Etiology. The etiology of schizophrenia is unknown. In most cases are identified risk factors, factors that increase the risk but not with certainty predict a disease. The prevailing scientific view today is that the psychoses, caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. The etiology of schizophrenia has occupied both biological approaches and the psychological. Despite sustained effort, the mechanism of schizophrenia has remained elusive (Christopoulou, 2008).
Biological Theories. Many studies focus on biological vulnerabilities that are assumed to be present in early development the genetic factors and environmental factors. Both appear to have implications for prenatal and postnatal brain development (Maddoux & Winstead, …show more content…
Initial neurotransmitter theories focused on epinephrine and norepinephrine. Subsequent approaches have hypothesized that serotonin, glutamate, and or gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) abnormalities are involved in schizophrenia (Riecher-Rossler & Hafner, 2000 as cited in Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Life Events-Trauma. Some theories hypothesize that life events may contribute to the development of the disorder and can play an important role in the course of schizophrenia. The stress-vulnerability model (Liberman et al., 1986; Zubin & Spring, 1977 as cited in Maddoux & Winstead, 2012), assumes that symptom severity and related impairments of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia have a biological basis (psychobiological vulnerability) determined by a combination of genetic and early environmental factors (Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Stress, including discrete events such as traumas and exposure to ongoing conditions such as a hostile environment, can impinge on vulnerability, precipitating relapses and worse outcomes. Expressed emotion represents a stressful environment that may increase relapse and hospitalization in people with schizophrenia. (Maddoux & Winstead, …show more content…
Exposure to traumatic events may lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition characterized by reliving the traumatic experience. Research shows that both discrete stressors such as life events and exposure to a stressful environment can worsen psychotic disorders (Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Definition of Trauma
Trauma is a fundamental concept in the field of traumatic stress, but is difficult to define and has been the source of much confusion and controversy. Trauma refers to exposure to catastrophic life events such as combat, sexual assault, and natural disasters. Traumatic stressors may include physical and psychological elements. Traumatic stressors that involve no actual physical injury may nevertheless have profound effects on the victim’s body as a result of their psychological impact. (Reyes, et al., 2008)
According to DSM 5, trauma and Posttraumatic stress disorders include disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic criterion. These include reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder and adjustment disorders. Psychological distress following exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is quite variable (DSM-5,
Biological Theories. Many studies focus on biological vulnerabilities that are assumed to be present in early development the genetic factors and environmental factors. Both appear to have implications for prenatal and postnatal brain development (Maddoux & Winstead, …show more content…
Initial neurotransmitter theories focused on epinephrine and norepinephrine. Subsequent approaches have hypothesized that serotonin, glutamate, and or gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) abnormalities are involved in schizophrenia (Riecher-Rossler & Hafner, 2000 as cited in Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Life Events-Trauma. Some theories hypothesize that life events may contribute to the development of the disorder and can play an important role in the course of schizophrenia. The stress-vulnerability model (Liberman et al., 1986; Zubin & Spring, 1977 as cited in Maddoux & Winstead, 2012), assumes that symptom severity and related impairments of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia have a biological basis (psychobiological vulnerability) determined by a combination of genetic and early environmental factors (Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Stress, including discrete events such as traumas and exposure to ongoing conditions such as a hostile environment, can impinge on vulnerability, precipitating relapses and worse outcomes. Expressed emotion represents a stressful environment that may increase relapse and hospitalization in people with schizophrenia. (Maddoux & Winstead, …show more content…
Exposure to traumatic events may lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition characterized by reliving the traumatic experience. Research shows that both discrete stressors such as life events and exposure to a stressful environment can worsen psychotic disorders (Maddoux & Winstead, 2012).
Definition of Trauma
Trauma is a fundamental concept in the field of traumatic stress, but is difficult to define and has been the source of much confusion and controversy. Trauma refers to exposure to catastrophic life events such as combat, sexual assault, and natural disasters. Traumatic stressors may include physical and psychological elements. Traumatic stressors that involve no actual physical injury may nevertheless have profound effects on the victim’s body as a result of their psychological impact. (Reyes, et al., 2008)
According to DSM 5, trauma and Posttraumatic stress disorders include disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic criterion. These include reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder and adjustment disorders. Psychological distress following exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is quite variable (DSM-5,