SCHIZOPHRENIA

Samantha Collins
PSY/270
December 14, 2014
Stephanie Flinn

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder in which personal, social, and occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of strange perceptions, unusual emotions, and motor abnormalities

Symptoms
POSITIVE - Pathological Excesses
Delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, heightened perceptions and hallucinations, and inappropriate affect.
 NEGATIVE - Pathological Deficits
Poverty of speech, blunted and flat affect, loss of volition, and social withdrawal.  PSYCHOMOTOR - Catatonia
Catatonic stupor, catatonic rigidity, catatonic posturing, and catatonic excitement. 

Diagnosing Schizophrenia
DSM Checklist
I.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

At least two of the following symptoms, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period:
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganized speech
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
Negative symptoms

2. Functioning markedly below the level achieved prior to onset.
3. Continuous signs of the disturbance for at least six months, at least one month of which includes symptoms in full and active form (as opposed to attenuated form).

DSM IV-TR Note:
Only one Criterion I. symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person’s behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices are conversing with each other

Schizophrenia Explained
There are three phases associated with Schizophrenia. Prodromal
Phase, Active Phase, and a Residual Phase. Biological, psychological, and sociocultural theorists have each proposed explanations for