Running head: SCHIZOPHRENIA
Schizophrenia
Grand Canyon University: CNL-523
A Brief Summary of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health illness that alters a person’s thoughts, feelings/emotions,
and behaviors. The word schizophrenia translates to “split mind” (Piotrowski&Tischauser,
2020). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) characterizes
schizophrenia by symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly
disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms such as diminished emotional
expression or avolition (APA, 2013). The most recent version of the DSM is the DSM-5 which
now requires an individual to exhibit at least two of the above symptoms with symptoms being
present for six months and having active symptoms for a minimum period of one month (Tandon
et al., 2013). Some of the positive symptoms with schizophrenia include “a break with reality,
altered perceptions, hallucinations, delusions, or evidence of thought disorder or movement
disorder” while some of the negative symptoms include “withdrawal from society, the inability
to show emotion or to feel pleasure or pain, total apathy, and lack of facial expression or
differentiated voice tones” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
According to Piotrowski&Tischauser (2020), the National Institute of Mental Health
states the prevalence of schizophrenia is low, as it “occurs in less than 1 percent of the general
population, but it occurs in roughly 10 percent of individuals with a first-degree relative (parent,
sibling) who has the disorder” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).Although the disease is rare, the
risk increases “most notably when one has an identical twin with schizophrenia; an individual
then has about a 40 percent chance of developing the disorder” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
Men are also more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than women and typically begin to
show symptoms at an earlier age than women (NIMH, 2020).
, 2
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Schizophrenia can begin at any point for different people but generally begins to develop
in late adolescent years or early twenties. Oftentimes, the disease will develop during these years
but the symptoms do not become evident until several years later (Piotrowski&Tischauser,
2020). The cause of the disease is unknown but is believed to be due to genetic factors (there is
no single gene that causes the disease but some genes increase the risk), environmental factors
(poverty, high stress environments, nutritional issues before birth), and brain structure and
function (differences in volume of and interactions among neurotransmitters) (NIMH,2020).
When someone is diagnosed with schizophrenia, the course of treatment typically
includes medication and psychotherapy. To reduce the intensity and/or frequency of the
psychotic symptoms, antipsychotic medications are prescribed. Oftentimes, antidepressants and
other anti-anxiety medications are also prescribed. To address the cognitive and negative
symptoms, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral skills training are
recommended and are helpful to teach coping skills, social skills, and develop healthier thought
patterns(Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
Tools
According to Owen, Sawa, & Mortensen (2016), schizophrenia diagnoses are “made
clinically on the basis of history and by examination of the mental state; there are no diagnostic
tests or biomarkers” (Owen, Sawa, & Mortensen, 2016). One tool that is used to help make a
diagnosis of schizophrenia is interviews. Structured interviews are when questions that will be
asked are prepared in advance, and unstructured interviews where few to no questions are
prepared and the interviewer can “delve into subject areas as their judgment dictates” (Cohen
&Swerdlik, 2018). An example of a structured interview is the Schedule for Affective Disorders
and Schizophrenia (SADS) which isintended to identify schizophrenia. Another tool used to help
diagnose schizophrenia is the DSM's cross-cutting symptom measure. The measure has 23
questions and assesses 13 different psychiatric areas including those of depression, anxiety,
psychosis, anger, and more. Using this measure is important for aiding counselors in diagnosing
as it’s “intended to help clinicians identify additional areas of inquiry that may have significant
impact on the individual’s treatment and prognosis… and may be used to track changes in the
individual’s symptom presentation over time” (APA, 2013).
Psychological Tests
One psychological test that is used for assisting in a schizophrenia diagnosis is the Beck
Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The test is a “brief, criteria-referenced assessment for
measuring depression severity” (Pearson, 2020). BDI-II consists of 21 items designed to
assesskey symptoms of depression for early identification and diagnosis. The items include “four
statements arranged in increasing severity about a particular symptom of depression” (Pearson,
2020). An article from the The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences states that
“theevaluation of domains within the BDI-II provides… a pure and clinically-relevant
assessment ofdepressed mood in schizophrenia” (Chemerinski, Bowie, Anderson, & Harvey,
2008).
Schizophrenia
Grand Canyon University: CNL-523
A Brief Summary of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health illness that alters a person’s thoughts, feelings/emotions,
and behaviors. The word schizophrenia translates to “split mind” (Piotrowski&Tischauser,
2020). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) characterizes
schizophrenia by symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly
disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms such as diminished emotional
expression or avolition (APA, 2013). The most recent version of the DSM is the DSM-5 which
now requires an individual to exhibit at least two of the above symptoms with symptoms being
present for six months and having active symptoms for a minimum period of one month (Tandon
et al., 2013). Some of the positive symptoms with schizophrenia include “a break with reality,
altered perceptions, hallucinations, delusions, or evidence of thought disorder or movement
disorder” while some of the negative symptoms include “withdrawal from society, the inability
to show emotion or to feel pleasure or pain, total apathy, and lack of facial expression or
differentiated voice tones” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
According to Piotrowski&Tischauser (2020), the National Institute of Mental Health
states the prevalence of schizophrenia is low, as it “occurs in less than 1 percent of the general
population, but it occurs in roughly 10 percent of individuals with a first-degree relative (parent,
sibling) who has the disorder” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).Although the disease is rare, the
risk increases “most notably when one has an identical twin with schizophrenia; an individual
then has about a 40 percent chance of developing the disorder” (Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
Men are also more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than women and typically begin to
show symptoms at an earlier age than women (NIMH, 2020).
, 2
SCHIZOPHRENIA
Schizophrenia can begin at any point for different people but generally begins to develop
in late adolescent years or early twenties. Oftentimes, the disease will develop during these years
but the symptoms do not become evident until several years later (Piotrowski&Tischauser,
2020). The cause of the disease is unknown but is believed to be due to genetic factors (there is
no single gene that causes the disease but some genes increase the risk), environmental factors
(poverty, high stress environments, nutritional issues before birth), and brain structure and
function (differences in volume of and interactions among neurotransmitters) (NIMH,2020).
When someone is diagnosed with schizophrenia, the course of treatment typically
includes medication and psychotherapy. To reduce the intensity and/or frequency of the
psychotic symptoms, antipsychotic medications are prescribed. Oftentimes, antidepressants and
other anti-anxiety medications are also prescribed. To address the cognitive and negative
symptoms, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral skills training are
recommended and are helpful to teach coping skills, social skills, and develop healthier thought
patterns(Piotrowski&Tischauser, 2020).
Tools
According to Owen, Sawa, & Mortensen (2016), schizophrenia diagnoses are “made
clinically on the basis of history and by examination of the mental state; there are no diagnostic
tests or biomarkers” (Owen, Sawa, & Mortensen, 2016). One tool that is used to help make a
diagnosis of schizophrenia is interviews. Structured interviews are when questions that will be
asked are prepared in advance, and unstructured interviews where few to no questions are
prepared and the interviewer can “delve into subject areas as their judgment dictates” (Cohen
&Swerdlik, 2018). An example of a structured interview is the Schedule for Affective Disorders
and Schizophrenia (SADS) which isintended to identify schizophrenia. Another tool used to help
diagnose schizophrenia is the DSM's cross-cutting symptom measure. The measure has 23
questions and assesses 13 different psychiatric areas including those of depression, anxiety,
psychosis, anger, and more. Using this measure is important for aiding counselors in diagnosing
as it’s “intended to help clinicians identify additional areas of inquiry that may have significant
impact on the individual’s treatment and prognosis… and may be used to track changes in the
individual’s symptom presentation over time” (APA, 2013).
Psychological Tests
One psychological test that is used for assisting in a schizophrenia diagnosis is the Beck
Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The test is a “brief, criteria-referenced assessment for
measuring depression severity” (Pearson, 2020). BDI-II consists of 21 items designed to
assesskey symptoms of depression for early identification and diagnosis. The items include “four
statements arranged in increasing severity about a particular symptom of depression” (Pearson,
2020). An article from the The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences states that
“theevaluation of domains within the BDI-II provides… a pure and clinically-relevant
assessment ofdepressed mood in schizophrenia” (Chemerinski, Bowie, Anderson, & Harvey,
2008).
