Schizophrenia: An Overview

In America mental illness is a topic that is often ignored, and may even be regarded as taboo by some people. But few mental illnesses are treated as adversely as schizophrenia, a mental illness characterized by the appearance of hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia is an elusive and complex mental illness which makes it hard to treat. With no absolute cause, but rather a variety of risk factors, symptoms similar to many other mental illnesses, and a name that strikes fear in both families and patients, schizophrenia has become one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses in the world of psychology. However, with proper knowledge of the history, causes, different types of schizophrenia and the varying treatments for schizophrenia it is possible to gain a greater comprehension of this mental illness.

Schizophrenia has been a highly misunderstood disease since it was first seen in about 500 B.C. and a number of theories have been around since that time. In 400 B.C. until the late 1800’s schizophrenia was thought to be the possession of the devil or possible witchcraft, and most people suffering from the disease were exorcised or killed. Some psychiatrists believed that it was a form of dementia, or loss of functioning in the brain. The scientific name schizophrenia was taken from the Greek word schizein phren which translates to “split mind”, and was devised by a Swiss psychiatrist named Eugen Blueler, one of the first psychiatrists to realize that schizophrenia was not only found in young people and that the symptoms could go on longer than just adolescence. But by the 1950’s psychiatric professionals were convinced that the absolute cause of schizophrenia was bad parenting, throwing most of the blame on the mother. ...

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...together equally, not putting an emphasis on either of the treatments. Most patients in treatment have an entire team of specialists to help with their recovery. This team includes psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, counselors, and therapists, all who work together to create a personalized plan for each person to receive the best care possible for their illness.

Schizophrenia may be an extremely complex disease, but with even a small insight and understanding of the disease it becomes that the people that suffer from this disease are not the deviant criminals that we see on the television, but rather just mentally ill patients that have an extremely confusing and complicated disease. But through an understanding of the many symptoms, and treatment opportunities it becomes easier and easier to understand and aide in the treatment of this disorder.