Week 11 - Causes of Schizophrenia PDF

Overview Biological Model HPA Axis Cognitive-Behavioral Model Social Cues and Social Withdrawal Sociocultural Model Downward Drift Theory Labeling Effect Developmental Psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Causes of Schizophrenia Biological Model Biological Model Hypotha...

Overview Biological Model HPA Axis Cognitive-Behavioral Model Social Cues and Social Withdrawal Sociocultural Model Downward Drift Theory Labeling Effect Developmental Psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Causes of Schizophrenia Biological Model Biological Model Hypothalamus-Pituitary- Adrenal (HPA) Axis Regulates stress response through increasing activation in body during times of threat Varies in how much and how often it reacts Biological Model HPA Axis Highly reactive HPA axis Person experiences racing heart, flushed skin, muscle tension if even slight threat detected Other people may need much larger threats that go on for longer to experience same level of bodily response Biological Model Highly reactive HPA Axis Predicts most types of psychopathology Can represent downward spiral pattern Person has severe threat response to stress Person’s HPA Axis experiences damage as result of strong reaction Threat response worsens Damage worsens More stressors occur as a result of constant strong reactions HPA Axis Why would having extremely strong stress reactions increase your risk of having more life stress in the future? Cognitive-Behavioral Model Humans are taught to be very sensitive to social cues, and to respond accordingly Cognitive-Behavioral Model For some children, social cues are either hard to pick up on, or frequently misleading Means other stimuli get tied to social cues Cognitive-Behavioral Model For children with sensitivity to patterns but insensitivity to normal social cues, other illusory cues may be associated with mood “Mom gets mad when that song is on, so that song must indicate everyone’s anger and I’m not sure what raised voices have to do with it.” “The bully shoved me down the stairs as there were planes overhead, so the planes must have caused it.” Cognitive-Behavioral Model Person’s disconnected experience worsens their social isolation, which worsens their disconnected experience Person reports a sensory experience that doesn’t align to others’ reality (hallucination) Others react negatively to this report, or try to explain it away Person develops delusions to explain the negative reaction Social isolation increases as beliefs become more unreal Cognitive-Behavioral Model Why did social psychologist Zimbardo describe the cognitive-behavioral model of schizophrenia as “a rational path to madness”? Sociocultural Model Poverty Strong negative correlation between income and schizophrenia risk Downward Drift Theory Hypothesizes that a) Schizophrenia causes poverty Increases risk of job loss, homelessness, lack of social support, and dysfunction b) Poverty causes schizophrenia Increases life stress, magnifies threats to well-being, and denies coping resources Sociocultural Model Race African Americans have ~67% higher risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia than European Americans Sociocultural Model Race African Americans have ~67% higher risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia than European Americans What is artifact theory? What are the effects of discrimination on health? Sociocultural Model Labeling effect Impact of diagnosis with a mental illness on the self-concept and well- being of the client Usually positive “I’m not scatterbrained, I’m depressed” “I’m not a wimp, I have a phobia” Sociocultural Model Labeling effect Everyday language uses of “schizophrenic”? Sociocultural Model Labeling effect Theory that being labeled as schizophrenic adds to the stress and isolation of those with schizophrenia Less likely to be believed about experiences Puts them at risk for abuse More likely to have strangers mistrust or fear them More real threat of having rights taken away Less trusted to live independently Sociocultural Model Labeling effect Even psychiatrists report less trust in patients with schizophrenia compared to those with other mental illnesses Developmental Psychopathology Diathesis-stress model Holds that schizophrenia is result of a) Genetic risk b) Severe life stress Developmental Psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Diathesis = vulnerability to negative impacts as a result of life changes Diathesis-Stress Model Diathesis = vulnerability to negative impacts as a result of life changes no + = psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Diathesis = vulnerability to negative impacts as a result of life changes no + = psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Diathesis = vulnerability to negative impacts as a result of life changes no + = psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Diathesis = vulnerability to negative impacts as a result of life changes schizophrenia, + = other psychopathology Diathesis-Stress Model Factors that increase diathesis Poverty and discrimination In vitro exposure to viruses Highly reactive HPA Axis Poor training in social skills Diathesis-Stress Model 1. Person is born with biological predisposition for schizophrenia 2. Person experiences severe reactions to stressors in HPA axis 3. Person experiences more stress as a result 4. Stress worsens and social isolation occurs 5. Person develops some unusual behaviors or thought patterns 6. Social isolation worsens, which worsens unusual thoughts/behaviors