SchizophreniaBy: Emily Boyles

● Severe disabling brain condition

● Patients struggle with functioning in normal everyday life:○ Problems distinguishing between real and imagined

experiences ○ Difficulty thinking/speaking logically○ Lack social skills○ Experience extreme paranoia

● With medication and treatment schizophrenics can be relieved from many of their symptoms, but still must learn to cope with some for the rest of their life.

What is Schizophrenia?

What causes Schizophrenia?● There is no specific cause of schizophrenia, but

there are contributing factors:○ Family

■ Those with second degree relative are more likely to get schizophrenia than the general public

■ 10% of people with 1st degree relative■ Identical twins at 40-60% ■ Can't tell if someone will have schizophrenia by their

genes○ Environment

■ Viruses■ Malnutrition ■ Birth Complications■ Psychosocial Contributions

Symptoms:● Hallucinations● Delusions● Trouble creating and sharing logical thoughts● Incoordination● Inability to plan● Depression● Trouble interpreting others faces/actions● No critical thinking skills and decision making

skills● Inability to pay attention and use recently

learned information

Diagnosis: ● Many symptoms makes up Schizophrenia, not

just one or two ● According to the DSM-IV a person must show

signs of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms for at least one month

TreatmentCommon Antipsychotic Medication:● Do not cure schizophrenia. Only relieves some symptoms

○ Chlorpromazine ○ Haloperidol ○ Perphenazine ○ Fluphenazine

● Everyone reacts to medication differently, additional medication can be given. Initial symptoms that usually diminish after a few days include:○ Drowsiness○ Dizziness when changing positions○ Blurred vision○ Rapid heartbeat○ Sensitivity to the sun○ Skin rashes

Treatment:

Antipsychotic Medication:● Use of antipsychotics increases the risk of diabetes, heart

attack,septicemia and other health risks● Very important for patients to take medication regularly ● The symptom of loss of white blood cell requires patients to

get regular blood tests

Psychotherapy:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-● Therapists test their patients reality● Identify and change dysfunctional behaviors, thoughts, and

expression of emotion● Teaches patients to not listen to hallucinationsInterpersonal Therapy-● Therapists link their patients interactions to psychotic

symptoms● Focuses on the unconscious and unresolved issues ● Teaches social functioning

Works CitedAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and

statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

Canberk. Powerpoint Background. N.d. Blogspot. N.p., 10

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poeerpoint-ppt-background.html>. Schizophrenia Brain. N.d. Schizophrenia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2012.

<http://www.schizophrenia.com/sz.images/szbrainloss.gif>Schizophrenia Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatments. N.p.: U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services, 2012. Print.