Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that I have always been interested in and want to know more about from my AP Psychology class. I’ve decided to do a research on what it is, the symptoms of it, the possible treatments for it, and how do you get it.
What is it?
“Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that affects about 1.1 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year (Schizophrenia-NIMH).” There are five major types of schizophrenia which are disorganized (hebephrenic) schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, inappropriate laughing and crying, incoherent speech, and infantile behavior; and catatonic schizophrenia, characterized by physical rigidity or hyperactivity (Schizophrenia-The Columbia Encyclopedia). Paranoid schizophrenics can often function relatively normally, although they may be disturbed by persecutory delusions and hallucinations, and they tend to exhibit argumentative behavior (Schizophrenia-The Columbia Encyclopedia). The presence of a combination of symptoms from other types is classified as undifferentiated schizophrenia (Schizophrenia-NIMH). Residual schizophrenia is constituted by minor symptoms, which occur as an active episode diminishes (Humphrey).
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of a schizophrenic fall into three categories: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms (Schizophrenia-NIMH).
Positive Symptoms (psychotic behaviors not seen in healthy people):
-Hallucinations- things a person sees, hears, smells, or feels that no one else can see, hear, smell, or feel
-Delusions- false beliefs that are not part of the person's culture and do not change
-Thought disorders (disorganized thinking)
-Movement disorders (repetition of movement, or no movement at all)
Negative Symptoms (disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors):
- "Flat affect" (a person's face does not move or he or she talks in a dull or monotonous voice)
- Lack of pleasure in everyday life
- Lack of ability to begin and sustain planned activities
- Speaking little, even when forced to interact.
Cognitive Symptoms (subtle):
- Poor "executive functioning" (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions)
-Trouble focusing or paying attention
-Problems with "working memory" (the ability to use information immediately after learning it).
*All of the symptoms information were found using “Schizophrenia-NIMH”*
What are the treatments?
Since the cause for schizophrenia is still unknown, treatments only focus on eliminating the symptoms using antipsychotic medications and various psychosocial treatments (Humphrey).
Antipsychotic Medications:
-Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
-Haloperidol (Haldol)
-Perphenazine (Etrafon, Trilafon)
-Fluphenazine (Prolixin).
There are many other antipsychotic medications and most of them have side effects:
-Drowsiness
-Dizziness when changing positions
-Blurred vision
-Rapid heartbeat
-Sensitivity to the sun
-Skin rashes
-Menstrual problems for women.
Psychosocial treatments:
- Illness management skills
-Integrated treatment for co-occurring substance abuse
-Rehabilitation
-Family education
-Self-Help Groups
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
* All of the treatments information were found using “Schizophrenia-NIMH” and “Humphrey”*
How do you get it?
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Genetic factors appear to be involved in producing susceptibility to the condition, with studies among identical twins showing a 30%–50% similar rate of the possibility of both having it(Schizophrenia-The Columbia Encyclopedia). But based on recent studies, it indicates that the geographical region affects the possibility of obtaining schizophrenia, especially in the Pacific Islands (Bower).
Personal Reflection:
After researching for all the information that I wanted to know about schizophrenia, I stumbled upon an article about a schizophrenic’s life experience because of this excruciating mental disorder (Seeman). Her name was Carrie and she talked about how her life has changed since she was diagnosed with this mental disorder. I find it very fascinating how this disease could creep into your life without any warning and ruin your life’s goals and dreams. There are many speculations behind the causes of schizophrenia but nothing definite has been proposed. I am truly intrigue by this research and hopefully I will stumble upon an article about the possible cures for this disorder in the future.
Works Cited
Bower, Bruce. "Trouble in Paradise: High Schizophrenia Rates among Pacific Islanders Raise Cultural Questions." Science News 7 July 2007: 8+. Questia. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
Humphrey Beebe, Lora. "Theory-Based Research in Schizophrenia." Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 39.2 (2003): 67+. Questia. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
"Schizophrenia." NIMH. Web. 04 Mar. 2010.. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophr enia/index.shtml.
"Schizophrenia." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2009. Questia. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
Seeman, Mary V. "Schizophrenia: Two Sides of the Mirror." Queen's Quarterly Summer 2002: 191+. Questia. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.
