Schizophrenia

It is a disease that affects 1% of the worlds population It has more impact on urban people than rural people It is a disease that affects men and women equally It is a disease of the brain

Schizophrenia is not caused by:

Inadequate parenting Overzealous mothers Poor family relations It is not split personality

Schizophrenia and Genetics

70% of persons who develop schizophrenia have a genetic basis for it. That is, there is a relative who has the disease. The closer in relation to the ill person, the more likely one is to get the disease.

Schizophrenia and Genetics

More clearly, if you have an identical twin who has schizophrenia, you have a 50% chance of developing schizophrenia

Schizophrenia: illness features

Hallucinations Delusions Decline in social and occupational functioning

Schizophrenia: the affected person may:

Talk to himself Gesture to himself Dress in layers in any weather Fail to bathe and get a haircut Gain an odd interest in ordinary things (like religion)

Schizophrenia: the affected person may:

May even believe he is God See things Feel people are out to get them Believe in all sorts of conspiracies Have ideas that no amount of evidence to the contrary can dislodge

Schizophrenia: the affected person may:

Be unable to work Stop talking or greatly reduce conversation Appear lazy, unmotivated and uninterested May look like he has dementia Lose the ability to get and keep friends Be tense

Schizophrenia treatment
Biological Psychological Social

Schizophrenia Treatment: Biological

Medications
called antipsychotic (not antischizophrenic) they deal with some of the symptoms
delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior

Schizophrenia Treatment: Psychological

Patients will need therapy
supportive digging deep can help some, but that is the exception, not the rule

Schizophrenia Treatment: Psychological

Those who have family benefit most from families who:
are informed about the illness have support and skills to deal with the ill family member

Schizophrenia Treatment: Psychological

Family member skills:
low key low demand use simple sentences privacy for both the patient and themselves able to ignore the inconsequential features of the illness

Schizophrenia Treatment: Psychological

Family member skills:
are able to respond to dangerous behavior can accept that their ill member may never be like he once was

Schizophrenia Treatment: Social

Rehabilitation Habilitation Social skills training Vocational assistance Environmental modification
reduce stimuli

Schizophrenia Treatment
Community resources Black Mental Health Alliance National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Schizophrenia.com Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Bipolar disorder
Also known as manic-depressive illness The 2 poles are mania and depression

Bipolar disorder
Affects 1% of the population Affects men and women equally Can start in childhood and throughout adulthood Strong genetic component

Bipolar disorder: illness features

Mania
Elevated mood May feel full of energy May feel she can accomplish anything May go on spending spree May go on a sex spree May travel on a whim

Bipolar disorder: illness features

Mania
May become irritable May lose the need for sleep May feel energized by the lack of sleep May feel more productive Can be excessively talkative Thoughts can race

Bipolar disorder: illness features

Depression
Poor sleep Low appetite or weight loss Low interest in pleasurable things Low energy Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, irritability

Bipolar disorder: illness features

Depression
Unable to focus or concentrate Thoughts of death and suicide

Bipolar disorder: illness features

A person is rarely seen at one of the poles A person may have features of both at the same time to varying degrees

Bipolar disorder: Treatment

Biological Psychological Social

Bipolar disorder: Treatment

Biological
Medications
Stabilize mood Dampen mania Ameliorate depression Treat psychosis (delusions, hallucinations)

Bipolar disorder: Treatment

Psychological
Supportive therapy May dig deep Helps people to deal with the devastation that their manic behavior has wrought

Bipolar disorder: Treatment

Social
Support Groups
DRADA NDMDA

Rehabilitation and habilitation