By: Alexis T.
There are many types of symptoms those with Schizophrenia exhibit. There are Positive Symptoms, Negative Symptoms, and Disorganized Symptoms. Positive Symptoms "add" to the experience of the patient; these are mostly sensory experiences. Negative Symptoms "subtract" from a patient's experience: they take away from ones ability to function. Disorganized Symptoms are very disorganized thoughts, words or attention.
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Green, H. [CrashCourse]. (2014, September 29). Schizophrenia & Dissociative Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #32 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxktavpRdzU
Lechowick, C. (Photographer). (2012, December 15) Betty's Sweet Tea [digital image]. Retrieved from http://www.americanphotomag.com/photographer-documents-his-mothers-life-as-paranoid-schizophrenic
Positive Symptoms |
Negative SymptomsBy: Alexis T. and Cameron A.
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Disorganized Symptoms |
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Note: Negative symptoms can be subdivided into 2 categories: Primary Negative Symptoms: these come as a result of Schizophrenia and Secondary Negative symptoms: these are as a result of medication.
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Green, H. [CrashCourse]. (2014, September 29). Schizophrenia & Dissociative Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #32 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxktavpRdzU
Parekh, R. (2017). What is Schizophrenia? Psychiatry.org. Retrieved April 17, 2017, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia
Silverstein, S. M., Spaulding, W. D., Menditto, A. A. (2006). Schizophrenia. Ashland, Ohio: Hogrefe & Huber.
Noll, R. (1992). The Encyclopedia of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Third Edition. New York, New York: Infobase.
Goldberg, J. (2015, August 19). What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia? WebMD. Retrived April 17, 2017 from http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-symptoms#1-2
Parekh, R. (2017). What is Schizophrenia? Psychiatry.org. Retrieved April 17, 2017, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia
Silverstein, S. M., Spaulding, W. D., Menditto, A. A. (2006). Schizophrenia. Ashland, Ohio: Hogrefe & Huber.
Noll, R. (1992). The Encyclopedia of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Third Edition. New York, New York: Infobase.
Goldberg, J. (2015, August 19). What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia? WebMD. Retrived April 17, 2017 from http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-symptoms#1-2
Diagnosis
By: Alexis T.
There is no single test that can conclusively determine the presence of schizophrenia. However, being evaluated by a certified mental health professional over the course of 6 months can help ensure a correct diagnosis. When being evaluated for schizophrenia the possibility of brain tumors, other medical conditions, and other psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder must be eliminated. The main tool for diagnosing schizophrenia is the showing of symptoms. One must show at least 2 symptoms occurring often to be considered schizophrenic.
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2017, from http://www.nami.org/#
Treatment
By: Alexis T.
The current standard practice for treatment of Schizophrenia is a combination of psychiatric rehabilitation and pharmacotherapy. New evidence suggests that this combination is more effective than just medicine alone. However, the combination of these treatments are very important. For example, there are some medications if prescribed can lead to impairment of cognitive functions that are critical to psychiatric rehabilitation. This often requires a group of physicians to work together to form a treatment plan for each patient. Behavioral treatments are also very effective in reducing the prevalence of positive treatment (hallucinations, delusions). This discovery can also reduce the use of medication after the behavioral treatment has started. Even though psychiatric rehabilitation is great tool in helping Schizophrenia patients, it is unclear if medicine must be the cornerstone of all treatments. However, if one is going to be treated without medication, a high staff to patient ratio is recommended for successful treatment. Post mortem brain studies on those with Schizophrenia showed more dopamine receptors; this might magnify brain activity in some way, creating more positive symptoms. For this reason, dopamine blocking drugs are often used as antipsychotic medications.
Silverstein, S. M., Spaulding, W. D., Menditto, A. A. (2006). Schizophrenia. Ashland, Ohio: Hogrefe & Huber.
Green, H. [CrashCourse]. (2014, September 29). Schizophrenia & Dissociative Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #32 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxktavpRdzU
Green, H. [CrashCourse]. (2014, September 29). Schizophrenia & Dissociative Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #32 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxktavpRdzU