Paper

[lesleeannc]

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I'm doing a paper on Schizophrenia. I don't really know what direction I should take it in because I'm scared of taking it into one direction and not having a enough resources.
I'm starting to utilize my campus library for books and such but does anyone have any websites or books that you would recommend.

Also, I have to do a visual aid so I was going to do a Power Point. Anyone have any recommendations of pictures and such to use?

Thanks. 😳

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

What is the purpose of the paper? It is a Dx that has A LOT of research around it.....it just depends where you want to take it.

 

[BorntoRun]

What kind of course is it for? A synthesis of 'where we stand' in terms of current treatments (maybe focusing on one specific sub-type, or one specific type of treatment) is always valuable, especially in an intro-level treatment course. That might help you get the most out of it too, as critiquing treatment styles and outcomes requires a pretty in-depth understanding of symptom profiles. How much freedom do you have? I think mainstream perception of schizophrenia is a pretty interesting topic too, if MI stigma would be an appropriate topic. Given the small, small percentage of people with schizophrenia, there's a surprising amount out there, so I wouldn't worry about getting backed into a corner.

 

[lesleeannc]

This isn't a grad course or anything. This is my junior level Mind, Brain and Behavior course. Its like a pre- Neuroscience type course. (I probably could have put this in the Undergrad Forum but I didn't know it existed until just a second ago. Sorry)

I picked Schizophrenia because I'm really interested in. Predominately, I am interested in when the onset of this disease starts, what does it look like in the brain when it's starting or rather are there things missing or "inactive" in the brain that actually start Schizophrenia. Or is it genetic?
I want to inform the audience of the beginnings of Schizophrenia, what Schizophrenia actually is, maybe different types there are(are there different types?) the research that is going on with Schizophrenia, what treatment is utilized... etc.

I want to be pretty detailed obviously in these areas as well as the research because I am interested in the research as well as the information.

Also, we have to do a visual aid and I want to impress my prof. because I am also her RA for this year. My teacher is a Neuropsych Professor so I'm pretty sure I want to get scans, etc of the brain and what areas are effected, etc.

So, I'm not doing my own research (Boo) but I'm presenting other research as well as information and visual aids...

Ah. This is a lot. I'm asking a lot but I guess I'm just getting those pre-paper writing jitters. I also know most of you are WAY past this but yeah, I still need help. 🙂

Thanks guys!

 

[erg923]

No one knows what "starts" schizophrenia. Its a loose construct and most researchers agree that their are multiple factors and causes that work together to produce the individual symptoms that we call "schizophrenia." In the current DSM, schziophrenia has "subtypes: Paranoid, Diorganzied, Catatonic, and Residual. The first 2 are the most commonly diagnosed. True Catatonic schiz is relativly rare. The utility and validity of using these subtypes is in serious question, as the illness rarely fits neatly into these specifiers. IN 2012, DSM-V will probaly give the contruct of "schizophrenia" a major overall, and do away with the subtypes. They will possibly be dividing "schizophrenia" into schizophrenias, plural, since its probably not a unitary construct/disease. That is, it can be expressed in several different combinations of symtoms, with varying degrees of severity, and there are probaly numerous patholophysiological processes that contribute. In general, neuroimaging of individuals after their first psychotic break show varying results. Few consistent abnormal findings. Check out Judith Rappoport's work at NIMH for more in this particualr area of schizophrenia resesarch. They have a list of pubs you can download.
http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/chp/index.html


On average, the brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia weigh less than the brains of demographically matched normals.
Neuroimaging studies indicate that:
–-The brains of schizophrenics have smaller prefrontal and temporal cortex volumes than the brains of matched normals.
–-The volume of the corpus callosum is reduced in schizophrenics compared to normal peers
–-Schizophrenics manifest reduction in the size of the right and left hippcampi compared to normal peers.
–-Schizophrenics demonstrate increased size of the lateral and third ventricles compared to normals. These hollow fluid-filled spaces in the brain are larger in schizophrenics.

Until recently the reduction in hippocampal volume was thought to be an indicator of neurodevelopmental abnormality.However, studies of the brains of children exhibiting pre-schizophrenia symptoms found that the hippocampal volumes of these high-risk kids did not differ from those of normal children. These results suggest that the hippocampus may actually atrophy during the course of schizophrenia, after the onset of psychotic symptoms. This finding is suggestive of a neurodegenerative component to schizophrenia.

PS: Mean onset of schiz for mean is late teens and early 20s. Mean onset for women is mid twenties.

 

[IT514]

I had almost the exact same assignment in my Physiological Psych class as an undergrad a few years back. I probably took some things from our class text and did a search on PsychInfo. I just checked by bibliography from the paper and it looks like I found a lot from the Journal of Psychopathology.

Funny story from when I had this assignment...for some brilliant reason I decided to proofread my paper after pulling an all-nighter finishing another paper. When the prof gave it back, I saw some read ink on the title page, where I noticed that I had spelled Physiology wrong in the title. Moral of the story is give yourself plenty of time, which I'm sure you will. Also, during the course of my grad work I have found it helpful to use a large dry-erase board to help be visualize/memorize neuroanatomy and physiology.

Hope this helps a bit, good luck.

 

[lesleeannc]

I had almost the exact same assignment in my Physiological Psych class as an undergrad a few years back. I probably took some things from our class text and did a search on PsychInfo. I just checked by bibliography from the paper and it looks like I found a lot from the Journal of Psychopathology.

Funny story from when I had this assignment...for some brilliant reason I decided to proofread my paper after pulling an all-nighter finishing another paper. When the prof gave it back, I saw some read ink on the title page, where I noticed that I had spelled Physiology wrong in the title. Moral of the story is give yourself plenty of time, which I'm sure you will. Also, during the course of my grad work I have found it helpful to use a large dry-erase board to help be visualize/memorize neuroanatomy and physiology.

Hope this helps a bit, good luck.

HA. That's funny! My thing is forgetting the's and a's and an's. My brain moves faster than I type! Opps!
Thanks for the advice! I'm starting now and the oral presentation is due Oct. 9th and then the big sha-bang isn't due until Dec.

🙂

 

[lesleeannc]

No one knows what "starts" schizophrenia. Its a loose construct and most researchers agree that their are multiple factors and causes that work together to produce the individual symptoms that we call "schizophrenia." In the current DSM, schziophrenia has "subtypes: Paranoid, Diorganzied, Catatonic, and Residual. The first 2 are the most commonly diagnosed. True Catatonic schiz is relativly rare. The utility and validity of using these subtypes is in serious question, as the illness rarely fits neatly into these specifiers. IN 2012, DSM-V will probaly give the contruct of "schizophrenia" a major overall, and do away with the subtypes. They will possibly be dividing "schizophrenia" into schizophrenias, plural, since its probably not a unitary construct/disease. That is, it can be expressed in several different combinations of symtoms, with varying degrees of severity, and there are probaly numerous patholophysiological processes that contribute. In general, neuroimaging of individuals after their first psychotic break show varying results. Few consistent abnormal findings. Check out Judith Rappoport's work at NIMH for more in this particualr area of schizophrenia resesarch. They have a list of pubs you can download.
http://intramural.nimh.nih.gov/chp/index.html


On average, the brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia weigh less than the brains of demographically matched normals.
Neuroimaging studies indicate that:
–-The brains of schizophrenics have smaller prefrontal and temporal cortex volumes than the brains of matched normals.
–-The volume of the corpus callosum is reduced in schizophrenics compared to normal peers
–-Schizophrenics manifest reduction in the size of the right and left hippcampi compared to normal peers.
–-Schizophrenics demonstrate increased size of the lateral and third ventricles compared to normals. These hollow fluid-filled spaces in the brain are larger in schizophrenics.

Until recently the reduction in hippocampal volume was thought to be an indicator of neurodevelopmental abnormality.However, studies of the brains of children exhibiting pre-schizophrenia symptoms found that the hippocampal volumes of these high-risk kids did not differ from those of normal children. These results suggest that the hippocampus may actually atrophy during the course of schizophrenia, after the onset of psychotic symptoms. This finding is suggestive of a neurodegenerative component to schizophrenia.

PS: Mean onset of schiz for mean is late teens and early 20s. Mean onset for women is mid twenties.

Thank you! Maybe Ill put you in my bibliography!! 😉

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

....I have found it helpful to use a large dry-erase board to help be visualize/memorize neuroanatomy and physiology.

White boards are great! Also the neuro coloring books and/or big glossy books with a lot of pictures. When I was studying for my pharmacology classes I used these giant white boards in a classroom and I filled them up with everything I needed. I was surprised how helpful it was to write it all down, explain it to my study partner, and then go back and review it later.

 

[cara susanna]

I think that synaptic pruning gone wrong (for instance, problem with growth factors) is a fascinating subject within the realm of schizophrenia and its pathogenesis. For a while I wanted to go into research in that area 😀

 

[Ollie123]

Just a caution not to take on too much. I think you're doing the same thing I did in undergrad (and still do in grad school, though I'm getting better at fighting it). In order to do the sort of paper you're describing WELL, you're looking at probably 80-100 pages, minimum. I'm not even sure that would be enough.

Focus in more. "What starts schizophrenia" is not something you can do in detail. "The neuroanatomy of sensory gating deficits in schizophrenia" is more reasonable (I pulled the topic out of my behind and don't know if its feasible - I DO like sensory gating research though - eyeblink PPI and the like, so I'd look into it😉 ).

Its a bit weird, because undergrad as a whole really only gives you a cursory overview of most things, so it doesn't do a great job to prepare people for writing papers like that. If you want to impress someone though, I personally would be infinitely more impressed by a paper like that relative to one that reads like a shopping list of different research lines because you're too restricted on space to really discuss any of them in depth.

 

[lesleeannc]

Just a caution not to take on too much. I think you're doing the same thing I did in undergrad (and still do in grad school, though I'm getting better at fighting it). In order to do the sort of paper you're describing WELL, you're looking at probably 80-100 pages, minimum. I'm not even sure that would be enough.

Focus in more. "What starts schizophrenia" is not something you can do in detail. "The neuroanatomy of sensory gating deficits in schizophrenia" is more reasonable (I pulled the topic out of my behind and don't know if its feasible - I DO like sensory gating research though - eyeblink PPI and the like, so I'd look into it😉 ).

Its a bit weird, because undergrad as a whole really only gives you a cursory overview of most things, so it doesn't do a great job to prepare people for writing papers like that. If you want to impress someone though, I personally would be infinitely more impressed by a paper like that relative to one that reads like a shopping list of different research lines because you're too restricted on space to really discuss any of them in depth.

I love you for saying all of this. I completely overwhelm myself every semester and then pray I can get through it. Its like 3rd week of class and I'm already so slammed that I'm starting to procrastinate and feel overwhelmed. Grrrrrr. 😴

I love the thought of researching Schizophrenia, but you're right, it would take way more than my limit of pages to even touch on what I would like to touch on.

I think I'm pretty much going to give a rough overview of Schizophrenia and then really focus in on what the brain of someone who has Schizophrenia looks like and it degenerates so rapidly. My prof. wanted us to pick vague topics like this so I'm guessing she wants a overview of it all? Argh. She's not the best at explaining things like this. She just kind of gives you a sheet telling you what it should like as far as MLA stuff and then you're on your own.

Ps. I think I'm going to ask for a whiteboard for X-mas. I also find that flash cards are like the best thing known to man. 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

MLA style? So I take it this isn't a psych class?

 

[Ollie123]

I love you for saying all of this. I completely overwhelm myself every semester and then pray I can get through it. Its like 3rd week of class and I'm already so slammed that I'm starting to procrastinate and feel overwhelmed. Grrrrrr. 😴

I love the thought of researching Schizophrenia, but you're right, it would take way more than my limit of pages to even touch on what I would like to touch on.

I think I'm pretty much going to give a rough overview of Schizophrenia and then really focus in on what the brain of someone who has Schizophrenia looks like and it degenerates so rapidly. My prof. wanted us to pick vague topics like this so I'm guessing she wants a overview of it all? Argh. She's not the best at explaining things like this. She just kind of gives you a sheet telling you what it should like as far as MLA stuff and then you're on your own.

Ps. I think I'm going to ask for a whiteboard for X-mas. I also find that flash cards are like the best thing known to man. 🙂

Oh, I'm by no means saying, don't research schizophrenia. I'm just saying that short of reading <literally> several million pages of work, your topic by its nature cannot be very impressive in 10-20 pages. To cover all that, all you can do is regurgitate very surface level information.

Now if the professor wants a vague topic, that's a different matter, but I get the impression lots of professors say things like that because they know most undergrads can't/won't dig deeper. If you have the desire to dig deeper and really carve out something interesting, I'd go to office hours and talk with her. Frankly, I'd much rather grade papers like that then 20 papers that list the DSM criteria for schizophrenia, talk about how its more common in x population, list some treatments, mention that dopamine might be involved in some way, and conclude with "Schizophrenia is bad and we should cure it". There were more than a few times in college that professors were open to me approaching things from a different perspective. The one I remember best was my intro to English professor writing "Your term paper may focus on any mythology topic except creation myths. Do not write on creation myths". I came up with an interesting hypothesis contrasting creation/destruction myths across numerous cultures and asked her and sure enough, she was all too happy to make an exception once it became clear it was not just going to be a regurgitation of wikipedia entries. I can't imagine saying no to someone who wanted to write a more focused paper, but maybe your professor has a reason for wanting that I'm not aware of.

 

[lesleeannc]

MLA style? So I take it this isn't a psych class?

Why would it not be? If this isn't a research paper, usually all papers, at least at my school are required to MLA format.

 

[cara susanna]

That's interesting, all of my papers in psych classes were APA. Ah well, guess everyone does it differently.

 

[lesleeannc]

That's interesting, all of my papers in psych classes were APA. Ah well, guess everyone does it differently.

I just transferred to a new college. Maybe I should make sure. 🙂

Thanks!

 

[shefmed]

Why would it not be? If this isn't a research paper, usually all papers, at least at my school are required to MLA format.

From what you've described, it sounds like you will be writing a research paper, 'cause, well, you'll be researching a topic and I assume will be reading articles/books/etc on it. Considering that your research topic is in the field of psychology, I'd use APA.