Critical Analysis of the History and Treatment of Schizophrenia in Modern Psychology In the field of modern psychology and in American society at large schizophrenia remains a largely misunderstood mental illness since its first mention in the DSM-I under the classification of “schizophrenic reactions” (Tartakovsky, 2010). Schizophrenia, as with many mental disorders and illnesses, remains somewhat of a taboo subject in today’s culture. For that reason, it is vitally important to understand the diagnosis, along with its history, prevalence, causes, treatment and impact. Today, the DSM-V has six main criteria for diagnosis including characteristic according to Tandon et al. (2013).
He was begun to hear voices or sounds that are never heard by anyone else. There are many different methods of treatment for this disorder including, medications and therapies. Because the causes of schizophrenia are still unknown, treatments focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease. Treatments include antipsychotic medications and various psychosocial treatments. Schizophrenia is most likely caused by genetic and emotional influences.
Schizophrenia cannot be diagnosed if an existing mood disorder or developmental disorder has been diagnosed, or if there are organic origins. Diagnosis is complicated by having to rule these things out. However, some individuals do not fit within the categories created. Schizophrenia has a strong co-morbidity with mood disorders that it is considered a fundamental characteristic. Buckley et al (2009) identified the following co-morbidities with schizophrenia and suggested that they might represent sub types of schizophrenia: panic disorder 15%, post traumatic stress 29%,
The explanation suggests that the primary caregiver is responsible for helping the infant overcome its anxieties and if the care is inadequate then a child will not develop a proper sense of self. Therefore during adolescence when threats to the self occur the symptoms of schizophrenia begin to develop. However, the psychodynamic explanation to schizophrenia has many problems, for example: Freud claimed that schizophrenia is caused by over-whelming anxiety and is a defence mechanism involving regression into an early stage of development. Freud suggested that one of the positive symptoms of the disorder, hallucinations are the ego’s attempt to restore contact with reality. However there isn’t any research evidence to support Freud’s theory and psychoanalysis is not an effective treatment for schizophrenia suggesting that the psychodynamic theory does not explain the causes of schizophrenia.
It can be very difficult to tell whether negative symptoms are part of the schizophrenia, or whether they are present because you are reacting to other frightening or distressing symptoms. For example, a person with a mental health problem may be discriminated against or ignored which may cause them to feel isolated and depressed and so they withdraw. About one in every hundred people is diagnosed with schizophrenia during their lifetime and everyone diagnosed with schizophrenia will have a different experience of the
Explain how issues of validity and/or reliability may affect the classification and/or diagnosis of schizophrenia [10] Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder. This means it’s a loss of contact with reality, consistent with serious mental illness which typically includes delusions, hallucinations and disordered thinking. The disorder was first identified by Kraeplin(1986) who used the term ‘Dementia Praecox’. Bleuler (1911) later coined the term schizophrenia, which means split (schizo) mind (phrenia). Classification involves identifying groups or patterns of behavioural symptoms that occur together to form a type of mental disorder (e.g.
Schizophrenia is a complex disorder in which there is a distortion of reality. There are many different explanations for schizophrenia and therefore a number of different treatments based on these explanations which aim to address these different explanations. Some psychologists believe that schizophrenia is due to abnormal neurochemistry and proposed the dopamine hypothesis. This biological approach suggests that schizophrenia can be treated using drug treatments. Chlorpromazine is a type of phenothiazine which is a neuroleptic.
The question explored throughout the five sources is if in fact shamans are affected by a psychopathic disorder, most commonly schizophrenia and the arguments backing the opposing opinion are convincing for both positions on the matter. It is important for me to note that my personal opinion is not expressed throughout the paper, for it is an investigation of scholarly research that exists on the subject. Shamanism
Schizophrenia & Other Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder, brief Psychosis, Schizo-affective Disorder & Shared Psychotic Disorder. SchizophreniaSchizophrenia is a psychotic illness which can affect people in variety of ways, there is no evidence as yet why one develops the illness. Studies suggest there can be a combination of factors which can trigger the illness. It is agreed by health professionals that schizophrenia is most likely caused by a combination of factors, which can include the following: Dopamine is one of the chemicals that carry messages between brain cells and if there is too much Dopamine it can be a factor of one developing the illness. Genetic can play a big part in someone developing the illness as they are more vulnerable to the illness.
Craddock N, O'Donovan MC, Owen MJ (2005), The genetics of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: dissecting psychosis. J Med Genet 42(3):193-204. Dohrenwend BP, Levav I, Shrout PE et al. (1992), Socioeconomic status and psychiatric disorders: the causation-selection issue. Science 255(5047):946-952.