Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development
Cathy Perry
Psy 410
September 26, 2011
Lara Ashbaugh

Schizophrenia and Psychosis and Lifespan Development
Schizophrenia and lifespan developmental disorders reduce the normal functioning of individuals suffering from them. These disorders consist of components that vary extensively; therefore defining and understanding each component within the individual’s circumstances is of extreme importance. This is especially true when diagnosing childhood disorders. Identifying and understanding these components assists in creating more effective therapeutic applications, intervention, and prevention of these disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2008).
Schizophrenia
Biological Components Evidence suggests the predisposition of schizophrenia is inherited, however the genetic factor must also interact with environmental factors such as viruses, toxins, drug use, or injuries sustained prior to birth (PubMed Health, 2010). Biological components of schizophrenia consist of brain structures and functions. Several abnormalities in brain function appear to be associated with schizophrenia. This disorder is better understood by its complex neuro-developmental basis instead of a dopamine hypothesis. This hypothesis claims that there is excessive dopamine in the neural system that is the reason for schizophrenia to develop.
Emotional Components Studies on the effects of expressed emotion (EE) on schizophrenic patient’s social functioning show that when their relatives (EE) decreased, the patients’ social functioning improved. When the EE was stable there was no significant improvement in the patients’ functioning (Hansell & Damour, 2008). Expressed emotion is described as high levels of criticism and over involvement within families. Hallucinations and delusions are common with schizophrenia and will