cognitive factors - dysfunctional thought processes

• Chris Frith - identified key aspects of Dysfunctional Thought Processes with Schizophrenics
• LACK OF PRECONSCIOUS FILTERS - SZ - result of faulty attention system + lack of preconscious filters

  > info from env enters senses + creates PC thought

  > attention systems (PCF) filter unnecessary input before it's brought into C awareness - manageable amount of info to process
• LACK OF PRECONSCIOUS FILTERS - SZ - result of faulty attention system + lack of preconscious filters

  } for a SCHIZOPHRENIC

  > PC doesn't work / lacks

  > experience sensory overload > have to consciously process high levels of irrelevant info that's normally filtered out > but treated as significant

  > leads > +ve symptoms
• FAULTY METAREPRESENTATION - ability to reflect on + have insight into our own intentions / actions of others

  > how we understand that we're responsible for our thoughts, b's + actions

  > by paying attention to our thought processes (self awareness) (A > B > C) > we can explain + justify our thinking + b, and tell they're ours

  > can explain +ve and -ve symptoms
• FAULTY METAREPRESENTATION - ability to reflect on + have insight into our own intentions / actions of others

  } for a SCHIZOPHRENIC

  > MR processing = faulty / dysfunctional

  > lack ability to link thought processes + unable to follow train of thought / identify thoughts as their own

  > make assumptions > from external sources / someone else's thoughts / talking
• FAULTY METAREPRESENTATION - ability to reflect on + have insight into our own intentions / actions of others

  } EXAMPLE

  > Auditory Hallucinations - think someone else is talking > actually their internal voice

  > positive symptoms make it hard to distinguish thoughts from voices
• FAULTY METAREPRESENTATION - ability to reflect on + have insight into our own intentions / actions of others

  } EXAMPLE

  > Delusions of Control - can't follow train of thought / identify thoughts as theirs due to external inputs interfering (other's speech) + have no logical ability to say they thought that > because - feel - someone else is controlling thoughts / actions
• NEGATIVE COGNITIVE TRIAD

  } Aaron Beck - created CT to explain depression > also offers model of -ve SZ symptoms

  > some SZ = -ve schemas about themselves, world + future

  > mental filters only allow negative messages in > cause them to only pay attention to -ve thoughts / voices > reinforces pessimistic schemas

  > leads -ve symptoms