Schizophrenia

• A psychotic disorder
• Causes may be organic or functional
  Organic = Known to have a physical cause
  Functional = Suspected to have a physical cause but not yet proven
• Originally called dementia praecox (senility of youth)
• NOT the same thing as multiple personality disorder
• Worldwide incidence is around 0.2 to 2%
• Typically occurs in the late teens/early twenties (men) and late twenties (women)
• Can have a slow and gradual onset OR a sudden and severe onset
• Can be divided into the prodromal phasw, the active phase, and the residual phase
• The outcome is different for different people
• More common in some social classes than others:

            - Social drift hypothesis
            - Economic stress
            - Bias in diagnosis

Mental Disorders

Psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia)
- Out of touch with reality
- Lacks insight
- No anxiety

Neurosis (e.g. Phobias)
- In touch with reality
- Have insight about the condition
- Experience intense anxiety

Personality Disorders (e.g. Psychopathology)
- In touch with reality
- Lack insight
- No guilt or anxiety