Factores sociais e culturais da esquizofrenia.

The objective of this doctoral thesis is the study of the social and cultural factors that are associated with schizophrenia. In part I, the author discusses the concept of schizophrenia and the most important theories used in explaining this type of mental disorder. In part II the results of 63 cases (30 males and 33 females) that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia in Hospital of Julio de Matos, are presented and discussed. The methodology used is qualitative in nature based on the principles of grounded theory. With respect to the 63 persons diagnosed with schizophrenia, the author identifies six types of situations as directly related to their admission to the hospital: disturbed behaviour in public places; aggressive behaviour; bizarre ideas and bizarre behaviours; socially disapproved behaviours; change in temperament and usual behaviours; change in temperament and usual behaviours; and suicide attempts. In development of schizophrenia the author points out five key factors: vulnerability factors; trigger factors, intervening factors; symptoms formation factors; and protecting factors. A special emphasis is put on spiritism. magic practices and drug addiction, as intervening factors. The author considers that schizophrenia has its origin in abnormal information processing that originates from inadequate socialisation.Available from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Servico de Informacao e Documentacao, Av. D. Carlos I, 126, 1249-074 Lisboa, Portugal / FCT - Fundação para o Ciência e a TecnologiaSIGLEPTPortuga