Schizophrenia Research Paper

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person’s think, feels and acts. Psychological disorder, also known to some as a mental illness, is a disorder of the mind involving thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that cause self –distress. Under these circumstances, it is also a condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning such as taking care of personal needs, a danger to self or others. Although, it is a number of factors that can cause a person to behavior a certain ways, this topic will allow us to understand the signs and symptoms, the prognosis and what causes the Schizophrenia disorder.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that generally appears in late adolescence or early adulthood, however, it can emerge

at any time. It is one of many brain diseases that may include delusions, loss of personality, confusion, agitation, social withdrawal, psychosis, and bizarre behavior. Individuals with schizophrenia may hear voices that are not there. Some may be convinced that others reading their minds, controlling how they think, or plotting against them. This can distress patients severely and persistently, making them withdraw and frantic. Others may find it hard to make sense of what a person with schizophrenia is talking about. (Nordqvist, C)
Schizophrenia symptoms are characterized by at least 2 of the following symptoms, for at least one month such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

Although only of the above symptoms must be present for at least one month, there also need to be continuous signs of the disturbances that persist for at least six months. During this period, the signs of the disorder may be present in a milder form, for instance, as just odd beliefs or unusual perceptual experiences. The negative symptoms include affective flattening, alogia, and avolition. These things may reduce a person body language, they may have poor eye contact, a brief speech or replies, also have an inability to initiate and persist in goal directed activities such as work or school. (Psych

Central)
There is no medical test to diagnose schizophrenia. A psychiatrist should examine the person and make a diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on an interview of the person and family members. Brains scans such as CT or MRI and blood tests may help rule out other conditions that have a similar symptoms. Some of the questions a psychiatrist may ask are: How the person’s ability to
Christian 2

function has changed?

What the person developmental background was like? Other medical condition the person has? (Rogge, T)

Schizophrenia treatment typically consists of medication and psychological and functioning counseling. While skills and other types of therapy are useful, medication is still the cornerstone of the treatment of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is treated with an antipsychotic medication designed to drastically reduce and hopefully stop the symptoms of psychosis (hallucinations, and delusions). Within one year, only 20% of people on antipsychotic medication will relapse compared to 80% of those who have stopped antipsychotic medication treatment. (Tracy, N)

The risk factors for people with schizophrenia are more likely to commit suicide if they are young, male, white and never married. People are also at increased risk if they had good function before they were diagnosed with schizophrenia, developed depression after diagnosis, and have a history of alcohol or other substances abuses and past suicide attempts, drug abuse, however, has been widely linked to suicide risk in people with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia are twice as likely to abuse drugs as people in the general populations. (Web

MD)
Researchers are trying to figure out what causes schizophrenia. The possible causes often mentioned include brain chemistry, wiring, and function. The brain, for some reason, cannot process or route information properly. Genetic connection. The risk increase for others in the family if one of them has schizophrenia. Environmental connection. Some researchers believe that if a fetus gets an infection, or other complication while in the womb, that child’s risk of developing schizophrenia increases. (Yoffee, L)