Schizophrenia: Types, Symptoms, Medications, Treatment Essay example

Since the social causation hypothesis is more narrow and only accounts for the assumption that schizophrenia results from stress (one hypothesis for the development of schizophrenia), the downward drift hypothesis seems to better explain the disproportionate numbers of schizophrenics in the lower socioeconomic classes. Moreover, a number of estimations have claimed that between one-third and two-thirds of homeless individuals have schizophrenia (1).

Because of the complexity of the disease, many myths surround schizophrenia. One of these myths is poor parenting causes schizophrenia. Sigmund Freud and psychiatrists since him have regarded the family as the key in the

In regards to the positive symptoms, these include delusions of grandeur, which is when a person believes they have a special ability or feel as if they are better than everyone else. Delusions are the most commonly experienced symptom. Hallucinations are the second most experienced symptom under positive symptoms (Andreasen P.381). Hallucinations are best described as “The experience of sensory events without any input from the surrounding environment” (Barlow P.473). Hallucinations include people hearing voices telling them things or hearing sounds that only occur to them.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, schizophrenia is characterized by the development of two or more symptoms of the following symptoms in a one-month period. The symptoms most characteristic of schizophrenia are delusions, hallucinations, and/or disorganized speech. Schizophrenia has always been a disorder shrouded in mystery. There have been many hypotheses from varying perspectives proposing different sources of causation for schizophrenia. Some of these hypotheses have considerable amounts of research, while some lack support. To fully comprehend and appreciate the disorder, it is important to take into consideration its history. In this way, the full extent to which each branch of the disorder has developed can be

Schizophrenia is a disease that has plagued societies around the world for centuries, although it was not given its formal name until 1911. It is characterized by the presence of positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are so named because of the presence of altered behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations (usually auditory), extreme emotions, excited motor activity, and incoherent thoughts and speech. (1,2) In contrast, negative symptoms are described as a lack of behaviors, such as emotion, speech, social interaction, and action. (1,2) These symptoms are by no means concrete. Not all schizophrenic patients will exhibit all or even a majority of these symptoms, and there is some

Schizophrenia consists of a broad spectrum of diagnostic criteria (both cognitive and emotional dysfunctions) that cause problems in every day functioning (Barlow et al., 2015). This criteria includes the presence of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized/catatonic behaviour, and/or negative symptoms, such as diminished emotional expression (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The prevalence rate of this disorder is estimated to be in the range of 0.2% to 1.5% in the general population (Barlow et al., 2015).

Along with incorrect assumptions of schizophrenia’s complications and a schizophrenic’s behavior, those who are at risk are frequently underestimated. Though an illness not typically associated with a variety of people, schizophrenia occurs in all ethnicities, age groups and genders (www.nimh.nih.gov). Instead of solely victimizing men well into their adulthood, symptoms of schizophrenia can be found in children as young as five, though rarely. Adolescents are able to develop symptoms as well, often very subtly and undetectably, manifesting in inconspicuous issues like a drop in grades or irritability (Hollis, apt.rcpsych.org). Frequently budding

This paper defines schizophrenia from a biological and psychological perspective and also provides treatment to help combat symptoms of schizophrenia. This paper has three important contributions. First, by defining and expanding on schizophrenia from a biological perspective, I can identify the nature related predispositions. After expanding from a biological approach, secondly, I will analyze schizophrenia from a psychological aspect by determining if there is any environment or nurturing externals that can result to schizophrenia. Lastly, I will provide treatment details and also reveal early signs to schizophrenia. This paper is important because schizophrenia is an epic mental disease and it is crucially important to bring awareness to the public of how we can limit the illness. It is unclear whether schizophrenia have only a biological background or psychological background, but what was discovered is that both contribute to schizophrenia. Positive and negative treatment can be combatted undergoing pharmaceutical and psychotherapy,

Schizophrenia is a life-long disorder that affects about one percent of the population (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). The cause of this mental illness is still unclear. Studies have suggested that Schizophrenia does not arise from one factor but from a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors (Liddle, 1987). People diagnosed with Schizophrenia struggle to deal with a multitude of symptoms that make it difficult to function (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Antipsychotic medications are a popular treatment of the symptoms of Schizophrenia (Mueser & McGurk, 2004). Research is constantly being done to develop these medications to enhance the quality of life of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by a variety of symptoms and the disorganization of feeling and thought. It is an incurable disease whose causes are unknown, yet whose effects are mind and body crippling. (Young, 1988, p.13-14) This topic was chosen because it is interesting to study a disorder that worldwide, is viewed as a classic example of madness and insanity. Another reason of interest is because unlike many illnesses, schizophrenia doesn't have a noticeable pattern and its difficulty to be diagnosed as a disease makes the collection of statistics difficult. It is important to learn more about schizophrenia because a significant numbr of people are affected everyday

Schizophrenia has been described as severe disturbances in thoughts that affect the loss of contact with reality (Ward, 2015). A key characteristic of this severe brain disorder includes hallucinations (illusionary perceptions that are not shared by others, i.e. sensory hallucinations, namely auditory) (Ward, 2015). In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, one must show instances of both positive and negative symptoms along with their impaired ability to live a normal functioning life (Ward, 2015). In fact, 60%-70% of schizophrenic patients meet the criteria for hallucinations (Jardri, Pouchet, Pins, & Thomas, 2011). Even though hallucinations can include any of the five senses, Audio Verbal Hallucinations (AVH) is the most common (Jardri et al., 2011). It is widely known that at least in 25% of patients, who experience hallucinations are also resistant to medications resulting in the decrease of quality of life for such individuals (Jardri et al., 2011; Sommer et al., 2008). To add on, therapeutic treatments for despairing symptoms of schizophrenia are seldom.

Schizophrenia is a universal mental illness which is both complex and devastating. Schizophrenia generally begins in the early stages of life and may lead to lifelong disabilities (Moritz, 2010). The context of this paper shall include an introduction on schizophrenia as well as the reasoning this discipline was chosen. It will include a critiqued research study that will explain how the research was presented. The primary focus on the research study will be a literature review, the methods used, the results found, and a presented discussion.

People with schizophrenia usually develop the symptoms in months or years. They might or might not have all of them. Schizophrenics usually have a hard time keeping a job or friends. They might also suffer from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviors. They might get irritated easily, see things that aren’t there, lack of emotion, anxious, social isolation, jumping between unrelated topics when talking, among others. The symptoms depend on what kind of schizophrenia the person suffers from.

It occurs at the same rate in males as it does in females, though average males seem to be more severely disabled than females (Chapman 1). All social classes are affected by schizophrenia though in large cities about three or four times more frequent in lower classes than in middle or upper classes. This disease usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood but may develop later. Childhood schizophrenia is relatively rare, but does exist.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects the brain causing disruption in a person’s emotional response and thought process caused by psychotics’ symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, catatonic or hyperactive behavior and flat effect (Simon H. & Zieve D., 2013). Although the exact cause of schizophrenia is still not understood today. Schizophrenia are believed to be caused by a combination of factors including family history, chemical imbalance of the brain, environmental factors and substance abuse (Queensland Government, 2012). According to world health organization (2014), 24 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia and 50% affected by it are not receiving the holistic care to treat the disorder. A combination various treatments of medication, psychological intervention, psychosocial intervention and community support to lead for a full recovery of the individual (The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2009).