Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology of 97 Schizophrenia- Includes severe disturbances in thinking, speech, perception, emotion, and behavior. It features disordered thinking and language, poor contact with reality, flat, blunted, or inappropriate emotion, and disordered behavior. The cognitive portion of the disorder can involve delusions (false beliefs) or hallucinations (false perceptions). There are four major subtypes of schizophrenia: Paranoid- Whose most prominent features are delusions of persecution, in which people believe that others mean to harm them, and delusions of grandeur, in which they believe they are enormously important. • Disorganized- Whose central features are confusion and incoherence, together with severe deterioration of adaptive behavior, such as personal hygiene, social skills, and self-care. • Catatonic- Characterized by striking motor disturbances ranging frommuscular rigidity to random or repetitive movements. • Undifferentiated- A category assigned to people who exhibit some of the symptoms and thought disorders of the above listed categories but who do not have enough of the specific criteria to be diagnosed in those categories. Strong evidence suggests that a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia make some people particularly vulnerable to stressful life events. The dopamine hypothesis states that schizophrenia involves over-activity of the dopamine system, resulting in toomuch stimulation. Some theories focus on the thought disorder that is central in schizophrenia. Deficiencies may also exist in the executive functions needed to organize behavior. Stressful life events often precede a schizophrenic episode. Studies show a higher incidence of schizophrenia at lower socioeconomic levels. 10.3 Approaches to Therapy Approaches to Therapy- The basic goal of all psychotherapy, whatever the approach, is to help people change maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns, so that they can live happier and more productive lives. Biological Treatment- This is a medical approach designed to alter the brain’s functioning. Drugs have revolutionized the treatment of many behavior disorders and have permitted many hospitalized patients to function outside of institutions. Dugs that affect mood, thought, and behavior are now the most frequently prescribed medications in the United States. Effective drug treatments exist for anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. Some of these have undesirable side effects and can be addictive. All of them affect specific classes of neurotransmitters within the brain. Psychosurgery refers to surgical procedures that remove or destroy brain tissue in an attempt to change disordered behavior. These techniques have become more precise, but they are still generally used only after all other treatment options have failed. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used primarily to treat severe depression, particularly when a threat of suicide exists. ECT, formerly known as electroshock therapy, is a standard psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to © 2015 Achieve Page 79