Schizophrenia is a commonly misunderstood mental disorder which affects as many as one in one hundred individuals. (helpguide.org, 2018) Though the illness features five primary symptoms, variation in expression of symptoms is common. It has a much higher incidence in those of lower socioeconomic status, and this is complicated by the use of drugs in those segments. Research has indicated a strong correlation between an overabundance of dopamine and psychotic behavior. Unfortunately, popular culture has contributed to the misrepresentation of schizophrenia, and it frequently blurs the lines between this rather common illness and dissociative identity disorder, or DID. Dissociative identity disorder was formerly referred to as multiple
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This has led to several coincidental theories on the matter, in particular, sociogenic hypothesis, downward drift, social-selection theory, and even social labelling. The sociogenic hypothesis postulates that those of lower economic status are typically exposed to frequent and persistent unavoidable environmental stressors. These include poverty, crime, and poor education. The downward drift goes a step further in speculating that once caught in this negative cycle, the psychosis sufferer will ‘drift downward’ into these lower socioeconomic circumstances as a direct result of their disorder. The social-selection theory is a further example of how an individual with psychosis is expected to behave- it dictates that regardless of starting point, the individual will end up at the bottom of the social order due to lowered pressure and expectations at the bottom of the social ladder. Social labelling, while not exclusively linked to the poor, goes a long way towards explaining the potential for self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to schizophrenia. This happens when a diagnosis of illness leads to a person being treated differently which in turn leads to that person behaving according to the way they are then treated. In essence, the diagnosis itself can lead to further symptoms. This can be likened to learned helplessness …show more content…
There is a predilection for marijuana and amphetamine usage amongst the poor. When added to the propensity of lower class individuals towards developing schizophrenia, this can further aggravate the development of psychotic symptoms. However, the question remains; is marijuana usage the cause of psychosis or just an attempt at self-medication? Arguments have been made for both sides but one thing is clear, THC is responsible for the release of dopamine which has been widely speculated to worsen psychotic symptoms. Likewise, long term stimulant usage can result in amphetamine psychosis. Not only can this complicate diagnosis, it can have egregious effects on someone with a preexisting psychotic condition. It can also potentially cause the activation of schizophrenia in a previously mentally healthy
This has led to several coincidental theories on the matter, in particular, sociogenic hypothesis, downward drift, social-selection theory, and even social labelling. The sociogenic hypothesis postulates that those of lower economic status are typically exposed to frequent and persistent unavoidable environmental stressors. These include poverty, crime, and poor education. The downward drift goes a step further in speculating that once caught in this negative cycle, the psychosis sufferer will ‘drift downward’ into these lower socioeconomic circumstances as a direct result of their disorder. The social-selection theory is a further example of how an individual with psychosis is expected to behave- it dictates that regardless of starting point, the individual will end up at the bottom of the social order due to lowered pressure and expectations at the bottom of the social ladder. Social labelling, while not exclusively linked to the poor, goes a long way towards explaining the potential for self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to schizophrenia. This happens when a diagnosis of illness leads to a person being treated differently which in turn leads to that person behaving according to the way they are then treated. In essence, the diagnosis itself can lead to further symptoms. This can be likened to learned helplessness …show more content…
There is a predilection for marijuana and amphetamine usage amongst the poor. When added to the propensity of lower class individuals towards developing schizophrenia, this can further aggravate the development of psychotic symptoms. However, the question remains; is marijuana usage the cause of psychosis or just an attempt at self-medication? Arguments have been made for both sides but one thing is clear, THC is responsible for the release of dopamine which has been widely speculated to worsen psychotic symptoms. Likewise, long term stimulant usage can result in amphetamine psychosis. Not only can this complicate diagnosis, it can have egregious effects on someone with a preexisting psychotic condition. It can also potentially cause the activation of schizophrenia in a previously mentally healthy