Margherita Dolce Vita Character Analysis

Schizophrenia is a disorder that is characterized by a broken thought process and poor emotional responses. Typical symptoms of this disorder include delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, social dysfunctions,

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.

Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an individual must present two (or more) of the following symptoms for a significant portion of time during a one-month period: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonic behavior, or negative symptoms (such as diminished emotional expression or avolition). The DSM-5, however, has a continuum (schizophrenia spectrum) of disorders that may be similar to schizophrenia disorder but not as severe or persistent.

In order for schizophrenia to be diagnosed, the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual requires two symptoms to be present for a substantial amount of time during a 30 day period. It also requires major areas of functioning to decrease, with continuous signs for at least six months (Fentress, Moller 1). Three different types of symptoms characterize schizophrenia: positive, negative, and cognitive (Richards 1). Positive symptoms refer to an exaggeration of brain function. This can be characterized by unusual thoughts, hallucinations, and delusions. Hallucinations are things a person sees, hears, smells or feels that no other person can. Hearing “voices” is the most common

Schizophrenia is an illness that affects the brain chemistry and structure in such a way that they experience changes in how they think, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. An individual with schizophrenia may experience psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized sleep, flat affect, loss of interest in life and activities, trouble organizing thoughts and remembering things, etc. Current treatment options may include medication, therapy, and psychosocial rehabilitation. (NAMI, 2015)

People who have this disorder can multiple symptoms leading to the diagnosis. Some symptoms are known as “psychotic symptoms” which includes a break with reality, hallucinations, delusions, or evidence of thought disorder. These symptoms are referred to as positive symptoms because they are so readily available. Negative symptoms, which are less readily observed, include withdrawal from society, the inability to show emotion or to feel pleasure or pain, total apathy, and lack of facial expression (Piotrowski, 2015). People schizophrenia also have senses that typically become enhanced or weakened. It can also be hard to concentrate or difficult to focus on things because their selection and filtering process may become impaired. One of the “psychotic symptom” of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that effects the way an individual experiences the world. The disorder is characterized by psychotic, positive symptoms, deficit, negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment (Hung Choy Wong & Van Tol, 2003). Positive symptoms are expressed as delusions, hallucinations and/or disorganized thoughts. Delusions are beliefs that are false, for example, your neighbor Joe starts to believe that he is the president of the United States of America. Hallucinations are perceptions, any form, that are false; the more common are visual and auditory. For example, your other neighbor Donnie starts to see and communicate with a white bunny rabbit named Frank. Disorganized thoughts can be seen

Depending on what type of schizophrenia a person has can determine the symptoms that they have. “The symptoms can be put into three categories which are positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms” (National Institute of Mental Health, 2011). Schizophrenia can have positive symptoms which consist of hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders that can be seen in healthy individuals. Negative symptoms are constant disruption of normal behavior along with emotions. Then, the cognitive symptoms which are difficult to recognize and a majority of the time tests has to be run to determine what symptoms or what type of schizophrenia that individual has.

The symptoms for schizophrenia vary significantly – from positive (meaning that the patient is experiencing a presence of aberrant behavior) to negative (there is a noticeable absence of normal functioning) (Sue, et al., 2013). Positive symptoms are categorized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thought and speech, and grossly abnormal psychomotor behavior (also called catatonia), (Sue, et al., 2013). Negative symptoms include such things as avolition (an inability to take action or focus on goals), alogia (a lack of meaningful speech), asociality (minimal interest in social relationships), and restricted affect (little or no emotion in situations in which emotional reactions are expected), (Sue, et al., 2013, p. 354). I will later

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that can be characterized with irrational thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Some people confuse schizophrenia with dissociative identity disorder, but schizophrenia is quite different. There are three different categories of schizophrenia. ("Schizophrenia" National 1-2) Even though it is not a popular disease, it is well known. Symptoms for schizophrenia are characterized into three groups: cognitive, positive and negative. Symptoms that are deemed “positive” are psychotic behaviors that are not seen in mentally healthy people, which include hallucinations and delusions. “Negative” symptoms are disturbances to normal emotions and behaviors, such as the “flat affect” and reduced speaking. Finally, “cognitive” symptoms are changed in memory or thinking, such as trouble focusing and paying attention. ("Schizophrenia" National 1-2) In Macbeth, Macbeth mostly shows positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Risk factors for this disease include genetic information, problems during birth and psychosocial

Substantial changes are recorded in the prevalence and incidence of the disease from one country to another and between different cultures, but the differences are reduced if strict diagnostic criteria are applied. The core symptoms include difficulty for thought, decreased affection, loss of behavioral or mixed emotions directed by conflicting impulses, and autism. Schizophrenia is characterized by three major types of clinical manifestations: psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive impairment. The former include the loss of contact with reality, including false thoughts (delusions) and hallucinations, among others.

However, usually the illness develops slowly over months or even years. At first, the symptoms may not be noticed or may be confused with those of other conditions. “Schizophrenia is characterized by a constellation of distinctive and predictable symptoms. The symptoms that are generally associated with the disease are called positive “psychotic” symptoms, which denote the presence of grossly abnormal behavior. These abnormal behaviors include thought disorder, delusions, and hallucinations” (Frith, 1995).

The sign and symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized perception based on speech, extremely abnormal conduct and other negative symptoms. Hallucinations

The DSM- V defines Schizophrenia Spectrum as a severe brain/mental illness, and when it’s present it’s characterized by incoherent or illogical thoughts, behaviors, speech, delusion/ hallucination, such as hearing voices. The symptoms are noticeable typically late in adolescence or early in adulthood. (American Psychiatric Association,2017). Encyclopedia of psychology (8th Volume Set). The hallmark of schizophrenia is called “Psychosis,” and it’s clinical presentation differs from one patient to another. (James N. Butcher, Jill M Hooley, Susan Mineka) Abnormal psychology (6th edition, pg.444). People have schizophrenia worldwide. Schizophrenia as the prevalence rate of approximately 1.1% of the populations that are age 18 or over (NIMH).

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