Posted by SLS on September 28, 2006, at 6:33:16
In reply to Re: genetics of schizophrenia » SLS, posted by alexandra_k on September 27, 2006, at 21:16:49
Oh yeah. I forgot.
<smiles> to you to. :-)
You are going to laugh at me,
> What a mess...
That description isn't too bad.
Is that from the DSM?
I am not a DSM critic. I think it needs a lot of work, but it works sometimes. :-)
Actually, when it comes to mood disorders, it really sucks. I don't know why. Perhaps it is because of the diversity of human behavior. It spends much more time on the other Axes. Still, I don't know if I could do any better.
> I wonder if the subtypes are natural kinds?
Hmm. Yes, I think so. At the place I go, there are both paranoid schizophrenics without thought disorder, and those with thought disorder and no paranoia. I converse with both. It is an interesting and human experience. Even though medicated, these people have residual symptoms. The DSM works for them.
> I think (though I could be wrong) that disorganised and catatonic subtypes tend to be more associated with structural abnormalities. I wonder if these are the types that tend to have the relevant gene too?
Sounds like an interesting field trip. I really don't know. This is my suspicion.
When a paranoid woman, Angela, had her medication changed, her paranoia became unmanageable. No amount of explanation helped. She fell apart and was not caring for herself as well. She lost weight and became gaunt. She was recluse and isolative. Poor thing. She is so sweet. I can usually get her to understand that there are no real witches with special powers and that no one means her harm. Recently this hasn't been a problem. She is logical, organized, and linear. Even at her best, though, she is still just a little off target with insight, usually in a cute way. Sometimes, though, she will hit a homerun that is truly humbling. The guy with the thought disorder, Frank, is just full of word salads and non-linear, but is pretty sharp when it comes to insights. He is exceptionally intelligent and reads a lot. When he sits alone, you swear that he is depressed, and are tempted to want to console him. He isn't. He is just disengaged. He is wonderfully friendly, willing to engage in sophisticated, yet dissociated conversations, and will loan you just about anything so you can share what he considers his wealth of experience. There are other schizophrenic people there who do follow almost identical patterns, but these are my two favorites who I interact with the most. They just happen to be of two subtypes. To me, I am sure both have brain disorders and are of two natural kinds. I do not say these things without much experience and reflection.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:689461
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/689824.html