Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. "Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world population. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know People with the disorder may hear voices other people don't hear. They may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can terrify people with the illness and make them" http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia.shtml unresponsive, "withdrawn, or extremely agitated. People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk. They may sit for hours without moving or talking. Sometimes people with schizophrenia seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking." http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia.shtml http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know It is even possible that they "may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know "In men, symptoms usually start in the late teens and early 20s. They include hallucinations, or seeing things, and delusions such as hearing voices. For women, they start in the mid-20s to early 30s.: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html "Other symptoms include: unusual thoughts or perception, disorders of movement, difficulty speaking and expressing emotion, and problems with attention, memory and organization."http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html

"The early warning signs of schizophrenia are different for everyone. Symptoms may develop slowly over months or years, or may appear very abruptly. The disease may come and go in cycles of relapse and remission. Their behaviors may include:

1. Hearing or seeing something that isn’t there 2. A constant feeling of being watched 3. Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing 4. Strange body positioning 5. Feeling indifferent to very important situations 6. Deterioration of academic or work performance 7. A change in personal hygiene and appearance 8. A change in personality 9. Increasing withdrawal from social situations 10. Irrational, angry or fearful response to loved ones 11. Inability to sleep or concentrate 12. Inappropriate or bizarre behavior 13. Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult" http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

"A medical or mental health professional may use the following terms when discussing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Positive symptoms are disturbances that are “added” to the person’s personality.

1. Delusions -- false ideas--individuals may believe that someone is spying on him or her, or that they are someone famous. 2. Hallucinations –seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing or smelling something that doesn’t really exist. The most common experience is hearing imaginary voices that give commands or comments to the individual. 3. Disordered thinking and speech -- moving from one topic to another, in a nonsensical fashion. Individuals may make up their own words or sounds.

Negative symptoms are capabilities that are “lost” from the person’s personality.

1. Social withdrawal 2. Extreme apathy 3. Lack of drive or initiative 4. Emotional unresponsiveness" http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

There is a "public perception that schizophrenia is a disorder that involves an individual having split personality or multiple personality." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know That is entirely not true. Furthermore, "the vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do not pose a threat to others. This ailment is not caused by childhood experiences, poor parenting or lack of willpower, nor are the symptoms identical for each persons." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

"Treatment helps relieve many symptoms of schizophrenia, but most people who have the disorder cope with symptoms throughout their lives. However, many people with schizophrenia can lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their communities. Researchers are developing more effective medications and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia. In the years to come, this work may help prevent and better treat the illness." http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia.shtml "Medicines can relieve many of the symptoms, but it can take several tries before you find the right drug. You can reduce relapses by staying on your medicine for as long as your doctor recommends. With treatment, many people improve enough to lead satisfying lives."http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html

"Early treatment--even as early as the first episode--can mean a better long-term outcome. Recovery is possible through a variety of services, including medication and rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation can help a person recover the confidence and skills needed to live a productive and independent life in the community. Types of services that help a person with schizophrenia include:

1. Case management helps people access services, financial assistance, treatment and other resources. 2. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs are programs that help people regain skills such as: employment, cooking, cleaning, budgeting, shopping, socializing, problem solving, and stress management. 3. Self-help groups provide on-going support and information to persons with serious mental illness by individuals who experience mental illness themselves. 4. Drop-in centers are places where individuals with mental illness can socialize and/or receive informal support and services on an as-needed basis. 5. Housing programs offer a range of support and supervision from 24 hour supervised living to drop-in support as needed. 6. Employment programs assist individuals in finding employment and/or gaining the skills necessary to re-enter the workforce. 7. Therapy/Counseling includes different forms of “talk” therapy, both individual and group, that can help both the patient and family members to better understand the illness and share their concerns. 8. Crisis Services include 24 hour hot-lines, after hours counseling, residential placement and in-patient hospitalization." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

"Families and society are also affected by schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help."

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia.shtml Thus, the services mentioned on the above paragraph are very important to have so some close family members and friends won't be overwhelmed from doing a host of duties to help out. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

"The new generation of antipsychotic medications help people with schizophrenia to live fulfilling lives. They help to reduce the biochemical imbalances that cause schizophrenia and decrease the likelihood of relapse. Like all medications, however, antipsychotic medications should be taken only under the supervision of a mental health professional.

There are two major types of antipsychotic medication:

1. Conventional antipsychotics effectively control the “positive” symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and confusion of schizophrenia. 2. New Generation (also called atypical) antipsychotics treat both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, often with fewer side effects.

Side effects are common with antipsychotic drugs. They range from mild side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness and dizziness which usually disappear after a few weeks to more serious side effects such as trouble with muscle control, pacing, tremors and facial ticks. The newer generation of drugs have fewer side effects. However, it is important to talk with your mental health professional before making any changes in medication since many side effects can be controlled." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

"The cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. Some theories about the cause of this disease include: genetics (heredity), biology (the imbalance in the brain’s chemistry); and/or possible viral infections and immune disorders. Scientists recognize that the disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the disease. Schizophrenia may also be triggered by environmental events, such as viral infections or highly stressful situations or a combination of both. Similar to some other genetically-related illnesses, schizophrenia appears when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes, like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years. Genetics help to determine how the brain uses certain chemicals. People with schizophrenia have a chemical imbalance of brain chemicals (serotonin and dopamine) which are neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters allow nerve cells in the brain to send messages to each other. The imbalance of these chemicals affects the way a person’s brain reacts to stimuli--which explains why a person with schizophrenia may be overwhelmed by sensory information (loud music or bright lights) which other people can easily handle. This problem in processing different sounds, sights, smells and tastes can also lead to hallucinations or delusions." http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know

Types of Schizophrenia

Paranoid schizophrenia -- a person feels extremely suspicious, persecuted, or grandiose, or experiences a combination of these emotions.

Disorganized schizophrenia -- a person is often incoherent in speech and thought, but may not have delusions.

Catatonic schizophrenia -- a person is withdrawn, mute, negative and often assumes very unusual body positions.

Residual schizophrenia -- a person is no longer experiencing delusions or hallucinations, but has no motivation or interest in life.

Schizoaffective disorder--a person has symptoms of both schizophrenia and a major mood disorder such as depression. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know