Schizophrenia: Treatment and Diagnosis
In 1809, physician John Haslam published an account of what he considered “A form of insanity”. Haslam described many symptoms that are relevant to modern day schizophrenia including delusions of grandeur and hallucinations. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, a German psychiatrist named Emil Kraepelin expanded on Haslam’s views and gave a more accurate description of schizophrenia as we know it today. Kraeplin started off by combining terms including different types of insanity under one term: Catatonia, and delusions of grandeur and persecution: paranoia. Kraepelin also separated dementia praecox from manic depressive illness, or bipolar disorder (Barlow, P.470).
The term “Schizophrenia” was first coined by Eugen Bleuer, a psychiatrist from Switzerland. The term comes from the Greek words “skhizein” meaning “split” and “phren” meaning “mind”. Bleuer stated that beneath the signs of having the disorder, there was an associative splitting of the basic functions of personality. While Kraepelin focused on early onset and poor outcomes, Bleuer highlighted what he believed to be the universal underlying problem. However, the “split-mind” concept inspired the common, yet incorrect use of the term schizophrenia to mean split or multiple personality (Barlow, P.470-471).
It is difficult to diagnose schizophrenia by looking at each symptom a person has. The symptoms of schizophrenia are split into two groups. Positive symptoms are behaviors that are based on distortions of normal functioning. Negative symptoms are behaviors that show a lack of normal functioning. Schizophrenia is said to have genetic causes and the most significant risk factor is having ...
... middle of paper ...
...ily or group counseling will help the patient step by step in overcoming the negative effects. While overcoming the side effects of schizophrenia may be difficult, it is possible to suppress them through acquiring the right help through professionals in the field, as well as family.
Works Cited
1. Nancy C. Andreasen, (1985), Positive vs. Negative Schizophrenia: A Critical Evaluation, Schizophrenia Bulletin, 11, 380-389
2. Juan R. Bustillo, MD et al, (2001), The Psychosocial Treatment of Schizophrenia, American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 163-175.
3. John H. Gilmore, MD. (2009), Understanding What Causes Schizophrenia: A Developmental Perspective, Psychiatry Online, 167, 8-10.
4. David H. Barlow (2012), Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders, Abnormal Psychology, 6, 468-500.
5. David B. Merrill, MD (2006), Clozapine Treatment, Psychiatry Online, 163, 204-208
Tsuang, M. T., Faraone, S. V., & Glatt, S. J. (2011). Schizophrenia. New York: Oxford University Press.
Long, Phillip W. M.D. “Schizophrenia: Youth’s Greatest Disabler.” British Columbia Schizophrenic Society. 8th edition. April 12, 2000. www.Mentalhealth.com.
Schizophrenia: From Mind to Molecule. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. Kalat, J. (2004). Biological Psychology.
Lehman, A. F., Lieberman, J. A., & Dixon, L. B. (2004) Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, . American Journal of Psychiatry, 161 (2) 1 -56.
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.
Addington, J., Piskulic, D., & Marshall, C. (n.d). Psychosocial Treatments for Schizophrenia. Current Directions In Psychological Science, 19(4), 260-263.
Lehman, A, Dixon, L, Perkins, D (2004). Treatments of Patients with Schizophrenia: Second Edition. https://www.alliancebhc.org/wp-content/uploads/Schizophrenia-Adult-1.pdf
In 1887 Dr. Emile Kraepelin identified schizophrenia for the first time in history. Dr. Kraepelin used the term "dementia praecox” which means “early dementia,” separating it from other forms of dementia usually occurring later in life. Kraepelin believed that “dementia praecox” was primarily a disease of the brain. In 1911, a Swiss psychiatrist by the name of Eugene Bleuler, was the first to use the term “schizophrenia” and the first to describe the symptoms as “negative” or “positive.” Bleuler believed that the name given by Kreapelin was misleading, since the disease was not part of dementia since it did not lead to mental deterioration in all cases and it could occur in young age as well as in old age. Since Bleuler specified the term five types of schizophrenia were identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders –III (DSM), these include: disorganized, catatonic, paranoid, residual and undifferentiated. In the present DSM IV these defined terms are still being used, yet more and more people are turning to use their own methods of identifying the disease rather than focusing on the given DSM terms.
In 1911, a Swiss psychiatrist named Eugen Bleuler coined the term "schizophrenia." It originated from the Greek words, schizo, which translates to "split" and phrenia, meaning "mind." When Bleuler conveyed the meaning of this term, it was not to label a person as a "split personality," but rather as a split between what is believed, what is perceived, and what is objectively real (1). Throughout history, the disorder has been confused and misunderstood by the general public. The idea of "split" has led people to equate schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder which is a psychiatric condition that is different and much less common. Bleuler did not want to label schizophrenia as the disorder where a person is split into two personalities; instead he wanted to explain that in schizophrenia, there is a splitting away of the personality from reality.
There are several people every year that are diagnosed with a mental disorder. In the world’s entire population, more than one percent of people have been diagnosed with schizophrenia (Brain and Behavior Research Foundation). When thinking of the billions of people in the world, it might not seem like that many people but once the number of those diagnosed is calculated it seems much larger. Currently there are more than seventy million people in the world that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, only diagnosed. There are probably several more people who have this disorder and have not been diagnosed or are unable to obtain the resources to be diagnosed.
National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. Schizophrenia. 31 Jan 2013. Web. 15 May 2014
Walker, E., Kestler, L., Bollini, A., & Hochman, K. M. (2004). Schizophrenia: Etiology and course. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 401-430. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141950
Duckworth M.D., Ken. “Schizophrenia.” NAMI.org. National Alliance on Mental Illness, Feb. 2007. Web. 28 March 2010.
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...
Schizophrenia can be described by a wide-ranging spectrum of emotional and cognitive dysfunctions. These can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behavior, as well as inappropriate emotions. Consequently, this disease can affect people from all walks of life. Since schizophrenia is such a complex disorder it can ultimately affect a person’s entire existence and their struggle to function daily. With a chronic disease like this, most people have a difficult time functioning in society. This can make it hard for someone who is schizophrenic to relate to others as well as maintain significant relationships. Life expectancy for those who suffer this illness tend to be shorter than average. This is due to the higher rate of accident and suicide. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be broken down into different categories: positive, negative and disorganized. Positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. These tend to be the more obvious signs of psychosis. On the other hand negative symptoms indicate deficits or absence of normal behavior which can affect sp...