Psychology Chapter 16, Section 4: Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders

Schizophrenia involves cognition, emotion, perception, and motor functions; affects 1 in 100 people.

Involves confused thought processes and some loss of contact with reality; there is no single cause

or cure.

Many schizophrenics experience delusions and hallucinations, among other symptoms.

Psychologists classify schizophrenics into a number of subtypes. It is a complex condition with long-term

treatment, which usually includes hospitalization.

Sub-types of schizophrenia:

  • paranoid (hallucinations and delusions)
  • catatonic (don’t move, even when in awkward positions)
  • disorganized (inappropriate or incoherent)
  • remission (no current symptoms)
  • undifferentiated (elements of many or all sub-types)

Long-term institutionalization leads to a patient being burned out (unable to function in society)

Causes of schizophrenia:

  • genetics (general population: 1 in 100; family member with it makes it 10 times more likely)
  • biochemistry (too much or too little of certain chemicals may be behind schizophrenia)

dopamine hypothesis – too much dopamine contributes to schizophrenia; may be people

living in institutions and getting limited exercise

  • physical: CAT scans and MRIs may show brain deterioration

Pathogenic, or unhealthful, family situations may contribute to but not solely cause schizophrenia.

Families organize themselves around the unusual or maladptive behavior of one member of the family.

diathesis-stress hypothesis suggests that a person inherits a predisposition toward schizophrenia, which

may or may not develop.

Mood Disorders

Occasional depression or mood swings common; when they persist, it may be more.

Major depressive disorder – at least two weeks feeling depressed, sad, anxious, fatigued, agitated, etc.,

that is not attributed to the loss of a loved one. Demonstrates at least four of the symptoms below:

  • problems with eating
  • problems with sleeping
  • problems with thinking and/or concentrating
  • lacking energy
  • thinking about suicide
  • feeling worthless or guilty

Bipolar disorder – an individual is excessively and inappropriately happy or unhappy.

1. Manic phase – elation, confusion, distractibility, racing thoughts; activity and loudness level increase.

2. Depressive phase – overwhelming feelings of failure, sinfulness, worthless, and despair; lethargy,

despair, and unresponsiveness increase (seems like major depressive disorder)

Seasonal affective disorder – winter depression that causes excessive sleep and eating

Hormone melatonin may play a role

Underlying mood disorders are personality traits such as self-esteem, social support, and the ability to

deal with stressful situations.

Beck – depressed people blame themselves for too much

Seligman – depression is caused by learned helplessness

Every year, about 30,000 Americans commit suicide (about 1 every 20 minutes)

More women attempt it, but more men succeed.

Second most common cause of death among college students

70% of people who kill themselves had threatened to do so within previous 3 months.