PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Prodrome, Mental Disorder, Schizophrenia

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

Diathesis-stress model: both a predisposition and a source of stress are required for an individual to develop a disorder. Schizophrenia: viewed as devastating and it can be, in extreme forms. Appears in all cultures and across history- it is not culturally bound. It is a mental disorder involving characteristic symptoms including breaks from reality, lack of integration of thoughts and emotions- thoughts they are having to not gel together- there is no theme- doesn"t make sense. Symptom pattern can vary: start and progress slowly vs quick onset and escalation. Can get worse over time, have ups and downs, be mild throughout, etc. Age of onset: psychotic features- between late teens and the mid 30s. There are three-distinct phases: prodromal, active and residual. Prodromal: may become easily confused, trouble organizing thoughts. Lose motivation, withdraw from life activities, spend a lot of time alone, engrossed in thoughts (interpreted sometimes as laziness, irresponsibility)