PSYC 3390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Stimulus Modality, Alogia, Delusional Disorder

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3390
• Professor: Mary Manson

Document Summary

Begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, begins earlier in men than in women. Average age of onset is 25 years for men and 29 years for women. Males develop more severe form of the disorder. Declining levels of estrogen around menopause might explain late onset. Split within the intellect, between the intellect and emotion and between the intellect and external reality. A delusion is an erroneous belief that is fixed and firmly held despite clear contradictory evidence. 73% saied that their voices spoke at normal conversational volumes and were often those of people known to the patient in real life, but sometimes believed to be the voices of god or the devil. Heard more than one voice and hallucinations were worse when alone; they were rude and vulgar or critical, bossy or abusive in most cases. Positive symptoms are those that reflect an excess or distortion in a normal repertoire of behaviour and experience such as delusions and hallucinations.