Psychology Chapter on Schizophrenia

A belief that you are dead, or that the world is no longer real.

A belief that someone is in love with you, even though there is no evidence.

Strong false beliefs that are resistant to change, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Delusions can vary across cultures and time periods.

Shared beliefs in a culture are not considered delusions, unless they are extreme.

Unreal sensory experiences that can include seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting things that aren't actually there.

Hallucinations in people with schizophrenia are more frequent, persistent, complex, and bizarre.

A style of thinking that can lead to the formation of delusions in people with schizophrenia. It involves drawing conclusions based on limited evidence and attributing strange experiences to external sources.

The tendency to overreact to irrelevant stimuli, which can lead to difficulty focusing on important information.

The process of diverting attention from irrelevant information, which is a crucial skill for healthy individuals.

An abnormal reaction to stimuli in people with schizophrenia. It indicates they are not fully attending to or processing important information.

A cognitive bias where people take longer to respond to a word they were previously asked to ignore.

A difficulty in making relevant associations between events, leading to issues in communication and social interaction.

A specific cognitive bias in which a person makes associations based on unrelated sounds, often seen in schizophrenia.

A form of cognitive bias that involves a tendency to prioritize immediate sensations over long-term goals, leading to impulsivity.

The tendency to overestimate the likelihood of negative events, which can lead to avoidance behavior and social withdrawal in schizophrenia.

A type of therapy that focuses on helping people become aware of their own thinking patterns and how those patterns can influence their emotions and behavior. This involves training people to identify and challenge negative thoughts, and develop more adaptive thinking habits.

A common symptom of schizophrenia characterized by reduced blood flow to the frontal lobe, potentially affecting cognitive function.

A neuropsychological test that measures executive function, cognitive flexibility, and working memory, often used to assess frontal lobe function and identify potential damage.

A type of research where participants are asked to perform a specific mental task while their brain activity is monitored, allowing scientists to understand brain regions involved in cognitive processes.

A personalized form of Metacognitive Training (MCT) that combines the principles of MCT with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address cognitive biases and improve overall mental well-being.

A serious side effect of clozapine that can be fatal, requiring close monitoring of patients taking the drug.

Atypical antipsychotics are a newer class of drugs used to treat schizophrenia. They are generally more effective than older traditional antipsychotics, but have potential side effects.

Risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone are examples of atypical antipsychotics. These medications can cause weight gain, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, sedation, low blood pressure, seizures, gastrointestinal problems, vision problems, and concentration problems.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It's characterized by positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, and negative symptoms like a lack of motivation and social withdrawal.

Psychological treatments like social skills training can help individuals with schizophrenia improve their social skills, reduce isolation and apathy, and manage the stress and conflict associated with the disorder.

Personalized treatments for schizophrenia address behavioral, cognitive, and social deficits tailored to each individual. These treatments are used in conjunction with medication to improve functioning and reduce relapse risk.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include a lack of motivation, social withdrawal, apathy, and emotional flattening. These symptoms make it difficult for individuals to engage with their environment and build relationships.

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia involve distorted perceptions of reality. They include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there) and delusions (false beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary).

Medication plays a crucial role in managing schizophrenia. However, it's not a cure and ongoing treatment is often needed. Medications aim to reduce symptoms and improve overall functioning, but they may have side effects.

Although atypical antipsychotics are generally more effective than older medications, the best treatment for schizophrenia is not clear-cut. Finding the safest and most effective drug, and the right dose, varies by patient.

A type of therapy that involves educating family members about schizophrenia, teaching them coping mechanisms for dealing with stress (e.g., lack of money), and improving communication within the family.

Programs that offer comprehensive support to people living with schizophrenia, providing a range of services like psychotherapy, daily life assistance, decision-making guidance, residential supervision, and vocational training.

A proactive approach to working with individuals with severe mental health issues who are not actively engaging with mental health services. It involves reaching out to them in their own environments and building long-term relationships to encourage participation in treatment.

Programs aimed at helping people with schizophrenia integrate into their communities, adhere to medication regimens, and reduce hospital stays. These services often involve coordination with various professionals.

Traditional healers often use cultural beliefs and practices to address the symptoms of schizophrenia. These approaches often involve restoring balance and support systems within an individual's life.

A model used by traditional healers where symptoms are seen as arising from a lack of integration between different aspects of a person's experience (body, emotions, cognition, etc.). Healing involves restoring this balance.

A model used by traditional healers where symptoms are attributed to conflictual relationships. Healing involves strengthening the patient's support network and rebuilding positive connections.

A model used by traditional healers where rituals are believed to change the meaning of symptoms for the patient, reducing their distress. Rituals might involve symbolic actions or storytelling.

Family therapy, assertive community treatment, and assertive outreach are all examples of approaches that focus on active support, community integration, and reducing relapse rates for people with schizophrenia.

Approaches to schizophrenia treatment, including both therapeutic and medical interventions, often need to be tailored to individual needs and cultural contexts. The best treatment approach may vary based on the individual's situation and preferences.