The development of schizophrenia in late adolescence.
Adolescence is an unusual psychologic time. A recent psychodevelopmental approach to psychosis attempted to show how psychotic signs might arise from typical features of adolescence; for example, delusions appear to reflect common adolescent themes of attachment and autonomy. This psychodevelopmental approach emphasizes how normal adolescents grow out of a natural egocentricity and idealism through learning about others; this theory converges with more recent neurologic theories. (Such neurologic theories agree that mentalizing-for others abilities are a crucial mechanism whereby the suspected neurologic problems of psychosis translate into the symptoms.) A psychodevelopmental account implies a therapeutic priority would be reattaching psychosis sufferers with their peer group, perhaps through work placement schemes. It also recommends cognitive work directing self-consciousness into understanding other people. Psychodevelopmental approaches offer a useful theoretic background for psychologic interventions with young "at risk" people.
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. c.e.harrop@bham.ac.uk
Chris E
CE
Harrop
D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept