Schizophrenia and Psychosis, Lifespan Development, and Somatoform Disorders

Schizophrenia and Psychosis, Lifespan Development, and Somatoform Disorders

Schizophrenia, Lifespan Development, and Somatoform Disorders like any illness have certain factors that either cause or increase the chance of an occurrence. Biological factors like genetic make-up or physical abnormalities can bring on a disorder. Other influences like emotional trauma or disturbances may cause a disorder. Not only can one factor cause a disorder but also multi-factors may enhance the possibility of the onset of a mental illness. The treatment of any illness mental might start with an attempt to alleviate symptoms but a cure must be found with a careful search for the cause. The following paragraphs will examine the causes of the aforementioned disorders starting with the most famous mental illness Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia the Biological Components

Hansell and Damour (2005) explain that Schizophrenia is often mistaken as an illness that causes split personalities. However, Schizophrenia is a disorder with psychoses that are of two kinds. One form of psychosis in Schizophrenia is hallucinatory and the other is delusional. The psychosis does have biological components that are put into two categories. The two categories are proximal (immediate) and predisposing (distal). The immediate causes are related to brain function or brain structure abnormalities including neuropsychological and neurophysiological problems. Factors of predisposing nature are ones that are underlying causes like genetic abnormalities or viral infections.

Schizophrenia Immediate Causes

Hansell and Damour (2005) go over many of the immediate causes believed to be links between symptoms in cases of schizophrenia and different abnormalities. Through PET (positron emission tomography), SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) and MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) scans, hypofrontality (less active prefrontal cortex) has been identified in Schizophrenia patients. The hypofrontality syndrome hints at a tie between negative symptoms of schizophrenia and dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex. Neurochemical imbalances are another of the areas of study. The most promising of findings appears to be in abnormal neurotransmission. The neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid are being studied and linked to symptoms in Schizophrenia. Dopamine has been the main subject of study since antipsychotic drugs were found to reduce amounts of dopamine and thus reduce or stop hallucinations and delusions. However, an important item to note is that dopamine is only one part of the causes of Schizophrenia and recent studies suggest multiple neurotransmitter causes. Brain structure is also an area of study and through MRI and CT scans, enlarged lateral ventricles have been found in the brains of Schizophrenics.

Schizophrenia-Predisposition

Hansell and Damour (2005) point to the fact that even birth in winter and spring may give a pre-disposition to Schizophrenia. The reason may be the higher influx of viruses during winter months. Besides this factor, complications in the birth or during pregnancy as well as any drug use may increase the chances of becoming Schizophrenic. In addition, genetics do in fact have a role in the development of Schizophrenia. The risk of developing Schizophrenia is most apparent in the family relationship of Monozygotic (MZ) twins and the offspring of parents who both had Schizophrenia.

Developmental Disorders (Children's Disorders) Components

According to Hansell and Damour (2005), genes may be responsible for behavior disorders in children. Evidence of predisposition to disruptive behavior is supported through studies of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. MZ twins show higher rates of concordance than DZ twins. Children disruptive disorders also have a psychodynamic component. Hansell and Damour (2005) pinpoint this component in this quote, " . . . Children who suffer from disruptive behavior disorders have some deficiency in the functioning of their conscience or superego." (p. 466) Kessler (1988, as cited by Hansell & Damour, 2005) points to three levels of superego impairment: (a) extreme aggressive remorseless behavior (b) a conscience but one weak and not consistent (c) strong impulses with little control but extreme guilt.

Somatoform Disorders Components

Hansell and Damour (2005) explain that sociocultural experiences have a correlation with Somatoform Disorders. For example, women with a somatic disorder are much more likely to have been sexually abused as children than women with mood disorders. Sexual abuse such as rape is also correlated with somatic symptoms. The biological components of somatoform disorders can be treated with medications but this is dependent on the type of somatoform. For example, many people are comorbid, meaning they have two or more disorders. In these cases, medication may be used if the patient has a mood disorder with a somatoform disorder. However, somatoform patients show sensitivity to drugs and medication may have too many side effects.

Mind and Body in Somatoform Disorders

Hansell and Damour (2005) emphasize that the connection and influence the mind has over the body is very important in Somatoform Disorders. The mind and body connection was shown in a study of hypnosis. A person who was hypnotized and told she was paralyzed behaved much the same as a person with a conversion disorder. The belief exists that autosuggestion may be the cause and that patients have literally hypnotized themselves in the case of conversion disorders. Theorists that support psychodynamic causes feel that feelings that are repressed may be the cause of conversion disorders.

Conclusion

Schizophrenia, Lifespan Development, and Somatoform Disorders all seem to have psychodynamic components that influence or aggravate behavior. However, biological factors cannot be overlooked and most certainly, in the extreme disorder of Schizophrenia brain function and structure are definite factors. Children also seem to have some form of biological component like the imbalance of Neuro-inhibitors. However, in all cases the sociocultural influence must not be discounted. The correlation of the history of sexual abuse in patients with somatic disorders clearly shows this influence. The fact that each kind of disorder supports multiple causes means nothing must be discounted. Perhaps the real challenge is to determine just how much the mind controls the biological function, structure and even the physical development of the body.

Certainly, the recipe for the healthy development of a human being is within the grasp of humans if we can only evolve far enough to see what is most likely plainly in front of us.

References

Hansell, J. & Damour, L. (2005). Abnormal psychology. ISBN 0-471-38982-X, WIE ISBN 0471-65821-9, [Electronic Edition]