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Medical Forum / General / Cardiology / February 2008Distortions in schizophrenia concerning body size and weight
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. 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? > Accuracy of body image perception and preferred weight loss > strategies in schizophrenia: a controlled pilot study. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > participate in psychoeducational groups targeted at weight > loss. >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 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >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. http://HeartMDPhD.com/Convicts/CrazySockPuppet >>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 [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > 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. http://HeartMDPhD.com/Convicts/CrazySockPuppets > 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 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > dunno. But that makes him all the more responsible for his bad behavior, > doesn't it? Temporal Lobe Epilepsy http://HeartMDPhD.com/CrazySockPuppets |
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