Schizophrenia affects nearly about two million people in the United States, according to the SARDAA ( Schizophrenic and Related Disorders Alliance of America). People who have schizophrenia often see and hear people's voices in their mind, they believe that such people are out to get them and trying to harm them. It is difficult to separate the people who have schizophrenia with the ones that have not. Until you hear someone speak during a schizophrenic episode, then it seems like they have lost touch with reality. This is from the lack of activity in the frontal lobe, but the parietal lobe of the brain is overactive. The frontal lobe controls organization skills, memory, and other cognitive skills while the parietal lobe of the brain controls sound, sight, and other functions. The overuse of the parietal lobe can cause these senses to be distorted (Stanley J.Swierzewski,lll, M.D.). People who are affected with this disorder tend to have varying factors. People have tried to figure out what starts schizophrenia, however little is known about this controversial disorder and it is classified as a genetic disorder. The treatments do not always cure the disorder and many people learn how to cope with it own their own. It is suggested that this complex disorder affects people differently and has many treatments available.
Between the two genders men are most likely to contract the disorder than women. This occurs in men around the ages of sixteen and twenty-five. Men who are affected with schizophrenia are more likely to try to commit suicide than women (National Institution of Mental Health). Certain areas in the male brain is affected which will cause differences between men and women. Due to the differences in men and women t...
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National Institutes of Mental Health. (2009). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml?utm_source=wordtt
Riecher-Rössler, MD, A. (2004, April 14). Schizophrenia in women. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/473295
Schizophrenia and related mental disorders Alliance of America. (n.d.). About schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.sardaa.org/resources/about-schizophrenia/
Svensson, E., Rogvin, M., Hultman, C. M., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Sandin, S., & Moger, T. A. (2013). Schizophrenia susceptibility and age of diagnosis — A frailty approach. Schizophrenia Research,147(1), 140-146. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2013.03.004
Swierzewski, III, M.D., S. J. (2001, February 01).Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.healthcommunities.com/schizophrenia/causes.shtml
Charles is a 21 year-old Caucasian single male currently residing with his mother and stepfather whom also is Charles’s uncle. Charles graduated high school and due to his illness he receives social security benefits. During a two year period Charles had nine visits to the emergency room resulting in admission to the psychiatric unit. On two admissions Charles left against medical advice, five admissions required a higher level of care resulting in admission to the state psychiatric hospital and two Charles was transferred to the adult crisis unit. Charles also has a misdemeanor history mainly public nuisance due to substance abuse mainly marijuana and cocaine. Charles was evicted after a psychotic episode and destroying his apartment.
Coined by Eugen Bleuler in 1950, the term ‘Schizophrenia’ refers to a group of mental disorders with heterogeneous outcomes. The most prevalent subtype of schizophrenia is the paranoid subtype. Typically, this disorder is characterized by psychosis, in which the patient suffers from altered perceptions of reality. According to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM – V), the typical subtypes – paranoid, catatonic and disorganized, among others have been eliminated, although the general definition of the disorder remains unchanged. These changes were made due to the clinically diverse prognosis, pathophysiology and etiology of the disorder, which add to its heterogeneity1, 2. In addition, sex of the patient and age of onset of the disorder also contribute to schizophrenia’s diverse effects. The age of onset and sex of the patient heavily influence the demographics and course of paranoid schizophrenia, and in turn are also affected by the patients ethnicity and any premorbid conditions the patient may have suffered1, 3...
There are several people every year that are diagnosed with a mental disorder. In the world’s entire population, more than one percent of people have been diagnosed with schizophrenia (Brain and Behavior Research Foundation). When thinking of the billions of people in the world, it might not seem like that many people but once the number of those diagnosed is calculated it seems much larger. Currently there are more than seventy million people in the world that have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, only diagnosed. There are probably several more people who have this disorder and have not been diagnosed or are unable to obtain the resources to be diagnosed.
Biological connections to schizophrenia are not exclusively genes or environment, combination of genes and environment causes schizophrenia (Glick, 2005). Nature’s focus of life is gene electives and nurture is environmental causing direct influence to bump traits, environment and innate potential defining reality in schizophrenia (Glick, 2005). If both genes and environment are correct schizophrenia turns on and each contributes 100% (Glick, 2005). Psychologist cannot account for a single cause of schizophrenia; results from case studies leave multiple genetic factors, psychological assaults, environmental, and hormonal causes that affect brain chemistry (Lifespan, 2009).
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects one to two percent of people worldwide. The disorder can develop as early as the age of five, though it is very rare at such an early age. (3)) Most men become ill between the ages of 16 and 25 whereas most women become ill between the ages of 25 and 30. Even though there are differences in the age of development between the sexes, men and women are equally at risk for schizophrenia. (4) There is of yet no definitive answer as to what causes the disorder. It is believed to be a combination of factors including genetic make-up, pre-natal viruses, and early brain damage which cause neurotransmitter problems in the brain. (3)
National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. Schizophrenia. 31 Jan 2013. Web. 15 May 2014
Walker, E., Kestler, L., Bollini, A., & Hochman, K. M. (2004). Schizophrenia: Etiology and course. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 401-430. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.141950
Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a person takes their own life once every fourteen minutes in the United States (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP], 2011). Still, with suicide rates so high, suicide is a taboo topic in our society. Though suicide is intended to end one person’s pain, it causes an immeasurable amount of pain and suffering to loved ones close to the deceased.
Schizophrenia can be described by a wide-ranging spectrum of emotional and cognitive dysfunctions. These can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behavior, as well as inappropriate emotions. Consequently, this disease can affect people from all walks of life. Since schizophrenia is such a complex disorder it can ultimately affect a person’s entire existence and their struggle to function daily. With a chronic disease like this, most people have a difficult time functioning in society. This can make it hard for someone who is schizophrenic to relate to others as well as maintain significant relationships. Life expectancy for those who suffer this illness tend to be shorter than average. This is due to the higher rate of accident and suicide. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be broken down into different categories: positive, negative and disorganized. Positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. These tend to be the more obvious signs of psychosis. On the other hand negative symptoms indicate deficits or absence of normal behavior which can affect sp...
My heart is pounding, hands sweating, vision blurry, what wrong with me? What is that horrible sweet sound? I finally came to my senses and realized that I’m doing terrible on my first violin solo. I can hear the scratchy sound of my strings, the judge stopped me and told me to start again, and so I position myself properly I held my violin proudly, my back was straight, and my wrist shaped like an L, I took a deep breath and held it I place my bow back onto my string and started to play but this time my bow was bouncing I was shaking I sound unskillfully but I can hear the soft sound of the piano playing along with me I was off beat once I bunch a note the pianist will play one of its keys we are supposed to be together so I stopped and
It is a mental disorder where a person has an abnormal behavior and cannot recognize what is real. People that are consider schizophrenic have symptoms like auditory hallucinations, false beliefs, and their social engagement is very poor. These symptoms begin to show roughly around their young adulthood year for men and late adulthood years for women. People with this mental disorder tend to live about ten to twenty-five years less than an average person and about .3-.7% of people are affected by it during their lifetime. According to Bengston (2006), “Nearly one-third of those diagnosed with schizophrenia will attempt suicide.” Schizophrenia does not only affect the ability to think but also usually contributes with chronic problems with behavior and emotion. This part of the test has seventy-eight items and is the hardest to interpret. People that score high on this test are consider
This psychotic disorder primarily affects a human’s brain. A person living with this mental illness experiences several symptoms as well as signs. Therefore an individual relies on a relative or someone he/she is comfortable with in order to watch him/her. People who are suffering from Schizophrenia are usually referred to as Schizophrenics. Many individuals have a difficult time accepting that either he or she has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. This mental disorder mainly affects a human’s state of mind as well as his/her personality. Schizophrenia affects both men and woman of all ages and race. But young men in their early teens are more affected with this psychotic illness than young women. An individual’s brain functions differently than a normal human’s mind.
There is no age limit as to when schizophrenia can appear in life, but it usually begins with unspecific symptoms in late adolescence. Symptoms, like a lack of drive or concentration problems, may lead to problems in school or in social relationships (Gaebel). Then, it progresses rapidly into more harsh and grim symptoms such as negative voices acting much like a conscience and psychosis. Psychosis is when reality is lost and thoughts and emotions have taken over. Up to 80% of schizophrenics experience psychosis on a normal basis, and soon lose track of what is reality and what is not (Gaebel). The diagnosis of schizophrenia is only made once a full clinical psychotic picture has developed. Schizophrenia has affected several families, the highest rates reported for twins is around 50%, followed by children with two parents with schizophrenia is 46%, and children with one parent having schizophrenia is 13% (Gaebel). Treatment is based on the three pillars; pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and social therapy, but several people suffering with this disease do not complete any of the 3 pillars because it makes them feel abnormal and less creative (2). A numerous amount say, when taking the pills prescribed it's hard to “think outside the box” so they don’t complete the course
John, a ten-year-old, normally active child has been feeling ill for about a week. John came down with a dry cough and fever around a week ago, which his parents dismissed as just a simple cold. After taking over the counter medication he was feeling relief the following day. A few days pass, and he began to feel ill once again at school. He was feeling lethargic, had a sore throat, and wasn’t active during recess as usual. His teacher noticed these symptoms and decided to call his parents. His parents picked him up and took him to a nearby urgent care to get checked out. His symptoms were not significant enough to warrant a lab test and the attending physician ruled it as a mild case of the flu. The attending told Johns parents,
This chapter got into more depth about people with schizophrenia. This was one topic I never really knew too much information about it. For a person to be classified as having a psychological disorder, the person’s behavior must not only be unusual, but also disturbing. The people with schizophrenia often suffer symptoms such as hearing voices, people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, plotting against them. Reading this chapter has showed me that schizophrenia is a serious disorder and a very dangerous psychological disorder to themselves and the people around them. The cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. Some theories about the cause of this disease are genetics, biology; and possible infections and immune disorders. Symptoms may develop slowly over months or years, or may appear very