AP Psych Schizophrenia

1. Schizophrenia
Modified According to DSM-V

2. Schizophrenia• Learning Goals:
– Students should be able to answer the following:
11: What patterns of thinking, perceiving, feeling, and behaving characterize
schizophrenia?
12: What causes schizophrenia?
2
Rating Student Evidence
4.0
Expert
I can satisfy all the requirements of level 3.0 and
analyze why persons with schizophrenia display
different symptoms based on their subtypes.
★ 3.0 ★
Proficient
I can identify the specific feature of schizophrenia
and its subtypes and discuss the theories that seek
to explain how schizophrenia is contracted.
2.0
Developing
I can identify the specific feature of schizophrenia
and its subtypes.
1.0
Beginning
I need more prompting and/or support to identify
the concepts stated in 2.0

3. Schizophrenia Overview
• As many as 1 in 100 people develop schizophrenia
"split mind”
• One of the most serious disorders of psychology
• 2 million in the United States, 24 million worldwide
• Characterized by loss of contact with reality
(psychosis/psychotic)
• May appear suddenly or gradually
• Usually appears in males during adolescents and
females during 20’s.
• Breakdown in selective attention
3

4. Positive and Negative Symptoms
• Schizophrenics have present
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).
4
Positive or Negative
Symptom?

5. Schizophrenia Overview (2 or more present for 6 or
more months)
• Hallucinations (+) (mostly auditory)
• Delusions (+) (unshakable false beliefs)
• Disorganized/Incoherent Speech (-)
• Grossly Disorganized/Catatonic Behavior
• Negative Symptoms: Flat Effect (Reduced
emotions) (-) and Avolition (lack of motivation
drive (-))
• Impact on daily functioning: self-
care/job/interpersonal interactions, etc.

6. Old Schizophrenia Subtypes (DSM-IV
modified to DSM-V 2014)
Now: “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Related Psychotic Disorders”
6

7. Possible Causes of Schizophrenia
• DOPAMINE
– Too much of it!
– Leads to hallucinations and positive sym.
• UNUSUAL BRAIN ACTIVITY
– Low frontal lobe activity
– Larger ventricles (fluid filled regions of brain)
– Misfiring neurons
– Increased activity in the core (thalamus and amygdala)
• MATERNAL VIRUS
– Flu virus during first term of pregnancy
– Babies born in the winter months increased risk
• GENETICS
– 1 in 10 if family member has it
– 1 in 2 if identical twin has it
– Not the sole cause of the disorder
• PSYCHOANALYTIC VIEW
– Id is overwhelmed and out of control (evidence?)
– Family members are pushy and overly critical (stress a factor?)
7

8. Causes of Schizophrenia
– Positive symptoms appear to be associated with
overactivity of dopamine areas of brain; negative with
lower dopamine activity
– Genetics, brain structural defects have been implicated
– Genetics supported by twin and adoption studies
– Biological roots supported by universal lifetime
prevalence across cultures of approximately 7–8
people out of 1,000
– Stress-vulnerability model: Suggests people with
genetic markers for schizophrenia will not develop the
disorder unless they are exposed to environmental or
emotional stress at critical times in development

9. Figure 68.1 Risk of developing schizophrenia
David G. Myers: Myers’ Psychology for AP®, Second Edition
Copyright © 2014 by Worth Publishers

10. Schizophrenia in identical twins
David G. Myers: Myers’ Psychology for AP®, Second Edition
Copyright © 2014 by Worth Publishers

11. 11

12. Early Warning Signs of Schizophrenia
12 12
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.

13. Other psychotic Disorders
• Delusional Disorder: Suffer delusions (gradiose,
persecutory, jealous, etc.) but functioning not
significantly impacted
• Brief Psychotic Disorder: Characteristics of Schizophrenia
for up to one month of time (most likely reactionary)
• Schizophreniform Disorder: Two or more symptoms up
to 6 months
• Schizoaffective Disorder: Major elements of
schizophrenia and mood disorders (mania, depression,
etc,) are present

14. Other psychotic Disorders
• Substance/Medication Induced Psychotic
Disorder
– Appearance of symptoms soon after exposure to
substance, medication, or withdrawal from a drug
• Catatonia
– 3 or more: stupor, catalepsy, waxy flexibility,
mutism, negativism, posturing, mannerism,
stereotypy, agitation, grimacing, echolalia,
echopraxia