Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

What is SCHIZOPHRENIA?

A. “Split mind”

* A group of disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and grossly disorganized behavior and apathy.

* Not a single disease entity but a combination of disorders.

What is the MAIN PROBLEM?

* Altered thought Process

What are the fundamental sign and symptoms as identified by Bleur?

* Associative looseness

* Autism

* Apathy

* Ambivalence

What is the most acceptable theory on the cause of Schizophrenia?

* Biologic Theory – schizophrenia is due to increase dopamine

Etiology

* Biologic Theories – focus on genetic factors, neuroanatomic and neurochemical factors and immunovirology.

A. Genetic Factors – genetically transmitted or inherited.

B. Neuroanatomic and Neurochemical Factors – schizophrenia have relatively less brain tissue and CSF. Involves dopamine and serotonin

C. Immunovirologic Factors – Virus or the body’s immune response to a virus could alter the brain physiology

What are the general SIGNS and SYMPTOMS?

* SCHIZOPHRENIA

SCHIZOPHRENIA – Mnemonics of Psychiatric Disorders by RA GAPUZ

* S – Social isolation

* C – Catatonic behavior

* H – Hallucination

* I – Incoherence/marked looseness of association

* Z – Zero/lack of interest, energy and initiative

* O – Obvious failure to attain expected levels of development

* P – Peculiar behavior

* H – Hygiene and grooming are impaired

* R – Recurrent illusions and unusual perceptual experiences

* E – Exacerbation and remissions are common

* N – No organic factor accounts for the signs and symptoms

* A – affect is inappropriate

Positive or Hard Symptoms

* Ambivalence – Holding seemingly contradictory beliefs or feelings about the same person, event, or situation

* Associative looseness – Fragmented or poorly related thoughts and ideas

* Delusions – Fixed false beliefs that have no basis in reality

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