Schizophrenia Human Behavior
Dec 16, 2015
Common Misconception…
• People who have schizophrenia do not have multiple personalities or a split personality
• They are split from reality – cannot tell what is real and what is not…
Eugen Bleuler (1857–1939) coined the term
"Schizophrenia" in 1908
Schizophrenia
• definition – mental condition involving distorted perceptions of reality and inability to function in most aspects of life
DID or MPD
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Multiple Personality Disorder
• When 2 or more personalities are present within the same individual
DID or MPD
• Most common with people who have been sexually or physically abused
• Amnesia cause the other personality to take over
• Each personality has its own memories, behaviors and relationships (also different allergies, physical symptoms)
Who has schizophrenia?• Common in all cultures, genders, and races
– Men tend to develop symptoms earlier
Symptoms
• NOTE – 2 or more of these for a month would classify you as a schizophrenic– Can be gradual or abrupt
– There are positive and negative symptoms
Symptoms cont.
1. Delusions
* bizarre or false beliefs about reality
* Examples…
someone out to get them
aliens
believe they are famous
Symptoms cont.
2. Hallucinations
* bizarre, unreal sensory perceptions ofthe environment
* Examples
hearing voices
feeling bugs crawl on skin
seeing objects or faces
smelling things
Symptoms cont.4. Disorganized thinking or speech
* Example…
speak very little
change thought mid-sentence
Symptoms cont.
6. Catatonia
* flexed in a certain position for a periodof time
“Waxy Flexibility” – persons arms will remain frozen if moved by someone else for long periods of time
Negative Symptoms
• Flat Effect – absence of normal behavior or emotion
• Examples– Social withdrawal– Absence of emotion and expression– Reduced energy, motivation, and activity– Poor hygiene
** occurs before and after positive symptoms
Types of Schizophrenia…
1. Disorganized
* lack of emotion
* disorganized speech
* silly/childlike behavior
* makes no sense when talking
Types of Schizophrenia…
2. Catatonic
* waxy flexibility
* reduced movement
* rigid posture
* sometime too much movement
Types of Schizophrenia…
4. Undifferentiated / Simple
* disturbances of thought or behavior or emotion
* does not fit into another category
Causes…
3. Environment
* Family Stress
* Poor Social Interactions
* Infections or Viruses at an early age
* Trauma at an early age
Causes…
5. Brain Abnormalities (Biological)
* reduced number of neurons
* enlarged ventricles
* thalamus abnormalities
Treatments…1. Medication – Anti-psychotic drugs
* many are made to block and alter dopamine and serotonin receptors
* not a cure, but reduces symptoms (in 50%)
* side effects…
tremors, dystonia (muscle contraction), restlessness, involuntary/abnormal movements of mouth (40%), weight gain, skin problems
Treatments
2. Counseling…
* family counseling / psychological therapy
* occupational training
* Goal – make them a useful member of society
Timeline of John Nash
• 1928 – born in Bluefield, WV• 1945-48 – attended Carnegie Institute• 1949-50 – attended Princeton
– Ph.D. 1950– Nash Equilibrium
• 1950-51 – taught at Princeton• 1951-59 – taught at MIT
Timeline of John Nash
• 1953 – 1st child with Eleanor Stier• John David (refused to have contact with)
• 1957 – married Alicia Lopez-Harrison de Lard• 1958 – showed 1st signs of mental illness• 1959 – admitted to McClean Hospital
– Diagnosed with Schizophrenia– son John Charles born – no name for 2 year
• was also schizophrenic
Timeline of John Nash1961-1965 – returned to teach at Princeton1963 – Alicia divorced Nash1960-70 – In and out of mental hospital1965-67 – researcher at Brandeis University1970 – moved back in with Alicia1970-90 – little known about Nash, slowly
improved mental health1994 – Nobel Prize1996 – published research again2001 – remarried Alicia