Question

Differentiate the five types of schizophrenia and their characteristics. Discuss the biological and social connections which may increase the likelihood of developing the disorder. 2 page response double spaced.

Answer 1

Schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a

person thinks,feels and acts. Schizophrenia patients have

difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is

imaginary and having difficulty expressing normal emotions in

social situations.

Five types of Schizophrenia and their characteristics:

1. Paranoid Schizophrenia: A person who has a condition on

the schizophrenia spectrum may experience delusions and

confusion. People with paranoia often have an extensive hand

of paranoid thoughts and ideas. Medication and treatment

enable many Paranoid Schizophrenia patients to manage their

condition. Lifelong treatment is needed to stop symptoms

from returning.

2. Catatonic Schizophrenia:

Catatonic refers to a set of symptoms that might develop in

some patients with Schizophrenia. It can include periods

where the individual moves little and doesn't respond to

instructions. Catatonic Schizophrenia only occurs in some

individuals with Schizophrenia. Symptoms can involve flipping

between hyperactivity and under activity. There are number of

effective treatment for Catatonic Schizophrenia. There may be

limited verbal responses,no interaction with environment,waxy

flexibility, agitations.

Hebephrenic or Disorganized Schizophrenia:

Disorganized Schizophrenia is thought to be an extreme

expression of the disorganized syndrome. This type of

Schizophrenia can involve delusions, hallucinations and

disorganized thinking and speech. This is a chronic mental

illness. Treatment of Disorganized Schizophrenia is available

and if a person adhere to it,it can enable them to cape with

everyday life.

Childhood Schizophrenia:

This is rare and severe form of Schizophrenia. When the

condition of Schizophrenia starts in children younger than 13

years of age,called Childhood Schizophrenia. Children who

has pervasive development disorder were also grouped under

Childhood Schizophrenia. This condition included atypical and

withdrawn behaviour,genera g unevenness,gross immaturity

and inadequacy in development. There are some premorbid

developmental impairments like language

impairments,movement impairments,social deficits.

Hallucinations as with adult cases are usually auditory in

Childhood Schizophrenia. Their social and functional

problems and their symptoms are similar to those in adults

but more severe.

Schizoaffective Disorder:

Schizoaffective Disorder is a psychiatric condition that

includes the symptoms of Schizophrenia and a mood disorder.

Schizoaffective Disorder may include bipolar symptoms such

as mania or depression including hallucinations and

delusions. Symptoms can also include erratic speech or

behaviour and lack of emotional expression, paranoid

ideas,irritability and lack of motivation.

Biological Factors:

Genetic Predisposition:

Essentially means that family members of those suffering

from Schizophrenia have a tendency to develop the disorder.

This doesn't mean that they will. Researchers have found that

the closer the relation higher the tendency is to develop the

disorder.

Drug Induced Onset:

The use of certain drugs particularly those that manipulate the

brains use of the chemical Dopamine has been shown to lead

to this mental disorder. Such drugs are LSD, Amphetamines,

Cocaine,Phencyclidine, Marijuana.

Changes in brain activity:

Schizophrenia is caused by too much Dopamine in the brain.

Dopamine results loss of brain tissue involved in emotions,

thinking and information processing. Also reduce level of brain

activity in the prefrontal area.

Social Factors:

New research links social deprivation, population density and

inequality to higher rates of Schizophrenia. The researchers

shows social environment through measures of the

neighborhood in which they lived put affect on mental health.

Three environmental factors predicted risk of Schizophrenia

are:

1.Increased Deprivation(Which includes

Employment,income,education and crime)

2.increase population density

3. Increase in Inequality.