Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior. It often leads to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation. There are around 200,000 cases a year in the US alone. The cause for schizophrenia is still unknown but is thought to be linked with genetics and brain chemistry. The reason I chose this topic is because while I was working in a nursing home I had a patient with schizophrenia that I took care of when I was in junior high who thought I was her daughter from the 80s and so taking care of her was an experience because I never knew anything about it before her. …show more content…
Schizophrenia is broken down to mean “split-mind” but this disorder is not the same as split personality like many would believe.
This term was first used by a Swiss psychiatrist in 1908 by the name of Eugen Bleuler. He used this term to categorize his patients whose thought processes and emotional responses seemed disconnected. Per the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, “In 1911, Bleuler wrote, I call dementia precox schizophrenia because, as I hope to show, the splitting of the different psychic functions is one of its most important features. In each case, there is a more or less clear splitting of the psychological functions: as the disease becomes distinct, the personality loses its unity” (95-96, Ashok, Baugh, Yeragani). This quote helps show the origin of the term schizophrenia and how Bleuler came to the decision of naming and diagnosing this mental
disorder. Schizophrenia is broken down into five subtypes; Paranoid-type, Disorganized-type, Catatonic-type, Undifferentiated-type, and Residual-type. Paranoid-type schizophrenia is marked by delusions of persecution and often accompanied by auditory hallucinations. Disorganized-type schizophrenia is marked by disordered thoughts, disorganized speech and behavior patterns, and includes flat affect or the absence of appropriate emotional responsiveness. Catatonic-type schizophrenia is marked by extremes in movement and behavior that ranges from hyperactive agitation to lethargy and immobility. Undifferentiated-type is a category used when symptoms do not clearly fall into any of the subtypes. Residual-type schizophrenia is used for patients who have a history of schizophrenia but whose symptoms have diminished or become less severe. The symptoms of schizophrenia are grouped into three categories; positive, negative and cognitive. Positive symptoms are the psychotic symptoms that are most often associated with schizophrenia. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Negative symptoms indicate an absence of normal emotional response. Negative symptoms include emotional flatness, limited or monotone speech, general loss of interest in life and ability to experience pleasure, and the lack of ability to plan or initiate activities. Cognitive symptoms are the ones associated with the thinking process. Cognitive symptoms include difficulty focusing or paying attention, difficulty understanding information and following instructions, and poor memory and concentration. Even though the causes of schizophrenia are still not known scientists think it is linked to genetic factors and brain chemistry. People with a first- degree family member (mother, father, sister, or brother) with schizophrenia have a 10% chance of inheriting schizophrenia. A person with a twin or both parents with the disease have a 40-65% chance of inheriting schizophrenia. Even with these numbers about 60% of people who have schizophrenia have no close relatives with the disorder. Some researchers believe there are specific gene factors and there is also evidence that schizophrenia may share genetic pathways with other psychotic disorders.
There is still no unanimously accepted definition of schizophrenia, and appreciable differences exist between the narrowest and widest definition (Tsuang 13). It is a disease that includes a disturbance in cognition that renders the individual "out of touch with reality". Emotions are distorted in schizophrenia and they are typified by being socially withdrawn (Lahey 555).
Schizophrenia is a group of psychotic disorders with major impairments in thought, emotion, and behavior; there is a constant prevalence rate of one percent with the occurrence being slightly higher in men. Though different psychologists have various theories on whether the disorder is linked to genetics or social economic status, schizophrenia in all
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...
According to the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website , schizophrenia is “a mental illness that usually strikes in late adolescence or early adulthood, but can strike at any time in life” that is characterized by “delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behavior, [and] disorganized speech” among other symptoms. Schizophrenia is, at its core, the altering of a person’s perception of reality by some somatic means and when observed by a psychologically sound individual, can be quite unsettling. After all, seeing a person whose reality is fractured causes us to doubt our own reality, if only in a fleeting thought.
Schizophrenia as a Biological Disorder As well as the biological approaches there are physiological, psychological and environmental explanations. New theories of schizophrenia are constantly being developed each having their own advantages and disadvantages. How do we know however, which one is correct? The biological explanation suggests that schizophrenia is produced by an unfortunate combination of genes or is due to physical problems in the brain. Researchers favouring the biological explanation look at genetic factors, brain structure and biochemical explanations.
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Almost as if they’re in an alternate reality. It is said symptoms of schizophrenia become prominent between the ages of 16 and 30. There are three types of symptoms schizophrenia can fall under, positive, negative, and cognitive. Positive symptoms include hallucination, delusions, though disorders, and movement disorders. Negative Symptoms include what is called a “flat affect” which correlates with less expressions verbally and facially. It also includes reduced pleasure in everyday life, difficulty beginning and sustaining activities, and reduced speaking. Cognitive symptoms cause you to struggle with processing and utilizing information, a short attention span, and problems with the working memory. Scientists believe that schizophrenia is not caused by genetics alone but combined with one’s environmental factors during adolescence. It is also believed that schizophrenia correlates with an imbalance in the chemicals reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamine, with a possibility of others playing a
Elyn Saks said, “The schizophrenic mind is not so much split as shattered. I like to say that schizophrenia is like a “waking nightmare”. Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder involving the breakdown of thought, behavior, and emotion. The title “Schizophrenia” is just an umbrella that encompasses more than one type of schizophrenia such as Paranoid Schizophrenia, Disorganized Schizophrenia, Catatonic Schizophrenia, Residual Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder (Mental Health America). Schizophrenia is a condition that affects a person’s mind, and according to Mental Health America, the cause of schizophrenia is unknown, though it is known that the causes are related to genetics, biology, and possibly viral infections and immune disorders.
and its constituents may suggest that it is multifarious in its origin (Kolb & Whishaw, 2011).
The word was derived from the Greek roots schizo which means split and phrene which means mind, to describe the fragmented thinking of people with the disorder. Involving a range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms, schizophrenia is a disorder consisting of unreal or disorganized thoughts and perceptions. The five domains of psychotic symptoms that define schizophrenia include four positive symptoms which are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts/speech and disorganized or abnormal motor behavior including catatonia; a disorganized behavior that reflects unresponsiveness to the environment. These are described as positive symptoms because they represent overt expressions of unusual perceptions, thoughts and behaviors. Schizophrenia also consists of negative symptoms such as restricted emotional expression or affect. Negative symptoms involve the loss of certain qualities of the person rather than the behaviors or thoughts the person expresses
Psychosis refers to a severe loss of contact with reality. During a psychotic episode, you are not able to think clearly. During a psychotic episode, your responses and emotions and responses are not inappropriate and do not coincide with what is actually happening. You mayoften have false beliefs about what is happening or who you are (delusions). Y, and you may see, hear, taste, smell, or feel things that are not present (hallucinations). Psychosis is usually occurs with a severe symptom of a ve very serious mental health (psychiatric) conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. It, but it can sometimes also be the result of drug use or certaina medical conditions.
Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain that results in the patient losing touch with reality. This loss of reality is defined by the patient hearing voices in their head, having hallucinations, or severely impaired reasoning and emotional stability. These effects happen to a person with the disease because of their inability to understand the signals around them. Milton Greek, a patient with schizophrenia, said, “I had all these real life issues that had been symbolized in the psychosis.” Milton was referring to the fact that doctors and scientists believe real life problems are being manifested in patients’ hallucinations. There is no known cure for schizophrenia but doctors are working relentlessly to find one. Also, there is no known cause of schizophrenia, but there are theories. People have argued for centuries over the cause of schizophrenia. One theory suggests that schizophrenia is passed on through genetics. Another says the disease is caused by a virus. One last theory states imbalances in the brain cause schizophrenia. To this day, scientists have not come to a consensus on which theory is correct.
Schizophrenia is a misunderstood illness in today’s society. Psychology in modules (2015) states schizophrenia means “‘split’ (schizo) ‘mind’ (phrenia)” (p. 640). Oftentimes, people confuse schizophrenia with dissociative identity disorder. Those with schizophrenia has a split from reality as those with dissociative identity disorder are split into multiple personalities.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (2017), “schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects approximately one percent of the population.” Schizophrenia is considered a chronic and severe mental disorder. This disorder can affect how people feel, think, and even how they act. Unlike some diseases that only show up in certain genders or races, schizophrenia affects everyone the same. Schizophrenia affects men and women equally, but the ages when symptoms start to appear are at different times in his or her life. According to WebMD (2015), “Schizophrenia Usually takes hold after puberty. Men are normally diagnosed in their late teens to early twenties, while women are diagnosed in their late twenties and early thirties.”
The DSM-V classifies schizophrenia as a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, and other symptoms that cause social or occupational dysfunction. For a diagnosis to be made, symptoms must have been present for six months and include at least one month of active symptoms. Schizophrenia is a disorder that can be found in nearly every culture. With a wide range of cultural subgroups and a multiplicity of individual cultural variations, perceptions and attitudes toward schizophrenia are extremely diverse. The beliefs about the causation of schizophrenia can influence the attitudes patients adopt about their illness and toward seeking help. For example, the cultural background of an individual
The main cause of mental illness has been confusing because there are multiple components of causes with various correlates. In order to make clear of this confusion, the present essay explores the causes of mental illness primarily found inside the individual, outside the individual and is a combination of the two. It is concluded that the causes of mental illness are primarily found a combination of the inside and outside causes.