Relating to a Person with Psychosis Using Schizophrenia
● Schizophrenia is a complex disorder impacting a person's thinking, language, emotions,
social behavior, and perception of reality. It is characterized by psychosis, which involves
altered cognition, perception, and an impaired ability to distinguish reality.
● Psychosis is defined as a syndrome of neurocognitive symptoms that impairs cognitive
capacity, leading to deficits of perception, functioning, and social relatedness.
● It is important to understand that psychosis exists on a continuum, ranging from an
absence of psychosis to a severe form.
● Schizophrenia is a severe disorder defined by the presence of psychosis. It affects 1 in
every 100 people in Canada, and is often misunderstood and feared, leading to stigma
and discrimination.
● Approaching individuals with compassion, genuineness, and a belief in their potential for
recovery is key.
● Building a trusting therapeutic relationship can counter discrimination and promote
recovery. The LEAP approach which involves listening, empathizing, agreeing, and
partnering is one effective method.
Key Terminology
● Key terminology associated with schizophrenia includes: hallucinations, delusions,
disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms.
● Hallucinations are perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus.
● Delusions are fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting
evidence.
● Disorganized thinking manifests as jumbled, illogical speech and impaired reasoning.
● Abnormal motor behavior includes markedly abnormal behavior ranging from agitation
to catatonia that is commonly situationally incongruent.
● Negative symptoms are the absence of something that should be present, such as the
ability to make decisions or follow through with plans. They include alogia, affective
blunting, asociality, anhedonia, and avolition.
● Catatonia is markedly abnormal behavior ranging from agitation to stupor.
● Extrapyramidal side effects are movement disorders caused by certain antipsychotic
medications.
Phases of Schizophrenia
● Schizophrenia progresses through predictable phases.
● Phase I (Acute) involves the onset or exacerbation of disruptive symptoms like
hallucinations, delusions, apathy, and withdrawal. Increased care or hospitalization may
be required.
