Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a very serious disorder within the brain. It is a disease that makes it hard for a person to tell the difference between a situation that is real, or unreal. It makes it difficult to think logically, to give normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in situations where others are involved (http://health.yahoo.com/centers/personality/000928.html).

Schizophrenia is an extremely difficult illness to understand completely. Experts on it aren't even sure what causes it. It can be somewhat genetic, as people who have others in the family with the disorder seem to be more susceptible to it, themselves. Problems at birth or social factors may also play a role in the development of schizophrenia in a person.

There are five different types of schizophrenia. These consist of: Catatonic, Disorganized, Paranoid, Residual, and Undifferentiated schizophrenia (http://www.psychnet-uk.com/clinical_psychology/clinical_psychology_schizophrenia2_types.htm).

To diagnose someone as having schizophrenia, there are some basic criteria that they must meet. Delusions and hallucinations only require one symptom, if it is bizarre enough. Reduced speech or speech that shows incoherence is also a factor. Usually, the individual often has violent mood swings, and sudden distrust in others.

The Paranoid type meets all of the basic criteria for Schizophrenia, and often has hallucinations, or delusions. The Disorganized type has sketchy behavior, and speech that is often difficult to comprehend. The Catatonic type seems very flexible, almost as if not able to stand up straight on their own. They often become extremely hyper for no apparent reason, and strange behavior directed towards others, such as thinking everyone is talking about them, behind their back. The Undifferentiated type only meets the basic criteria for Schizophrenia. This is the mildest case of the illness. People diagnosed with the Residual type of Schizophrenia once met the criteria for any of the other types. However, they still hold on to symptoms such as slight hallucinations, or odd beliefs, related to delusions (http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/schizophrenia_disorder.htm).

Treatment for schizophrenia can come right from a bottle. Apparently, older medications for Schizophrenia treatment did the job, but left some of the side effects behind. There are now several new antipsychotic medications available, which have fewer side effects than the old medications (http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/HC/Treatment/0,4047,550146,00.html).

Of course, there are always therapy or rehabilitation programs that can be sought after for treatment. In these programs, there are classes that somewhat remind me of refresher high school courses. They're real life need-to-know programs such as job training, money-management skills, and social skills (http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/HC/HelpingYourself/0,4052,550146,00.html). If I had a family member who was diagnosed with this illness, I'd much rather have them gone through these courses, than be put on medication. I think a fresh start is much more humane, and would be greatly appreciated by the one who was diagnosed.

Case Study

Barbara, a Schizophrenic Mom, 52 years old, born in Poland and living in NYC for seven years and is divorced since then. She becomes sick 5 years ago, being hospitalized couple times till the doctors find the right medications.

Positive symptoms of Barbara's schizophrenia include delusions of grandeur, persecution, and hallucinations. She believed that God gave her a ...