CLPSY - Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders Lesson

Learning Target:

  • Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including neurodevelopmental disorders, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic disorders, and their corresponding symptoms.

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

Neurodevelopmental and Schizophrenia Spectrum

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Schizophrenia Spectrum: The general public has many misconceptions concerning schizophrenia and stigmatizes the victims of the disease rather than approach them with sensitivity. The disease can be successfully treated.

Neurodevelopmental disorders describe a group of disorders in which the onset of the condition takes place during development. The condition manifests early and produces developmental deficits that affect personal, social, and academic functioning. Included in this category of disorders are intellectual disability (formerly known as mental retardation), autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorders, and motor disorders.

Schizophrenia Spectrum

Schizophrenia Spectrum is a group of severe disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and inappropriate emotions and actions. The DSM-IV subtypes of schizophrenia (i.e., paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual types) are eliminated in the DSM-5 due to their low reliability and poor validity for diagnosis. Instead, the new categories are Schizotypal (Personality) Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder, and Psychotic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition.

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Learn more about the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders in the activity below.

Watch the video below to learn more about biological basis.

Complete the activity below to practice what you've learned.

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