears, and suicidal thoughts.


To study the abnormal is the best way of understanding the normal.

1. There are 450 million people suffering from psychological disorders (WHO, 2004).

2. Depression and schizophrenia exist in all cultures of the world.

William James (1842-1910)

Rate this person using the following scale:1= Basically OK Psychotherapy is not necessary2=Mild Disturbance. Psychotherapy should be considered3= Significant disturbance. Psychotherapy is definitely required4= Severe disturbance. Hospitalize!

Bob is a very intelligent, 25 year old member of a religious organization that is based on Buddhism. Bob’s working for this organization caused considerable conflict between him and his parents, who are devout Catholics. Recently Bob experiences acute spells of nausea and fatigue that prevent him from working and which have forced him to return home to live with his parents. Various medical tests are being conducted, but as yet no physical causes of his problems have been found.


Jim was vice president of the freshman class at a local college and played on the school’s football team. Later that year he dropped out of these activities and gradually became more and more withdrawn from friends and family. Neglecting to shave and shower, he began to look dirty and unhealthy. He spent most of his time alone in his room and sometimes complained to his parents that he heard voices in the curtains and in the closet. In his sophomore year he dropped out of school entirely. With increasing anxiety and agitation, he began to worry that the “Nazis” were plotting to kill his family and kidnap him.


Mary is a 30 year old musician who is very dedicated and successful in her work as a teacher in a local high school and as a part time member of local musical groups. Since her marriage five years ago, which ended in divorce after six months, she has dated very few men. She often worries that her time is “running out” for establishing a good relationship with a man, getting married, and raising a family. Her friends tell her that she gets way too anxious around men, and that she needs to relax a little in general.


Larry, a homosexual who has lived for three years with a man he met in graduate school, works as a psychologist in a large hospital. Although competent in his work, he often feels strained by the pressures of his demanding position. An added source of tension on the job is his not being able to confide in all his co workers about his private life. Most of his leisure activities are with good friends who belong to the gay subculture.


Bob is a very intelligent, 25 year old member of a religious organization that is based on Buddhism. Bob’s working for this organization caused considerable conflict between him and his parents, who are devout Catholics. Recently Bob experiences acute spells of nausea and fatigue that prevent him from working and which have forced him to return home to live with his parents. Various medical tests are being conducted, but as yet no physical causes of his problems have been found.


Jim was vice president of the freshman class at a local college and played on the school’s football team. Later that year he dropped out of these activities and gradually became more and more withdrawn from friends and family. Neglecting to shave and shower, he began to look dirty and unhealthy. He spent most of his time alone in his room and sometimes complained to his parents that he heard voices in the curtains and in the closet. In his sophomore year he dropped out of school entirely. With increasing anxiety and agitation, he began to worry that the “Nazis” were plotting to kill his family and kidnap him.


Mary is a 30 year old musician who is very dedicated and successful in her work as a teacher in a local high school and as a part time member of local musical groups. Since her marriage five years ago, which ended in divorce after six months, she has dated very few men. She often worries that her time is “running out” for establishing a good relationship with a man, getting married, and raising a family. Her friends tell her that she gets way too anxious around men, and that she needs to relax a little in general.


Larry, a homosexual who has lived for three years with a man he met in graduate school, works as a psychologist in a large hospital. Although competent in his work, he often feels strained by the pressures of his demanding position. An added source of tension on the job is his not being able to confide in all his co workers about his private life. Most of his leisure activities are with good friends who belong to the gay subculture.

Defining Psychological Disorders

Mental health workers view psychological disorders as persistently harmful thoughts,

feelings, and actions.

When behavior is deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional psychiatrists and psychologists

label it as disordered (Comer, 2004).

Deviant, Distressful & Dysfunctional

1. Deviant behavior (going naked) in one culture may be considered normal, while in others it may lead to arrest.

2. Deviant behavior must accompany distress.

3. If a behavior is dysfunctional it is clearly a disorder.

In the Wodaabe tribe men wear costumes to attract

women. In Western society this would be considered

abnormal.

Carol B

eckwith


Psychological Disorder a “harmful dysfunction” in which

behavior is judged to be: atypical--not enough in itself disturbing--varies with time and culture maladaptive--harmful unjustifiable--sometimes there’s a good

reason

Historical Perspective Perceived Causes

movements of sun or moon lunacy--full moon

evil spirits Ancient Treatments

exorcism, caged like animals, beaten, burned, castrated, mutilated, blood replaced with animal’s blood

Understanding Psychological Disorders

Ancient Treatments of psychological disorders include trephination, exorcism, being caged like

animals, being beaten, burned, castrated, mutilated, or transfused with animal’s blood.

Trephination (boring holes in the skull to remove evil forces)

Medical Model

When physicians discovered that syphilis led to mental disorders, they started using medical models

to review the physical causes of these disorders.

1. Etiology: Cause and development of the disorder.

2. Diagnosis: Identifying (symptoms) and distinguishing one disease from another.

3. Treatment: Treating a disorder in a psychiatric hospital.

4. Prognosis: Forecast about the disorder.

Medical Perspective

Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) from France, insisted that madness was not due to demonic possession, but an ailment of the mind.

Dance in the madhouse.

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Biopsychosocial Perspective

Assumes that biological, socio-cultural, and psychological factors combine and interact to

produce psychological disorders.


Thomas Szasz

believes that mental illnesses are socially, not medically, defined.

Classifying Psychological Disorders

The American Psychiatric Association rendered a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to describe psychological

disorders.

The most recent edition, DSM-IV-TR (Text Revision, 2000), describes 400 psychological

disorders compared to 60 in the 1950s.

Multiaxial Classification

Are Psychosocial or Environmental Problems (school or housing issues) also present?

Axis IV

What is the Global Assessment of the person’s functioning?(numeric representation)Axis V

Is a General Medical Condition (diabetes, hypertension or arthritis etc) also present?Axis III

Is a Personality Disorder or Mental Retardation present?

Axis II

Is a Clinical Syndrome (cognitive, anxiety, mood disorders [16 syndromes]) present?

Axis I

Multiaxial ClassificationNote 16 syndromes in Axis I

Multiaxial ClassificationNote Global Assessment for Axis V

Goals of DSM

1. Describe (400) disorders.2. Determine how prevalent the

disorder is.

Disorders outlined by DSM-IV are reliable. Therefore, diagnoses by different professionals are similar.

Others criticize DSM-IV for “putting any kind of behavior within the compass of psychiatry.”

Prevalence

Approximately 48% of adults experienced symptoms at least once in their lives

Approximately 80% who experienced symptoms in the last year did NOT seek treatment

Most people seem to deal with symptoms without complete debilitation

Women have higher prevalence of depression and anxiety

Men have higher prevalence of substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder

Psychological Disorders- Etiology

Neurotic Disorder (term seldom used now) usually distressing but that allows one

to think rationally and function socially Psychotic Disorder

person loses contact with reality experiences irrational ideas and

distorted perceptions

Labeling Psychological Disorders

1. Critics of the DSM-IV argue that labels may stigmatize individuals.

Asylum baseball team (labeling)


2. Labels may be helpful for healthcare professionals when communicating with one another and establishing therapy.


3. “Insanity” labels raise moral and ethical questions about how society should treat people who have disorders and have committed crimes.

Theodore Kaczynski

(Unabomber)

Elaine T

hompson/ A

P P

hoto

Labeling Psychological Disorders (David Rosenhan)

David Rosenhan and seven others went to mental hospital admissions offices, complaining of “hearing voices” that were saying “empty,” “hollow,” and “thud.” Apart from this complaint and giving false names and occupations, they answered all the questions truthfully. All eight were diagnosed as mentally ill.

David Rosenhan: Pseudo-Patient Experiment

Investigated reliability of psychiatric diagnoses Eight healthy people entered psychiatric hospitals

complaining of hearing strange voices Once admitted to the hospital, they behaved

normally and claimed that the voices had disappeared

Rosenhan: Results

Staff treated patients as if they were really ill Staff noted “abnormal” symptoms Kept patients for an average of 19 days Discharged with diagnosis of “schizophrenia in remission”

Rosenhan: Nonexistent Impostor Experiment

Told hospital staff to expect pseudo-patients (“impostors”)

No pseudo-patients were actually sent, but staff identified 41 anyway (these were, in fact, real patients)

Rosenhan: Implications

Psychiatrists disputed the results

Prompted changes in psychiatric diagnosis

The DSM-IV

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

More or less constant worry about many issues

The worry seriously interferes with functioning

Physical symptoms headaches stomach aches muscle tension irritability

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

1. Persistent and uncontrollable tenseness and apprehension.

2. Autonomic arousal.

3. Inability to identify or avoid the cause of certain feelings.

Symptoms

Model of Development of GAD

GAD has some genetic component Related genetically to major depression Childhood trauma also related to GAD

Genetic predispositionor childhood trauma

GAD following life change or major event

Hypervigilance

Panic Disorder

Minute-long episodes of intense dread which may include feelings of terror, chest pains, choking, or other frightening sensations.

Anxiety is a component of both disorders. It occurs more in the panic disorder, making

people avoid situations that cause it.

Symptoms

Phobia

Marked by a persistent and irrational fear of an object or situation that disrupts behavior.

Kinds of Phobias

Phobia of blood.Hemophobia

Phobia of closed spaces.

Claustrophobia

Phobia of heights.Acrophobia

Phobia of open places.Agoraphobia

Anxiety Disorders Common and uncommon fears

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions)

and/or actions (compulsions)


I felt the need to clean my room … spent four to five hour at it … At the time I loved it but then didn't want to do it any more, but could not stop … The clothes hung

… two fingers apart …I touched my bedroom wall before leaving the house … I had constant anxiety … I

thought I might be nuts.

Marc, diagnosed with

obsessive-compulsive disorder

(from Summers, 1996)

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

PET Scan of brain of person with Obsessive/ Compulsive disorder

High metabolic activity (red) in frontal lobe areas involved with directing attention

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Four or more weeks of the following symptoms constitute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

1. Haunting memories

2. Nightmares

3. Social withdrawal

4. Jumpy anxiety

5. Sleep problems

Bettm

ann/ Corbis

Resilience to PTSD

Only about 10% of women and 20% of men react to traumatic situations and develop PTSD.

Holocaust survivors show remarkable resilience against traumatic situations.

All major religions of the world suggest that surviving a trauma leads to the growth of an

individual.

Explaining Anxiety Disorders

Psychoanalytic PerspectiveFreud suggested that we repress our painful and intolerable ideas, feelings, and thoughts,

resulting in anxiety.

The Learning Perspective

Learning theorists suggest that fear

conditioning leads to anxiety. This anxiety

then becomes associated with other

objects or events (stimulus

generalization) and is reinforced.

John Coletti/ S

tock, Boston


Stimulus Generalization Conditioned fears may remain long after

we have forgotten the experiences that produced them.

Stimulus generalization may occur when a person who fears heights after a fall may be afraid of airplanes without ever having flown.


Reinforcement

Once phobias and compulsions arise, reinforcement helps maintain them. Avoiding or escaping the feared situation reduces anxiety, thus reinforcing the phobic behavior.


Investigators believe that fear responses are inculcated through observational learning.

Young monkeys develop fear when they watch other monkeys who are afraid of snakes.

Parents transmit their fears to their children.

The Biological Perspective

Natural Selection has led our ancestors to learn to fear snakes, spiders, and other animals.

Therefore, fear preserves the species.

Twin studies suggest that our genes may be partly responsible for developing fears and

anxiety. Twins are more likely to share phobias.

The Biological Perspective

General anxiety, panic attacks, and even obsessions and compulsions are biologically measurable as an overarousal of brain areas involved in impulse control and habitual behaviors. (PET scans)

Anterior Cingulate Cortexof an OCD patient.

Somatoform Disorders


psychological disorders in which the symptoms take a somatic (bodily) form without apparent physical cause.


Conversion Disorders

a rare somatoform disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which no physiological basis can be found.


Hypochondriasis

a somatoform disorder in which a person misinterprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease.

Mood Disorders Mood Disorders

characterized by emotional extremes Major Depressive Disorder

a mood disorder in which a person, for no apparent reason, experiences two or more weeks of depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities

Major Depressive Disorder

Depression is the “common cold” of psychological disorders. In a year, 5.8% of men

and 9.5% of women report depression worldwide (WHO, 2002).

Chronic shortness of breath

Gasping for air after a hard run

Major Depressive DisorderBlue mood

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder occurs when signs of depression last two weeks or more and are not

caused by drugs or medical conditions.

1. Lethargy and fatigue

2. Feelings of worthlessness

3. Loss of interest in family & friends

4. Loss of interest in activities

Signs include:

Symptoms of Major Depression

Dysthymic Disorder

Dysthymic disorder lies between a blue mood and major depressive disorder. It is a disorder characterized by daily depression lasting two

years or more.

Major Depressive

Disorder

Blue

Mood

Dysthymic

Disorder

Dysthymic Disorder

Chronic, low-grade depressed feelings that are not severe enough to be major depression

May develop in response to trauma, but does not decrease with time

Can have co-existing major depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Cyclic severe depression and elevated mood

Seasonal regularity Unique cluster of symptoms

intense hunger gain weight in winter sleep more than usual depressed more in evening than morning

Prevalence and Course

Most common of psychological disorders Women are twice as likely as men to be

diagnosed with major depression Untreated episodes can become

recurring and more serious Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—

onset with changing seasons

Mood Disorders Bipolar Disorder

a mood disorder in which the person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania

formerly called manic-depressive disorder Manic Episode

a mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state

Bipolar Disorder

Formerly called manic-depressive disorder. An alternation between depression and mania

signals bipolar disorder.

Multiple ideas

Hyperactive

Desire for action

Euphoria

Elation

Manic Symptoms

Slowness of thought

Tired

Inability to make decisions

Withdrawn

Gloomy

Depressive Symptoms

Bipolar Disorder

Many great writers, poets, and composers suffered from bipolar disorder. During their

manic phase creativity surged, but not during their depressed phase.

Whitman Wolfe Clemens Hemingway

Prevalence and Course

• Bipolar Disorder

•Onset usually in young adulthood

(early twenties)

• Mood changes more abrupt than in major depression

• No sex differences in rate of bipolar disorder

• Commonly recurs every few years

• Can often be controlled by medication (lithium)

Mood Disorders-Depression

Boys who were later convicted of a crime showed relatively low arousal

Mood Disorders-Depression

Suicide

The most severe form of behavioral response to depression is suicide. Each year some 1 million

people commit suicide worldwide.

1. National differences

2. Racial differences

3. Gender differences

4. Age differences

5. Other differences

Suicide Statistics

Explaining Mood Disorders

Since depression is so prevalent worldwide, investigators want to develop a theory of

depression that will suggest ways to treat it.

Lewinsohn et al., (1985, 1995) note that a theory of depression should explain the

following:1. Behavioral and cognitive changes

2. Common causes of depression

Theory of Depression

3. Gender differences

Theory of Depression

4. Depressive episodes self-terminate.

5. Depression is increasing, especially in

the teens.

Post-partum depression

Desiree N

avarro/ Getty Im

ages

Neurotransmitters & Depression

Post-synapticNeuron

Pre-synapticNeuron

Norepinephrine Serotonin

A reduction of

norepinephrine and

serotonin has been

found in depression.

Drugs that alleviate

mania reduce

norepinephrine.

Biological Perspective

Genetic Influences: Mood disorders run in families. The rate of depression is higher in identical (50%) than fraternal twins (20%).

Linkage analysis and

association studies link

possible genes and

dispositions for depression.

Jerry Irwin P

hotography

The Depressed Brain

PET scans show that brain energy consumption rises and falls with manic and depressive

episodes.

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Social-Cognitive Perspective

The social-cognitive perspective suggests that depression arises partly from self-defeating

beliefs and negative explanatory styles.

Cognitive Bases for Depression

Hopelessness theory depression results from a pattern of thinking person loses hope that life will get better negative thoughts and negative patterns of

thinking could lead to mood disorder Aspect of social-cognitive theory

Cognitive Bases for Depression

A.T. Beck: depressed people hold pessimistic views of themselves the world the future

Depressed people distort their experiences in negative ways exaggerate bad experiences minimize good experiences

Depression Cycle

1. Negative stressful events.

2. Pessimistic explanatory

style.

3. Hopeless depressed state.

4. These hamper the way the

individual thinks and acts,

fueling personal rejection.

Example

Explanatory style plays a major role in becoming depressed.

Dissociative Amnesia Also known as psychogenic amnesia Memory loss the only symptom Often selective loss surrounding traumatic

events person still knows identity and most of their past

Can also be global loss of identity without replacement with a new one

Dissociative Amnesia Margie and her brother were recently

victims of a robbery. Margie was not injured, but her brother was killed when he resisted the robbers. Margie was unable to recall any details from the time of the accident until four days later.

Dissociative Fugue Also known as psychogenic fugue Global amnesia with identity replacement

leaves home develops a new identity apparently no recollection of former life called a ‘fugue state’

If fugue wears off old identity recovers new identity is totally forgotten

Dissociative Fugue

• Jay, a high school physics teacher in New York City, disappeared three days after his wife unexpectedly left him for another man. Six months later, he was discovered tending bar in Miami Beach. Calling himself Martin, he claimed to have no recollection of his past life and insisted that he had never been married.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder rare dissociative disorder in which a person

exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities

formerly called multiple personality disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Pattern typically starts prior to age 10 (childhood)

Most people with disorder are women

Most report recall of torture or sexual abuse as children and show symptoms of PTSD

Dissociative Disorder

Conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories,

thoughts, and feelings.

Symptoms

1. Having a sense of being unreal.

2. Being separated from the body.

3. Watching yourself as if in a movie.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Is a disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities,

formerly called multiple personality disorder.

Chris Sizemore (DID)

Lois Bernstein/ G

amm

a Liason

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Norma has frequent memory gaps and cannot account for her whereabouts during certain periods of time. While being interviewed by a clinical psychologist, she began speaking in a childlike voice. She claimed that her name was Donna and that she was only six years old. Moments later, she seemed to revert to her adult voice and had no recollection of speaking in a childlike voice or claiming that her name was Donna.

Causes of Dissociative Disorders?

Repeated, severe sexual or physical abuse

However, many abused people do not develop DID

Combine abuse with biological predisposition toward dissociation? people with DID are easier to hypnotize than others may begin as series of hypnotic trances to cope with

abusive situations

DID Critics

Critics argue that the diagnosis of DID increased in the late 20th century. DID has

not been found in other countries.Critics’ Arguments

1. Role-playing by people open to a therapist’s suggestion.

2. Learned response that reinforces reductions in anxiety.

The DID Controversy

Some curious statistics 1930–60: 2 cases per decade in USA 1980s: 20,000 cases reported many more cases in US than elsewhere varies by therapist—some see none, others

see a lot

Is DID the result of suggestion by therapist and acting by patient?

Schizophrenia

If depression is the common cold of psychological disorders, schizophrenia is the

cancer.Nearly 1 in a 100 suffer from schizophrenia, and

throughout the world over 24 million people suffer from this disease (WHO, 2002).

Schizophrenia strikes young people as they mature into adults. It affects men and women equally, but men suffer from it more severely

than women.

Schizophrenia Schizophrenia

literal translation “split mind” a group of severe disorders

characterized by: disorganized and delusional thinking disturbed perceptions inappropriate emotions and actions

What is Schizophrenia?

Comes from Greek meaning “split” and “mind” ‘split’ refers to loss of touch with reality not dissociative state not ‘split personality’

Equally split between genders, males have earlier onset 18 to 25 for men 26 to 45 for women

Schizophrenic Disorders

Symptoms

Disorganized Thoughts

Hallucinations

Delusions

Garbled Speech

Word Salad

Clanging

Other forms of delusions include, delusions of persecution (“someone is following me”) or

grandeur (“I am a king”).

Disorganized & Delusional Thinking

This morning when I was at Hillside [Hospital], I was making a movie. I was surrounded by movie stars … I’m Marry Poppins. Is this room painted blue to get me upset? My grandmother died four weeks after my eighteenth birthday.” (Sheehan, 1982)

This monologue illustrates fragmented, bizarre thinking with distorted beliefs called delusions

(“I’m Mary Poppins”).

Schizophrenia Delusions

false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

In a psychiatrist's waiting room two patients are having a conversation. One says to the other, "Why are you here?"The second answers, "I'm Napoleon, so the doctor told me to come here."The first is curious and asks, "How do you know that you're Napoleon?"The second responds, "God told me I was."At this point, a patient on the other side of the room shouts, "NO I DIDN'T!"

Disorganized & Delusional Thinking

Many psychologists believe disorganized thoughts occur because of selective attention

failure (fragmented and bizarre thoughts).

Symptoms of Schizophrenia Delusions of persecution

‘they’re out to get me’ paranoia

Delusions of grandeur “God” complex megalomania

Delusions of being controlled the CIA is controlling my brain with a radio signal

Disorganized Thinking

Word Salad

jumping from one idea to another even within sentences.

Clang Associations

rhyming the last word of a sentence.

Disorganized Thinking

Symptoms of Schizophrenia Hallucinations

hearing or seeing things that aren’t there contributes to delusions command hallucinations: voices giving orders

Disorganized speech Over-inclusion—jumping from idea to idea without the

benefit of logical association Paralogic—on the surface, seems logical, but seriously

flawed e.g., Jesus was a man with a beard, I am a man with a beard,

therefore I am Jesus

Disturbed Perceptions

A schizophrenic person may perceive things that are not there (hallucinations). Frequently such hallucinations are auditory and lesser

visual, somatosensory, olfactory, or gustatory.

Inappropriate Emotions & Actions

A schizophrenic person may laugh at the news of someone dying or show no emotion at all

(apathy- Inappropriate Emotions ).

Patients with schizophrenia may continually rub an arm, rock a chair, or remain motionless for

hours (catatonia-AWAKENINGS).

Positive and Negative Symptoms

Schizophrenics have inappropriate symptoms (hallucinations, disorganized thinking, deluded ways) that are not present in normal individuals

(positive symptoms).

Schizophrenics also have an absence of appropriate symptoms (apathy, expressionless faces, rigid bodies) that are present in normal

individuals (negative symptoms).

Frequency of positive and negative symptoms in individuals at the time they were hospitalized for schizophrenia. Source: Based on data reported in Andreasen & Flaum, 1991.

Disorganized Symptoms

Disorganized behavior and affect behavior is inappropriate for the situation

e.g., wearing sweaters and overcoats on hot days affect is inappropriately expressed

flat affect—no emotion at all in face or speech inappropriate affect—laughing at very serious

things, crying at funny things

catatonic behavior unresponsiveness to environment, usually marked

by immobility for extended periods

Chronic and Acute Schizophrenia

When schizophrenia is slow to develop (chronic/process) recovery is doubtful. Such

schizophrenics usually display negative symptoms.

When schizophrenia rapidly develops (acute/reactive) recovery is better. Such

schizophrenics usually show positive symptoms.

Subtypes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a cluster of disorders. These subtypes share some features, but there are

other symptoms that differentiate these subtypes.

Schizophrenia

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain exhibited by the symptoms of the mind.

Chemical Factors:Dopamine Overactivity: Researchers found that schizophrenic patients express higher levels of

dopamine D4 receptors in the brain.

Brain Abnormalities

Genetic Factors

Genetic Factors

1 in 100 odds of any person being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

1 in 10 chance among those who have an afflicted sibling or parent.

1 in 2 chance among those who have an afflicted identical twin.

Genetic Factors

The likelihood of an individual suffering from schizophrenia is 50% if their identical twin has

the disease (Gottesman, 1991).0 10 20 30 40 50

Identical

Both parents

Fraternal

One parent

Sibling

Nephew or niece

Unrelated

Psychological Factors

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.

Cou

rtesy o

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ain

Fa

mily

Warning Signs

Early warning signs of schizophrenia include:

Birth complications, oxygen deprivation and low-birth weight.

2.

Short attention span and poor muscle coordination.

3.

Poor peer relations and solo play.6.

Emotional unpredictability.5.

Disruptive and withdrawn behavior.4.

A mother’s long lasting schizophrenia.1.

Biological FactorsAbnormal Brain Morphology

Schizophrenia patients may exhibit morphological changes in the brain like

enlargement of fluid-filled ventricles.

Both P

hotos: Courtesy of D

aniel R. W

einberger, M.D

., NIH

-NIM

H/ N

SC

Abnormal Brain Activity

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

schizophrenic patients. Adolescent schizophrenic patients also have brain lesions.

Paul T

hompson and A

rthur W. T

oga, UC

LA Laboratory of N

euro Im

aging and Judith L. Rapport, N

ational Institute of Mental H

ealth

Environmental FactorsViral Infection

Schizophrenia has also been observed in individuals who contracted a viral infection (flu)

during the middle of their fetal development.

Family Influences on Schizophrenia

Family variables parental communication that is

disorganized, hard-to-follow, or highly emotional

expressed emotion• highly critical, over-enmeshed families

Cultural Differences in Schizophrenia

Prevalence of symptoms is similar no matter what the culture

Less industrialized countries have better rates of recovery than industrialized countries families tend to be less critical of the patients less use of antipsychotic medications, which may

impair full recovery think of it as transient, rather than chronic and lasting

disorder

Summary of Schizophrenia

Many biological factors seem involved heredity neurotransmitters brain structure abnormalities

Family and cultural factors also important Combined model of schizophrenia

biological predisposition combined with psychosocial stressors leads to disorder

Is schizophrenia the maladaptive coping behavior of a biologically vulnerable person?

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are characterized by

inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that

impair social functioning. They are

usually without anxiety, depression, or

delusions.

These people have unstable and intense relationships with others.

They are dependent on others and yet, sabotage those relationships.

They have problems controlling their impulses; their perceptions andthoughts are distorted.

Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder in which the person (usually men) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even

toward friends and family members.

Formerly, this person was called a sociopath

or psychopath.

Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder

Like mood disorders and schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder has

biological and psychological reasons.

Youngsters, before committing a crime, respond with lower

levels of stress hormones than others

do at their age.


PET scans of 41 murderers revealed reduced activity in the frontal lobes. In a follow-up study

repeat offenders had 11% less frontal lobe activity compared to normals (Raine et al., 1999; 2000).

Normal Murderer


The likelihood that one will commit a crime doubles when childhood poverty is compounded with

obstetrical complications (Raine et al., 1999; 2000).

Borderline Personality Disorder

Chronic instability of emotions, self-image, relationships

Self-destructive behaviors Intense fear of abandonment and

emptiness Possible history of childhood physical,

emotional, or sexual abuse 75% of diagnosed cases are women

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Pervasive mistrust and suspiciousness of others are the main characteristic

Distrustful even of close family and friends

Reluctant to form close relationships Tend to blame others for their own

shortcomings

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Histrionic Personality Disorder displays a shallow, attention-getting emotionality.

Histrionic individuals go to great length to gain others’ praise and reassurance.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder exaggerate their own importance, aided by success fantasies.

They find criticism hard to accept, often reacting with rage or shame.

Rates of Psychological Disorders

The prevalence of psychological disorders during the previous year is shown below (WHO, 2004).

Risk and Protective Factors

Risk and protective factors for mental disorders (WHO, 2004).

Rates of Psychological Disorders

once i had multiple personalities, but now we are feeling well. i don't suffer from insanity, i...

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