A Study on Schizophrenia

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A Study on Schizophrenia

Artrel B. Ratliff

Hinds Community College

Psychology

A Study on Schizophrenia

A disorder characterized by the inability to differentiate between reality and delusion, schizophrenia affects almost two and a half million American adults in a given year. Symptoms are varied in presentation and severity and include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior. Patients with schizophrenia can recover completely, have periods of relapse or require lifelong treatment due to the debilitating effects of the disorder. Those suffering from this affliction have a higher mortality rate due to an increased risk of suicide and associated physical conditions. To understand schizophrenia, one must understand who it affects, the range of symptoms present in patients, and effective treatment options.

Affected Population

The debilitating diagnosis of schizophrenia “affects about [one percent] of the world's population, and remains a major challenge for clinical and biological psychiatry." (Ritsner, 2011, p. 22) While it can onset at any age, young adults are statistically most likely to develop the condition. In particular, young adult males make up the greatest population of schizophrenics, being almost twice as prevalent as young adult females. However, females are increasingly more likely to develop the disorder as they age and late onset schizophrenia occurs mostly in older females; this is considered to be caused by “estrogen systems [which are] implicated as protectors before . . . menopause.” (Jones, 2006, p. 19) There are several risk factors for schizophrenia, particularly in childhood; late speech and motor skill development, lower educational test scores, a prefer...

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...y be afflicted with this devastating disorder. Oftentimes, those suffering from schizophrenia spend years without treatment because of the ignorance of those around them regarding the condition. Understanding the risk factors, symptoms and treatment options is the best way to help these people who are so often misunderstood.

References

Ritsner, M. (2011). Handbook of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Volume I: Conceptual Issues. New York: Springer Science.

Jones, P. & Buckley, P. (2006). Schizophrenia. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2009). In National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Lieberman, J., Stroup, S., & Perkins, D. (2012). Essentials of Schizophrenia. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.

Strauss, J. (1981). Schizophrenia. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation.