Question

Week 7: Schizophrenia, Treatment for Schizophrenia/Personality Disorders

Choose from one of the following to create an original thread. Students are to respond to at least two of their classmates discussion boards.

1) Compare and contrast Type I and Type II schizophrenia.

2) Discuss the problems with community care and potential solutions.

3) Define and discuss explanations and treatments for the "odd" personality disorders, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal.

Answer 1

1. World Health Organization has defined schizophrenia as

" a severe mental disorder, characterized by profound disruptions in thinking, affecting language, perception, and the sense of self. It often includes psychotic experiences, such as hearing voices or delusions. It can impair functioning through the loss of an acquired capability to earn a livelihood, or the disruption of studies"

The type of schizophrenia can be classified on the basis of the symptoms. There are two types of symptoms, positive and negative. Positive symptoms are disturbances that are added to the personality of an individual while negative symptoms are abilities that are lost from the personality. In this context type I schizophrenia are those that have only positive symptoms. It occurs due to biochemical abnormalities .The cognitive functioning of the individual prior to the schizophrenia are higher. Positive symptoms like delusions,hallucinations, disordered thinking and writing,display of uninhibited actions are some of the exclusive features of type I schizophrenia. In other words, distortion of normal functioning is what is called type I of schizophrenia. Type II schizophrenia are the type of schizophrenia that displays only negative symptoms like social withdrawal and extreme apathy. This could also be called as the 'lack of normal functioning'. The cogitive functioning prior to the schizophrenia are lower. The above mentioned contrasting characteristics are given in the following table for your easy understanding.

Type I	Type II
Exclusive positive symptoms	Exclusive negative symptoms
Positive symptoms include delusions , hallucinations etc	Negative symptoms includes social withdrawal and apathy
Distortion of normal functioning	Lack of normal functioning
Pre-morbid functioning are higher	Pre-morbid functioning are lower

2. Community care, time and again has proved to be the most efficient ways of dealing with schizophrenia. There are studies that shows how countries that give low priority to the mental health care system unknowingly has helped people cure from schizophrenia.It is possible only through community care. However it is a challenge to the developing countries.Embedding services within the context of the local culture is the biggest challenge in the community care of schizophrenia. A culture of healing is possible only if it is in coherent with the local culture and context. There are ways in which we can tackle this issue. Community reintegration is the key. A meaningful life for clients is only possible with such reintegration. Secondly, networking limitations are also a key factor. The lack of networking systems are important in perpetuating stereotypes. The internalized stigma could be tackled with better awareness and the transfer of values from cultures to cultures.

3. A personality disorder could be a style of upset during which you have got a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. Paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal are the examples given in the question.

a) Paranoid: Paranoia is an unrealistic distrust of others or a feeling of being persecuted. It could be different from person to person. People might disagree on what is a paranoid thought. The reason for paranoia may be a breakdown of varied mental and emotional functions involving reasoning and assigned meanings. The explanations for these breakdowns are varied and unsure. Some symptoms of paranoia are related to pent-up, denied or projected feelings. Often, paranoid thoughts and feelings are associated with events and relationships during a person's life, thereby increasing isolation. Treatment : Building trust is an important factor in tackling paranoia. Community care is crucial here. However the cognitive therapy appears to be an effective method. We should also accept the fact that the increased irritability of a paranoid is a hindrance in building trust but recovery is possible.

b) Schizoid:  People with schizoid personality disorder also tend to be distant, detached, and indifferent to social relationships. Many people with schizoid personality disorder are able to function fairly well.They tend to choose jobs that allow them to work alone. Treatment: The treatment options are talk therapy, group therapy and medications. There are no specific drugs for it but some of which helps to reduce anxiety.

c) Schizotypal : People with schizotypal personality disorder are often described as people who don't understand how relationships form or the impact of their behavior on others.These problems may lead to severe anxiety and a tendency to turn inward in social situations. Treatment : Schizotypal personality disorder often is treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.Since people with this disorder have difficulty picking up on social cues, it is often necessary to teach specific social skills, for example, explaining that certain behaviors may be seen by others as rude or off-putting.