Question -
Answer -
While speaking in public, the patient changes topics frequently. This is a symptom of derailment. This is one of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia; is the descriptive term to a group of psychotic disorders in which personal, social and occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of disturbed thought processes, strong perceptions, unusual emotional states, and motor abnormalities. .
The social and psychological causes of schizophrenia are tremendous, both to patients as well as to their families and society.
Symptoms of schizophrenia:
тАвPositive SymptomsтАФcomprise excesses and provide reduction of distress in the patient. It comprises excesses of thought, emotion, and behaviour.
тАвNegative SymptomsтАФdeficits of thought, emotion and behaviour.
тАв Psychomotor Symptoms.
Positive Symptoms ofтАЩPathological Excesses :
1.Disorganized Thinking and Speech:
тАвPeople with schizophrenia may not be able to think logically, and may speak in peculiar ways.
тАвFormal thought disorders can make communication extremely difficult.
тАвIt refers to problems in the organization of ideas and in speaking so that a listener can understand.
тАвThese include derailment, i.e., rapidly shifting from one topic to another so that the normal structure of thinking becomes illogical (loosening of association, derailed).
тАвInventing new words, phrases, i.e., neologism and persistent and inappropriate repetition of the same thoughts.
2.Delusion: It is a false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds. It is not affected by emotional argument, and has no basis in reality.
тАвDelusion of Persecution: belief that they are being plotted against, spied on, slandered, threatened, attacked or deliberately victimized.
тАвDelusions of Reference: in which they attach special and personal meaning to the actions of others or to objects and event. They believe that they can read others mind.
тАвDelusions of Grandeur: people believe themselves to be specially empowered with supernatural powers.
тАвDelusions of Control: they believe that their feelings, thoughts and actions are controlled by others.
3. Hallucinations: Perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli.
тАвAuditory hallucinations are most common in schizophrenia. Patients hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to the patients (second person hallucination) or talk to one another referring to the patient as he/she (third person hallucination).
тАвTactile hallucinations (i.e., forms of tingling, burning).
тАвSomatic hallucinations (i.e., something happening inside the body such as a snake crawling inside oneтАЩs stomach)
тАвVisual hallucinations (i.e., vague perceptions of colour or distinct visions of people or objects).
тАвGustatory hallucinations (i.e., food or drink taste strange).
тАвOlfactory hallucinations (i.e., smell of smoke).
4. Inappropriate Effect, i.e., emotions that are unsuited to the situation.
Negative symptoms are тАШpathological deficitsтАЩ
тАвAlogiaтАФpoverty of speech, i.e., a reduction in speech and speech content.
тАвBlunted effectтАФreduced expression of emotions.
тАвFlat effectтАФno expression of emotions.
тАвAvolitionтАФsocial withdrawal.
Psychomotor Symptoms:
тАвSchizophrenics move less spontaneously or make odd gestures. These symptoms may take extreme forms known as catatonia.
тАвCatatonic stupor: motionless and silent for long stretches of time.
тАвCatatonic rigidity: maintaining a rigid, upright posture for hours.
тАвCatatonic posturing: assuming awkward, bizarre positions for long periods.