Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development Matrix and Paper

Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development Matrix and Paper

Sandra Gay Jackson

PSY/410

November 05, 2012

Lara Ashbaugh

Schizophrenia, psychoses, and childhood and developmental disorders can severely reduce normal human functioning. The components comprising these disorders vary widely, and defining and understanding each within contexts appropriate for the individual, especially when defining childhood illness. Identifying and understanding these components assists in creating more effective therapeutic applications, intervention, and prevention of these disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

Components of Schizophrenia

Biological

Contemporary research implicates brain structures and functions in the biology of schizophrenia. This disorder is more accurately understood by its complex neurodevelopmental basis rather than the dopamine hypothesis which claimed excessive dopamine in the neural system explained the development of schizophrenia. Evidence suggests the predisposition is inherited, but the genetic factor must interact with environmental factors such as viruses, toxins, drug use, and injuries sustained prior to birth (PubMed Health, 2010).

Emotional

Freud believed biological factors were mostly responsible for schizophrenia and did not believe psychotherapy could help effected individuals. Freud thought all abnormal and deviant behavior had its genesis in repressed internal conflicts, and believed such repression could predispose an individual to schizophrenia (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Current psychodynamic theorists agree on the biological and behavioral components of the disorder and use psychotherapy to help the individual understand their underlying conflicts and adopt more adaptive responses to habituate normal behavior.

Cognitive

Research has focused on a specific type of hyper attentiveness that is common in schizophrenia. Such over-attention, when combined with stressors may exacerbate or create the...