Schizophrenia Essay

Schizophrenia is a complex, chronic mental disorder, which is categorized by certain symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions,

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder often characterized by abnormal social behaviour and failure to recognize what is real. Common symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, auditory hallucinations, reduced social engagement and emotional expression, and inactivity. A person with schizophrenia often hears voices, experiences delusions and hallucinations and may believe thoughts, feelings and actions are controlled or shared by someone else.

Undifferentiated schizo. Is usually given when a patient has been exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia. However, the symptoms do not meet the criteria for diagnosed, catatonic, or paranoid schizophrenia. Undifferentiated is the “not otherwise specified” version of schizophrenia (Schizophrenia, Undifferentiated). Residual schizophrenia is the mildest of all the subtypes. “Individuals who are diagnosed with residual schizophrenia are often in a transitional stage of the disorder.” (Residual). Disorganized based on the individuals disorganized behavior, speech, and disturbances in emotional expression (Schizophrenia, Disorganized). Disorganized behavior can be expressed in many ways. Varying from as simple as starting or finishing a small task to as major as not being able to function on their own. Catatonic Schizophrenia involves disturbances in a person’s movement, exhibit a dramatic reduction in activity, to the point where voluntary movement completely stops (Catatonic). A person with Catatonic Schizophrenia can show considerable physical strength in resistance to repositioning attempts, even though they appear to be uncomfortable. Paranoid Schizophrenia is the most common subtype. Patients are likely to experience paranoid delusions that are unreasonable such as the thought of strangers trying to harm them. Patients with Paranoid Schizophrenia may feel angry and/or

It is a cluster of disorders characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions and inappropriate emotions and behaviors. The clusters of schizophrenia can present as positive or negative symptoms. The positive symptom patients experience hallucinations, talk in disorganized and deluded way and exhibit inappropriate tears or rage. Those with negative symptoms have toneless voices, expressionless faces, or mute and rigid bodies. Schizophrenia has subtypes within it: paranoia (preoccupation with delusions or hallucinations these often have themes of persecution or grandiosity), disorganization (disorganized speech or behavior, or flat/inappropriate behavior), catatonia (immobility, extreme negativity, or repeating another person’s speech or movement), undifferentiated (many and varied symptoms), and residual (withdrawal after hallucinations or delusions have disappeared). Studies have shown that people who suffer from schizophrenia have excess receptors of dopamine in the brain hinting that the symptoms might have biochemical roots. They also have abnormal brain activity in multiple brain

Additional, inferences about the disorder are provided by Whitcomb and Merrell (2013). The authors characterize the symptoms of schizophrenia as delusions that are “typically bizarre and implausible” and pronounced hallucinations such as hearing voices for long periods of time (p. 363). Additional, impairments noted by the authors include “severe disturbances in perception, thought and affect, a severe decline in personal and social functioning, poor personal hygiene, inability to function effectively at school or work, and a severe impairment in social relationships” (Whitcomb and Merrell, 2013 p.363).

Schizophrenia is the most commonly diagnosed psychotic disorder (Steel, 2012), affecting 1 out of every 100 hundred people on average (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Symptoms of the disorder include positive symptoms, which are auditory and visual hallucinations, as well as disordered patterns of thought such as delusions (Taurier & Wykes, 2004). Auditory hallucinations are the most common positive symptom, and often come in the form of voices (Steel, 2012). Delusions, which are the most common symptom of schizophrenia, involve a false belief that exists despite evidence being available that suggests otherwise (Steel, 2012).

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects more than one percent of the population. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. However, when these symptoms are treated properly, a large portion of those diagnosed will greatly improve over time.

(Szasz,1982, p.4, p.29) In 1900, the term schizophrenia, now used worldwide, was used to describe the condition that one out of every hundred people had. This statistic remains the same today. Through research and years of study, the world has a better understanding of schizophrenia, its forms, characteristics, symptoms, types, possible causes, and treatments, if any. ( Pierce, 1990. p.263 )

Schizophrenia is not yet fully understood, but it is known that it is characterized by extreme disturbances in many vital areas, including behavior, emotions, speech, perception and thinking. The term schizophrenia means

The characteristics of Schizophrenia have often been confused with those of other diseases. Such characteristics are: Decline from a previous level of functioning, disturbances of thought and speech, delusions, hallucinations, and withdrawal. All of these symptoms are sure signs of schizophrenia, but they do vary between people and may also change over periods of time. There are positive symptoms which

Schizophrenia is a disease that takes control over your brain. Symptoms arise from an imbalance in the production of serotonin and dopamine. The symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin between late adolescence and the mid-30s. The positive symptoms of schizophrenia represent the presence of unusual perceptions, thoughts, or behaviors ( Hoeksema, 2007). They include hallucinations, delusions, catatonic behavior, disorganized thought and speech. Hallucinations are seeing, hearing, and feeling objects that are not present. For example, people who have hallucinated claim they have heard voices in their head telling them to do certain things. Delusions are beliefs that the individual thinks are true but are very improbable and most likely impossible. They get this thought in their mind that someone is after them and nobody is after them. For example, Belief that the CIA, FBI, and local police are conspiring to catch you in a “sting” operation ( Hoeksema, 2009).

2011). Varcarolis et al. 2006 describe positive symptoms of schizophrenia as ‘florid psychotic symptoms’ ‘as they capture attention’. Cognitive deficits lay primarily within the domains of memory and language affecting mood and behaviour (Elder et al. 2009). Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations and sever thought process disturbances and have an acute onset (Elder et al. 2009).Varcarolis, Carson and Shoemaker (2006) state that a patient experiencing a delusion is convinced that what they perceive is real and consequently the patients thinking often reflects feelings of great fear, isolation and trust issues. Additionally Elder et al. (2009) state that cognitive deficits are considered psychotic symptoms and that behaviours, perceptions and beliefs shown in a person having an exacerbation of schizophrenia are not consistent with normal human experience.

Schizophrenia has many criteria that is associated with it and it involves many different types of symptoms such as: First, Delusion which involves a disturbance in the content of thought, it occurs in more than 90% of patients at some time during their illness (Cutting,1995). They are numerous types of delusion which associates with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

These symptoms are: Delusions which are strange beliefs that are not based in reality. Another positive symptom are hallucinations which makes people hear voices, feel touched when they are not touched and see things that are not really there.

In some people's cases, Schizophrenia appears suddenly and without warning. But for most it comes slowly, with subtle warning signs and a gradual decline in functioning long before the first severe episode. “In the early phases of Schizophrenia people often seem eccentric, unmotivated, emotionless, and reclusive (Helpguide.org).” They may isolate themselves and not want to participate in daily activities such as playing with their children, going outside, or getting off the couch. They abandon their hobbies and they do not do well in their jobs. “The most common early warning signs of Schizophrenia include: social withdrawal, hostility or suspiciousness, deterioration of personal hygiene, having a flat and expressionless gaze, the inability to cry or express joy, inappropriate laughter or crying, depression, oversleeping or insomnia, odd or irrational statements, forgetfulness or the inability to concentrate, extreme reaction to criticism, and or strange use of words or way of speaking (Helpguide.org).” There are five types of symptoms of Schizophrenia. Positive is a symptom that involves having hallucinations or delusions. Negative is when one shows no emotion or flat behavior. Avolation is when a person shows little interest in whatever they are doing. Cognitive behavior is when you have disorganized speech or memory loss. Catatonic behavior is considered poor functioning such as your voluntary muscles