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Effects Of Schizophrenia On Society

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Many people do not have a full understanding of what schizophrenia is and its affect on the individual diagnosed and its affect on society. So the question at hand is what exactly is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.” (NIH) Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, it can be very disabling. Approximately 7 to 8 individuals out of 1000 will get schizophrenia in their lifetime. People with this disorder have many symptoms and issues. Those with schizophrenia may hear voices or see things that are not actually there. They may also believe that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. …show more content…

It can also be scary and upsetting to the people around them. Families and society are both impacted positively and negatively by schizophrenia. Positive symptoms are usually the symptoms that are not found in healthy people and can either come and go or will just stay stable over the span of the time they are diagnosed. Some examples of positive symptoms are hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Negative symptoms are those that are harder to identify and recognize as part of the disorder or another separate condition. Examples of these negative symptoms are reduced speaking, difficulty beginning and continuing activities, reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life, and activities they used to enjoy doing, and lastly having “flat affect” which is reduced expression of emotions by facial expression or the tone of voice. The last form of symptoms the individual diagnosed can have is cognitive symptoms. These symptoms are subtle, but are difficult to notice like the negative symptoms. Example of cognitive symptoms is poor “executive functioning” (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions), trouble focusing or paying attention, and problems with “working memory” (the ability to use information immediately after learning …show more content…

Individuals with schizophrenia can still be before or after those ages but is more unlikely after the age of 45. Childhood diagnosis of schizophrenia has become more and more advanced recently. Early onset and diagnoses during the teen years is very difficult. To diagnose a teen is difficult due to the overlap in behavior between schizophrenia and regular teenage behavior. Teens that are diagnosed usually show the first symptoms of change of friends, a drop in grades, sleep problems, and irritability. These symptoms are exactly identical to how regular teens act, causing the problem with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Usually the first of the symptoms to occur are the hallucinations and delusions. But, many other factors can help diagnose youth that have schizophrenia. Some factors that can “predict schizophrenia in up to 80 percent of youth who are at high risk of developing the illness.” (NIH)
Reason for the contraction of schizophrenia is still not yet known. Many scientists believe that it is part hereditary mixed with environmental factors.
Treatments are becoming more widely available for those with schizophrenia. Researchers are still continuously developing more effective treatments and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia. In years to come, this work may help prevent and better treat the illness.
Substance abuse disorders occur when

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