1. Schizophrenia
• It is a disease that affects 1% of the
world’s 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
2. Schizophrenia is not caused by:
• Inadequate parenting
• Overzealous mothers
• Poor family relations
• It is not split personality
3. 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.
4. Schizophrenia and Genetics
• More clearly, if you have an identical
twin who has schizophrenia, you have a
50% chance of developing
schizophrenia
6. 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)
7. 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
8. 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
10. Schizophrenia Treatment:
Biological
• Medications
– called antipsychotic
– (not “antischizophrenic”)
– they deal with some of the symptoms
• delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior
11. Schizophrenia Treatment:
Psychological
• Patients will need therapy
– supportive
– “digging deep” can help some, but that is
the exception, not the rule
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. Schizophrenia Treatment: Social
• Rehabilitation
• “Habilitation”
• Social skills training
• Vocational assistance
• Environmental modification
– reduce stimuli
16. Schizophrenia Treatment
• Community resources
Black Mental Health Alliance
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
(NAMI)
Schizophrenia.com
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
17. Bipolar disorder
• Also known as manic-depressive illness
• The 2 “poles” are mania and depression
18. Bipolar disorder
• Affects 1% of the population
• Affects men and women equally
• Can start in childhood and throughout
adulthood
Strong genetic component
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. Bipolar disorder: illness features
• Depression
– Unable to focus or concentrate
– Thoughts of death and suicide
23. 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
26. Bipolar disorder: Treatment
• Psychological
– Supportive therapy
– May “dig deep”
– Helps people to deal with the devastation
that their manic behavior has wrought
