Schizophrenic, depressed, and nonpsychiatric medical patients: an ethologically based comparison
1Department of Psychiatry, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
This paper reports on an ethologically based comparison of the behavior of 11 schizophrenic subjects with the behavior of 11 matched control subjects and 11 matched endogenously depressed subjects. All subjects were studied while they were in inpatient hospital wards. Findings include: a) The behavior pattern of schizophrenic subjects deviates significantly from that of control subjects in seven behavior parameters; b) the behavior pattern of schizophrenic subjects deviates from that of depressed subjects in one behavior parameter; c) one specific behavior, talk-to-himself/herself, discriminates schizophrenic subjects from depressed and control subjects.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...


