Hi Annette: I'm similarly not exactly sure how best to handle this issue
on an interpersonal level, but on the factual level it is quite possible
(likely, in fact) that the student is misunderstanding what
schizophrenia means. Many students understandably believe that
schizophrenia is largely or entirely isomorphic with psychosis of any
kind. Studies show that anywhere from 30-50% of individuals in the midst
of manic episodes experience frank psychotic symptoms, including
delusions (which are often grandiose in quality, e.g., believing oneself
to be Jesus Christ, Superman, Napoleon, and so forth) and
hallucinations. So it is possible that this student does experience
genuine manic episodes, in the midst of which he sometimes experiences
psychotic symptoms that he is mistaking for symptoms of schizophrenia.
On a different note, it's also probably the case that a certain
proportion of people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed with ADHD,
because bipolar disorder is often marked by inattention, difficulties in
concentration, impulsivity, agitation/overactivity, and the like
(there's an older literature on "manic-depressive variant syndrome" in
childhood that addresses this issue).
None of this, of course, directly addresses the question of how best to
handle this student. But in such cases, I often find that a direct
data-based answer helps to diffuse the problem to at least some extent.
Best of luck, Annette...Scott
Annette Taylor, Ph. D. wrote:
Hi All:
I'm addressing tipster clinies for some advice on a student in intro psych. This
student told me the first week of classes that he has rather severe ADHD and is
on meds and may occasionally miss classes during the semester.
This week we covered psychopathology in class and as we discussed bipolar
disorder he announced in class that he has biploar disorder. Well, then he went
on to make the blanket statement to the whole class that in the manic phase he
becomes schizophrenic! I didn't want the whole class to believe this so I tried
to suggest that he was misinterpreting something but he was adamant that his
therapist said it was so.
Oh dear. I have a whole class listening to this exchange and am wondering what
to do about it. He has been a fairly good student all semester long and has
done fairly well on exams, although he is the only one who constantly raises
his hand to ask questions and thinks he knows a lot about psychology. However,
I tried to tell the rest of the class that becoming schizophrenic as a result
of a manic phase in bipolar disorder, and having the schizophrenic episode pass
when the manic phase passes is a misconception of sorts, all without getting
this person's ire.....
Any suggestions are welcome. This is my first encounter with this problem.
Annette
Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D.
Department of Psychology
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology, Room 206
Emory University
532 N. Kilgo Circle
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
(404) 727-1125 (phone)
(404) 727-0372 (FAX)
Home Page: http://www.emory.edu/PSYCH/Faculty/lilienfeld.html
The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice:
www.srmhp.org
The Master in the Art of Living makes little distinction between his work and
his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and
his recreation, his love and his intellectual passions. He hardly knows which
is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does,
leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him – he is
always doing both.
- Zen Buddhist text
(slightly modified)
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