Reading Assignment Chapter 13 In Your Textbook | View Video

Reading Assignmentchapter 13 In Your Textbookview Video On Psychologi

Read Chapter 13 in your textbook, view the related videos on psychological disorders including OCD & anxiety disorders, depressive and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia & dissociative disorders, eating and body dysmorphic disorders, and personality disorders. Additionally, watch the synopsis of psychotherapy. Complete the schizophrenia simulation by following the introduction, completing five tasks, and watching the debriefing video. If the simulation does not work, answer the questions based on your knowledge of symptoms. Conduct this activity in a quiet space with headphones. After completing the simulation, respond to the questions in two paragraphs, each with five sentences. Use APA format for in-text citations and references.

Paper For Above instruction

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that impact a person’s thinking, feeling, and behavior. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition), core symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms such as avolition and diminished emotional expression (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Hallucinations, often auditory, involve perceiving things that are not present, while delusions are false beliefs that are firmly held despite contradictory evidence. Disorganized speech and behavior interfere with daily functioning, and negative symptoms reflect a reduction or absence of normal behaviors. The DSM-5 emphasizes the importance of symptom duration, typically lasting at least six months, to diagnose schizophrenia.

In schizophrenia, symptoms are categorized as either positive or negative. Positive symptoms refer to an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as hallucinations and delusions. For example, auditory hallucinations involve hearing voices that others do not hear, which can be distressing and disruptive. Disorganized speech is another positive symptom where speech becomes incoherent or difficult to follow, reflecting thought disorder. Conversely, negative symptoms involve a diminution or loss of normal emotional and behavioral functions. Two negative symptoms include anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure, and flat affect, characterized by a lack of emotional expression. These negative symptoms often lead to social withdrawal and difficulty engaging in daily activities, significantly impairing functioning (Keshavan et al., 2016).

The stress-vulnerability model explains the onset of schizophrenia as the result of an interplay between biological vulnerability and environmental stressors. According to this model, individuals inherit a genetic or neurobiological predisposition for schizophrenia but require external factors such as stress, trauma, or substance abuse to trigger the emergence of symptoms (Insel, 2010). The model suggests that those with higher vulnerability are more likely to develop schizophrenia under stressful circumstances. Once triggered, the disorder involves disturbances in dopamine regulation and neural connectivity, leading to characteristic symptoms (van Os et al., 2010). Understanding this model highlights the importance of both genetic predisposition and environmental influences in the development of schizophrenia.

Antipsychotic medications, particularly those classified as typic or atypical antipsychotics, are commonly used to treat schizophrenia and alleviate auditory hallucinations. Typical antipsychotics like haloperidol primarily target dopamine D2 receptors, reducing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions (Miyamoto et al., 2012). Atypical antipsychotics, such as risperidone and olanzapine, also affect serotonin receptors, which may reduce side effects and improve treatment adherence (Kane et al., 2015). These medications help manage symptoms but often require ongoing monitoring for side effects like weight gain, sedation, or movement disorders. Pharmacological treatment is typically combined with psychotherapy to improve overall functioning and support recovery.

The simulation evoked a mix of frustration and empathy as I experienced auditory hallucinations, making simple tasks more challenging than usual. I was able to complete the first task successfully within the allotted time, but subsequent tasks became considerably more difficult, highlighting how symptoms can impair cognitive functioning. The experience of hearing voices disrupted my concentration and ability to focus on tasks, illustrating how hallucinations interfere with everyday activities. For college students, such symptoms could severely hinder their academic performance, interrupt study routines, and impair concentration during lectures or exams. This simulation demonstrated the substantial impact that auditory hallucinations can have on cognitive processes and daily functioning.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
• Keshavan, M. S., Tandon, R., Boutros, N. N., Nasrallah, H. A., & Meyer-Lindenberg, A. (2016). Schizophrenia: Manifestations, treatment, and emerging strategies. The Lancet, 388(10039), 86-97.
• Insel, T. (2010). Rethinking schizophrenia. Nature, 468(7321), 187-193.
• van Os, J., Kenis, G., & Rutten, B. P. F. (2010). The environment and schizophrenia. Nature, 468(7321), 203-212.
• Miyamoto, S., Miyashiro, J., & Sawa, A. (2012). Schizophrenia. The Lancet, 374(9690), 635-645.
• Kane, J. M., Wang, Y., & Weder, A. B. (2015). Atypical antipsychotics. In R. T. R.Insel & T. J. Insel (Eds.), Psychopharmacology and the treatment of schizophrenia (pp. 123-135). Elsevier.