Biological Basis Of Behavior

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Recommended: Rehabilitation of schizophrenia

Biological Basis Of Behavior

Primary Behaviors of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is defined as a "devastating psychotic

disorder that may involve characteristic disturbances in

thinking (delusions), perception (hallucinations), speech,

emotions, and behavior (Durand and Barlow 443). This disorder

affects nearly 2.5 million people.

The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually divided into two

categories, positive and negative. The positive symptoms

include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or

thinking, grossly disorganized behavior, and catatonic

behaviors, which means that you suffer from motor immobility

(schizophrenia.com). Delusions are defined as a strong disorder

of thought and false beliefs of reality. There are five

categories of delusions. The first is persecutory in which a

person believes they are being attacked, harassed or conspired

against. For example, a person with persecutory delusions may

think that the government is spying on them. The second

category is grandiose delusions, which are defined as an

exaggerated sense of importance, power, and identity. For

example, a person may feel that they receive special powers from

God which gives them the ability to control things. The third

category is being controlled. This category of delusions

involves thoughts and feelings imposed from the outside. This

is sometimes referred to as "thought insertion." A person with

this type of delusion may feel that they are being controlled by

the devil or by a curse. The fourth category is somatic

delusions. These are defined as having false beliefs about

bodily functions such as having AIDS or being pregnant for three

years. The last category is j...

... middle of paper ...

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ended up in the psychiatric ward. He got on medicine but still

felt like a "deer in the headlights." He had a hard time

keeping up with school and then his medicine failed and he was

hospitalized again. After the second hospitalization his life

turned around. He ended up finishing school with a degree in

Economics. He was also able to hold down several jobs. He has

tried every atypical antipsychotic medicine and they seem to be

working. People can overcome schizophrenia if they choose to

and can succeed in their own way and beat the odds.

References

Barlow, David H. and Durand, V. Mark. Essentials of Abnormal

Psychology. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2003.

Clozaril (clozapine). www.nami.org. 2/23/2005

Dr. Jim Dupree's class notes for Abnormal Psychology

Success Stories from People with Schizophrenia.

www.schizophrenia.com. 2/23/2005.

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