The Lack of Insight in Schizophrenia In my lifetime, I have spent months with my Grandmother, Florence Ernstead, who is a diagnosed paranoid delusional schizophrenic. During this time I have realized that schizophrenics have difficulty realizing the seriousness of their disorders. This inability to acknowledge a problem is known by psychiatrists as lack of insight. Many psychotic patients, especially schizophrenics, display a lack of insight into their disorder (Keefe 9). Lack of insight refers to an unawareness of having a disorder, unawareness of having psychotic symptoms, and a refusal of treatment. Some scientists include other more specific aspects such as patients' views on cause of their disorder and/or symptoms, hospitalization, control of situation, or perception of the environment. Only the three aspects listed previously, though, seem common to all definitions of what lack of insight encompasses. Lack of insight has been associated with schizophrenia for a while, with all studies on the subject reaching at least this minimal conclusion. However, there have been some differing conclusions on what causes lack of insight in schizophrenia. Two main hypotheses have been presented so far: one is a neuropsychological explanation for lack of insight in schizophrenia while the other is a cognitive explanation. Is lack of insight caused by frontal lobe dysfunction, as in anosognosia and Alzheimer's disease? Or is lack of insight simply a cognitive dysfunction with no connection to brain damage? A third idea is that lack of insight in schizophrenia is related to stigma. Many patients with schizophrenia may deny their disorder because of the stigma related to having schizophrenia. In this paper, I will cover first ... ... middle of paper ... ...rder." Psychiatric Annual 27.12 (1997): 782-790. Ghaemi S.N., et al. "Neuropsychological aspects of lack of insight in bipolar disorder: A preliminary report." Psychiatric Resources, 48.2 (1996): 113-120. Husted J.R., "Insight in severe mental illness: Implications for treatment decisions." Psychiatric Law 27.1 (1999): 33-49. Keefe, Richard S.E., and Philip D. Harvey. Understanding Schizophrenia: A guide to the New Research on Causes and Treatments. New York: Macmillan, 1994. Knittle, Mary E., Personal Interview. 24 Nov. 2000. "Schizophrenia." Encyclopedia of Psychology. 2000 ed. "Schizophrenia." Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. 1996 ed. Torrey, E. Fuller. Surviving Schizophrenia. New York: Harper, 1995. "Understanding the Causes of Schizophrenia." Editorial. The New England Journal of Medicine 340.8 (1999): 645-47.
Tsuang, M. T., Faraone, S. V., & Glatt, S. J. (2011). Schizophrenia. New York: Oxford University Press.
According to (Barlow, 2001), Schizophrenia is a psychological or mental disorder that makes the patient recognize real things and to have abnormal social behavior. Schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms such as confused thinking, hallucinations, false beliefs, demotivation, reduced social interaction and emotional expressions (Linkov, 2008). Diagnosis of this disorder is done through observation of patient’s behavior, and previously reported experiences (Mothersill, 2007). In this paper, therefore, my primary goal is to discuss Schizophrenia and how this condition is diagnosed and treated.
Tranulis, C., Corin, E. & Kirmayer, L.J. (2008). Insight and psychosis: comparing the perspectives of patient, entourage and clinician. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 43, 225-4
“I’m sure I am a schizophrenic, the problem is I cannot tell the difference between which one’s which, which one is the real me” (Nick Rhodes). In A Beautiful Mind, John Nash begins to have schizophrenic symptoms during his graduate years at Princeton University. Just like Rhodes, John is not able to recognize the problem for himself. Schizophrenic individuals deal with situations that they are not able to control. The stigma of schizophrenia categorizes individuals in a situation of no return, and at many times they are highly neglected and judged. Schizophrenia is considered a blemish of individual character as it rarely develops right after birth, but rather in later stages of life. In A Beautiful Mind, the stigma of schizophrenia portrayed by John Nash
It has been stated that schizophrenia plays a very large role pertaining to who a person is and how that person’s actions are interpreted by the culture they live in. To contain the context of what schizophrenia is, the textbook definition reports it as a “severe disorder of thought and emotion associated with a loss of contact with reality” (Lilinfeld 479). The author of this textbook has put in the time and done the research to discover the most socially accepted and understood definition that could be possible. This definition in itself is almost overwhelming to consider that this is a disorder that currently has lifetime affects. Thought and emotional aspects come into play by realizing that any deviation from what a person normally thinks and feels will, without a doubt, affect how their thoughts and emotions change. By changing thoughts and emotions, actions will inevitably be affected in how they are carried out. This is where the culturally accepted portion becomes an issue because anything that is away from the normal action will have attention drawn to...
Schizophrenia has always been a disorder shrouded in mystery. The misconceptions combined with a lack of knowledge of the disorder lead to a stigma to be placed upon people with the disorder.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects one to two percent of people worldwide. The disorder can develop as early as the age of five, though it is very rare at such an early age. (3)) Most men become ill between the ages of 16 and 25 whereas most women become ill between the ages of 25 and 30. Even though there are differences in the age of development between the sexes, men and women are equally at risk for schizophrenia. (4) There is of yet no definitive answer as to what causes the disorder. It is believed to be a combination of factors including genetic make-up, pre-natal viruses, and early brain damage which cause neurotransmitter problems in the brain. (3)
Called a “modern leprosy”, schizophrenia and those who struggle with its disabling outcomes glaringly lack public empathy compared to other conditions that are as severe and existent. Stigmas and misconceptions clutter outsider knowledge of the illness, from its prevalence to its actual effects and complications. Often seen as a very distant kind of condition, schizophrenia is frequently connected to crime and a doomed life, however false and unfair. With the contrary being closer to the truth, those coping with schizophrenia are just as human as anyone else. While hope and opportunity stand for schizophrenic persons, knowledge and comprehension would be an integral measure of progress made by the public in really solving the apparent issue, one misunderstanding at a time.
SCHIZOPHRENIA Schizophrenia, from the Greek word meaning “split mind”, is a mental disorder that causes complete fragmentation in the processes of the mind. Contrary to common belief, schizophrenia does not refer to a person with a split personality or multiple personalities, but rather to a condition which affects the person’s movement, language, and thinking skills. The question of whether schizophrenia is a disease or collection of socially learned actions is still a question in people’ mind. People who are suffering from schizophrenia think and act in their own the world and put themselves in a way that is totally different from the rest of society. In other words, they have lost in touch with the reality. Most schizophrenics accept the fact that they have this disorder and are willing to receive necessary treatment and listen to, if not follow, professional advice. However there are cases where patients have lost insight and do not acknowledge the fact that they suffer from a mental disorder. As a result, these people do not have the treatment normally patients with schizophrenia do. To observers, schizophrenia may seem like a disease or madness because people who have this disorder behave differently to the people that are considered “normal.” It impairs a person from doing work, going to school, taking care of his/herself or having a social relationship with others. Yet, by looking at some of the symptoms, it is sometimes hard to classify schizophrenia as a disease because it enables those inflicted with it to develop new ways of communication intellectually and creatively, as well as enhancing artistic abilities. A disease is usually some kind of sickness that will lead to death or under heavy medication. However, this is not the case. For now, there is no cure but only treatment to help people with schizophrenia to live more productive lives. Generally, schizophrenia carries enormous threats to the society. About one percent of the people in United States develop schizophrenia and the probability of developing this disorder is independent of the patient’s gender, race or culture. Women are as likely to develop schizophrenia as men but women tend to have less severe symptoms with fewer hospitalizations and are generally able to cope better in the community. About ten percent of the people who have schizophrenia commit suicide and many others attempt...
Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality and disturbances of thought, mood, and perception. Schizophrenia is the most common and the most potentially sever and disabling of the psychosis, a term encompassing several severe mental disorders that result in the loss of contact with reality along with major personality derangements. Schizophrenia patients experience delusions, hallucinations and often lose thought process. Schizophrenia affects an estimated one percent of the population in every country of the world. Victims share a range of symptoms that can be devastating to themselves as well as to families and friends. They may have trouble dealing with the most minor everyday stresses and insignificant changes in their surroundings. They may avoid social contact, ignore personal hygiene and behave oddly (Kass, 194). Many people outside the mental health profession believe that schizophrenia refers to a “split personality”. The word “schizophrenia” comes from the Greek schizo, meaning split and phrenia refers to the diaphragm once thought to be the location of a person’s mind and soul. When the word “schizophrenia” was established by European psychiatrists, they meant to describe a shattering, or breakdown, of basic psychological functions. Eugene Bleuler is one of the most influential psychiatrists of his time. He is best known today for his introduction of the term “schizophrenia” to describe the disorder previously known as dementia praecox and for his studies of schizophrenics. The illness can best be described as a collection of particular symptoms that usually fall into four basic categories: formal thought disorder, perception disorder, feeling/emotional disturbance, and behavior disorders (Young, 23). People with schizophrenia describe strange of unrealistic thoughts. Their speech is sometimes hard to follow because of disordered thinking. Phrases seem disconnected, and ideas move from topic to topic with no logical pattern in what is being said. In some cases, individuals with schizophrenia say that they have no idea at all or that their heads seem “empty”. Many schizophrenic patients think they possess extraordinary powers such as x-ray vision or super strength. They may believe that their thoughts are being controlled by others or that everyone knows what they are thinking. These beliefs ar...
Mental illnesses are diseases that plague a being’s mind and corrupts one’s thoughts and feelings. Schizophrenia is one of the many disastrous illnesses that consume one’s life, is known as a real disease that deserves much attention. Experts believe that what causes the illness is a defect in the gene’s of the brain, and little signs of schizophrenia are shown until about one’s early adult years. Some effects of schizophrenia can either be negative or positive, but even if the effects could be either one, people should still be aware that there is something puzzling and alarming happening in the mind of a schizophrenic patient.
It seems obvious the meaning of Schizophrenia is possessing a “split mind” according to society. Every time someone wants to bring up the disease ‘Schizophrenia’ and how harsh the diagnosis of the skeptical disorder is, they fail to understand the true background of Schizophrenia, basing their knowledge on what they already know and how society mentions it. However, there is more happening; as a matter of fact, Schizophrenia often involves critical situations that many of today’s society do not realize, seeing the Schizophrenic as insane, other than realizing how Schizophrenia is a huge challenge for the person dealing with the confusion. Schizophrenia is, indeed, a lot to handle and can be seen as crazy. However, Schizophrenia
Schizophrenics are commonly stigmatized because of the lack of knowledge about the disease and the myths associated with it. Schizophrenic people aren’t crazy and violent contrary to popular belief; they can live normal lives. All schizophrenic people don’t have the same symptoms either. This is because this illness consists of different types. Schizophrenia isn’t purely genetic, doesn’t develop quickly and is treatable. It has been genetic in some cases, although other factors such as stress, environment and life challenges also contribute to the development. This is why it is difficult to develop this disorder in a month or so. Symptoms can also come in intervals. A slight unnoticeable whisper from five years ago could turn into a loud voice in the back of your head that only comes around when something triggers it. Schizophrenia can be maintained and minimized with the correct treatment(s) and all sufferers don’t need hospitalization to receive
...le to concisely communicate their feelings to another party. While there are individuals who have trouble communicating there are individuals like John Nash who have power to communicate but are troubled with other symptoms of schizophrenia such as persecutory delusions. In short I have learned that mental disorders are complex; therapists must approach every disorder with the same amount of seriousness so that they can be helpful to their patients. Also the restrictions for each disorder must be specific and narrow so that it is possible to accurately diagnose a patient and avoid a misdiagnosis. By learning about the ridged qualifications for different illnesses I have gained a greater grasp on the biological aspect of mental disorders, and how different medication can interact internally within different chemical imbalances in the body.
Schizophrenics are split from reality. They do not realize the consequences of their actions nor do they clearly understand what they themselves are doing. Schizophrenia is composed of a variety of symptoms, and as a result, the symptoms are separated into four categories: formal thought disorder, perception disorder, feeling/emotional disturbance, and behavior disorders.