Distortions in schizophrenia concerning body size and weight
tr...@is-best.com
Accuracy of body image perception and preferred weight loss
strategies in schizophrenia: a controlled pilot study.
Objective: Obesity in severely mentally ill (SMI) populations
is an increasing problem, but there is no controlled data
regarding the relationship between SMI and weight perception.
Method: Fifty patients with schizophrenia and 50
demographically matched control participants were recruited.
Weight, height, and body image accuracy were assessed for all
participants, and assessments of mood, psychotic symptom
severity and anxiety, and preferred modes of weight loss were
assessed for the schizophrenia sample. Results: Patients with
schizophrenia were significantly more likely to be obese than
controls (46% vs. 18%, P < 0.005), and most patients expressed
an interest in losing weight. Obese participants with
schizophrenia underestimated their body size (11.0%) more than
controls (4.9%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with
schizophrenia are more likely to underestimate their body size,
independent of the effects of obesity. However, they also
express concern about weight issues and willingness to
participate in psychoeducational groups targeted at weight
loss.
Zen Cohen
psychologist. She found them fascinating (as I do) but cautioned that he
might not necessarily be properly diagnosed as schizophrenic. She thinks
he's delusional and likely has a personality disorder, though.
FWIW, I've met a number of people dx'd as schizophrenic who have trouble
even giving themselves basic self-care so they are usually far less
functional than Chung appears to be. Chung's definitely a nut in the
popular sense of the word, but whether or not he's a true schizophrenic, I
dunno. But that makes him all the more responsible for his bad behavior,
doesn't it?
<tr...@is-best.com> wrote in message
news:47b44ff9$0$4418$1c46...@news.club.cc.cmu.edu...
tr...@is-best.com
>I showed some of Chung's 'greatest hits' to my wife, a clinical
>psychologist. She found them fascinating (as I do) but cautioned that he
>might not necessarily be properly diagnosed as schizophrenic. She thinks
>he's delusional and likely has a personality disorder, though.
>
>FWIW, I've met a number of people dx'd as schizophrenic who have trouble
>even giving themselves basic self-care so they are usually far less
>functional than Chung appears to be. Chung's definitely a nut in the
>popular sense of the word, but whether or not he's a true schizophrenic, I
>dunno. But that makes him all the more responsible for his bad behavior,
>doesn't it?
His disorder does not excuse his behavior, it might give insight into it
but not excuse it. As to level of functioning it depends on the
particular diagnosis. Some are on the individual daily activity level
very functional. Consider this:
http://healthresources.caremark.com/topic/topic100587438
There are five subtypes of schizophrenia:
Paranoid
The key feature of this subtype of schizophrenia is the combination
of
false beliefs (delusions) and hearing voices (auditory
hallucinations), with more nearly normal emotions and cognitive
functioning (cognitive functions include reasoning, judgment, and
memory). The delusions of paranoid schizophrenics usually involve
thoughts of being persecuted or harmed by others or exaggerated
opinions of their own importance, but may also reflect feelings of
jealousy or excessive religiosity. The delusions are typically
organized into a coherent framework. Paranoid schizophrenics function
at a higher level than other subtypes, but are at risk for suicidal
or
violent behavior under the influence of their delusions.
Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Zen Cohen
<tr...@is-best.com> wrote in message
news:47b59a5b$0$4425$1c46...@news.club.cc.cmu.edu...
> >
>
>>I showed some of Chung's 'greatest hits' to my wife, a clinical
>>psychologist. She found them fascinating (as I do) but cautioned that he
>>might not necessarily be properly diagnosed as schizophrenic. She thinks
>>he's delusional and likely has a personality disorder, though.
>>
>>FWIW, I've met a number of people dx'd as schizophrenic who have trouble
>>even giving themselves basic self-care so they are usually far less
>>functional than Chung appears to be. Chung's definitely a nut in the
>>popular sense of the word, but whether or not he's a true schizophrenic, I
>>dunno. But that makes him all the more responsible for his bad behavior,
>>doesn't it?
>
> His disorder does not excuse his behavior, it might give insight into it
> but not excuse it.
I agree (actually, I meant that if his dx is not as severe then he would be
all the more responsible for his misbehavior).
As to level of functioning it depends on the
> particular diagnosis. Some are on the individual daily activity level
> very functional. Consider this:
>
> http://healthresources.caremark.com/topic/topic100587438
[snip]
I don't think my wife was ruling this out, but we can only see his behavior
via his written words on usenet. Many people behave much better in person
than they do on this hobbesian forum that usenet provides. I suspect Chung
presents himself better in person -- well enough to get a job in FL (but
poorly enough to get fired so quickly). Then again, I suppose one could
argue that his real self is the one we see on usenet.
Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
percy
> I showed some of Chung's 'greatest hits' to my wife, a clinical
> psychologist. She found them fascinating (as I do) but cautioned that he
> might not necessarily be properly diagnosed as schizophrenic. She thinks
> he's delusional and likely has a personality disorder, though.
>
> FWIW, I've met a number of people dx'd as schizophrenic who have trouble
> even giving themselves basic self-care so they are usually far less
> functional than Chung appears to be. Chung's definitely a nut in the
> popular sense of the word, but whether or not he's a true schizophrenic, I
> dunno. But that makes him all the more responsible for his bad behavior,
> doesn't it?
>
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
