Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia


  A mental disorder that affects one in every 300 people
• Antipsychotic drugs


  • Used to treat schizophrenia. Blocks the synapse to reduce symptoms
• Positive symptoms of schizophrenia


  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Delusions of grandure
• Negative symptoms of schizophrenia


  • Avolition
  • Alogia
  • Anhedonia
  • Flatness of effect
  • Catatonic behaviour
• Dopamine-receptor levels


  Biological explanation for schizophrenia, higher levels cause hallucinations (Griffiths). Too little dopamine causes negative symptoms (Davis)
• Social explanations for schizophrenia


  • Social Cultural factors
  • Dysfunctional families
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy


  Smith- engagement strategies, psychoeducation, cognitive strategies, behavioural skills training, relapse prevention. Tarnier- same relapse rates after a month
• Social isolation


  Black people more likely to develop schizophrenia in urban areas, not cohesive with the carribbean- Mahy
• Cognitive approach


  • Morrison- triggers cause hallucination, re-enforced negative emotions and allow condition to worse
• Engagement strategies


  • Psychoeducation
  • Cognitive strategies
  • Behavioural skills training
  • Relapse prevention
• Positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms such as avolition, alogia, anhedonia, affective flattening, and social withdrawal.
• Causes are complex and multifactorial, including genetic factors, environmental influences, brain chemistry imbalances, and neurological abnormalities
• Treatment involves medication management with antipsychotics, psychotherapy, rehabilitation programs, and support services for individuals and families affected by the disorder.
• Treatment includes antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family support, vocational rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes
• Antipsychotic medications can have side effects like weight gain, metabolic syndrome, movement disorders, sexual dysfunction, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome