Schizophrenia

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Schizophrenia

• Psychology Senior Seminar
• Kirsten Porter-Stransky
• March 18, 2008

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Defining Schizophrenia

• Definition
• Symptoms
• Positive
• Negative
• Disorganized
• Other

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Positive Symptoms

• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Other disorders of perception

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Negative Symptoms

• Avolition
• Alogia
• Anhedonia
• Flat Affect
• Asociality

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Disordered Other Symptoms

• Disorganized Symptoms
• Disorganized Speech (thought disorder,
  disorganized speech)
• Bizarre Behavior
• Other Symptoms
• Catatonia
• Inappropriate Affect

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Categories

• Disorganized
• Catatonic
• Paranoid
• Undifferentiated
• Residual

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Dopamine Theory

• Excess activity of dopamine
• Support
• Treatment
• Antipsychotic drugs
• D2 receptors
• Amphetamines
• Mesolimbic pathway
• Mesocortical pathway

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Dopamine Theory
Brain injury to PFC
Dopamine neuron under-activity in PFC
Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Release of mesolimbic dopamine neurons from
inhibitory control
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
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Brain

• Enlarged ventricles
• Decrease in cortical gray matter
• Decreased blood flow especially to the PFC

Schizophrenic Normal
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Who gets schizophrenia?

• 1 in 100
• 15-25 years old
• Genetic factor
• Environmental factors
• Birth complications
• Influenza virus during second trimester
• Low socioeconomic status in cities

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Rule of Fourths

• ¼ get well
• ¼ do well on medications can live on own
• ¼ can live in a group home
• ¼ dont respond well to treatment
• 10 commit suicide within 10 years
• 15 do not respond to medication at all

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Therapies Treatment

• Antipsychotic drugs
• Neuroleptics
• Clozapine
• Therapy

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References

• Davison, G.C., Neale, J.M., Kring, A.M. (2004).
  Abnormal Psychology, 9th edition. John Wiley
  Sons, Inc.
• http//www.schizophrenia.com/szfacts.htm

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Questions?