Schizophrenia Brain Disorder

A Study of the Mind: Schizophrenia Brain Disorder Luke Kazman HSP3M1 Mrs. Djuricic May 12, 2011

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder A Study of the Mind: Schizophrenia Brain Disorder Schizophrenia is defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as a disorder that

is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speaking patterns, social withdrawal and a variety of other emotional, intellectual and behavioral disturbances. It is a mental illness that is categorized as a psychotic illness. Clive Cookson states that more than 300,000 adults in Canada are unable to distinguish their imaginations from reality This means that over 300,000 individuals in Canada will, at some point in their life, develop an extremely unknown and severe mental illness. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that is similar to Alzheimers disease because they both share some of the same symptoms. Schizophrenia cannot be predicted or prevented and is not caused by a moral disadvantage, childhood trauma, bad parenting, or poverty. Many people confuse schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder or split personality, in which a person appears to have more than one distinctly different personality within their mind. However, schizophrenia is not related to MPD at all. Multiple personality disorder doesnt respond to medication and is typically treated by talk therapy. Schizophrenia is a much different mental disorder. Schizophrenia can affect anyone, black, white, male, or female it does not make a difference. This mental disorder makes it difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and imaginary experiences. It weakens their ability to think reasonably, express normal emotions, and behave properly in social situations. Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder, which affects ones work, family, social life and an individuals ability to function. The disorder causes many problems on the ill people, as well as the people who care for them. Schizophrenia is definitely one of the harshest and severe psychiatric disorders, in order to properly understand the harshness of this disease it is very essential to know exactly what schizophrenia is, the causes, and the different treatments. During the rest of this essay I will

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder reflect on how schizophrenia works, who it affects, what the causes are, what the medication is and how we can improve the well being of the individuals who are suffering from it.

Just as other illnesses have specific signs or symptoms so does schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a variety of symptoms that vary in harshness and consistency. They may appear suddenly or may appear slowly over a long period of time. The symptoms may differ, however, with the individual. People with schizophrenia will show signs and symptoms as they struggle to tell the difference between real life from their own perceptions. A schizophrenic person may not suffer any symptoms at all before suffering from a psychotic event where the symptoms will suddenly start to appear. These are the symptoms that make schizophrenia such an awful and horrible disease. One of the usual symptoms that people with schizophrenia will experience is a difficulty in being able to distinguish real events from dreams and hallucinations. A schizophrenic person is not able to tell the difference between reality and imagination. Another common symptom of schizophrenia is hallucinations. Schizophrenics may see people or objects that are not actually real, and may also hear sounds or voices that do not really exist. Patrick Young said that schizophrenics will usually carry on conversations with voices or people who are not really there. In a schizophrenics brain the imaginary voices they hear or the hallucinations they see will seem real to them and cause them to communicate with them which causes other people to feel awkward and uncomfortable around that person and try to avoid them because it appears as though the person were talking to themselves. This is what puts schizophrenia patients at such a high risk of committing suicide and this is the reason that many schizophrenics live lonely lives and a large majority of them are homeless. Depression and anxiety psychotic disorders are generally connected to schizophrenia since many schizophrenics are usually scared and anxious for the reason that it is very difficult for them to tell the difference between reality and delusions.

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder Paranoia, suspicion, and fear are feelings that are constant with schizophrenia. Schizophrenics

will also usually show little or no emotion, will try to avoid eye contact with people, and usually feel mad at their loved ones for no reason at all. They tend to be very good poets and painters. Schizophrenia also affects the memory of a person suffering from it and they usually have trouble concentrating and thinking properly. Sigrid Bathen wrote in a journal that: Eighteen to fifty five percent of individuals living with schizophrenia attempt suicide, with more than ten percent of a success rate. This is due to the fact that a lot of people suffering from schizophrenia cannot handle the stresses of their everyday life and feel that the only way to deal with it and escape would be to take their lives.

Schizophrenia usually develops earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, while women typically develop the disorder in their twenties and early thirties. However, it can affect a child as young as twelve years old, or the illness may stay inactive in a person until their late twenties. A period of time where a persons symptoms increase dramatically and they cannot tell apart reality from the imaginary is known as a psychotic episode or event. The majority of people affected with schizophrenia will suffer their first psychotic episode during their teenage years. Schizophrenia can be a very difficult illness to identify. Schizophrenics are frequently diagnosed incorrectly and are thought to have depression, antisocial personality disorder, or anxiety because all of these disorders show some similar symptoms. Sadly, it is only really possible to diagnose someone as having schizophrenia after they have experienced a severe psychotic event.

The precise cause of schizophrenia currently remains unknown. Changes in key brain functions, such as perception, emotions, and behavior, indicate that the brain is the biological site

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder of schizophrenia. It has been theorized that schizophrenia is caused by a number of biological, psychological, and social areas of the brain. There is evidence that it may also be a genetic

disorder. It is also assumed that a persons physical condition and health can affect their chances of developing schizophrenia. Stress and the environment can play huge factors as well. There is also research that suggests that drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy and LSD can worsen a present but inactive illness into the full disorder. As a result, it is very difficult to treat people who suffer from schizophrenia because the cause of it is still unknown.

Even though there is presently no cure for schizophrenia, there is a range of possible medications that can be subscribed to help treat an individual that has been diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Once the severe stage of a psychotic event has happened, most schizophrenics will need to take medication for the rest of their life. Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic medications are the most commonly used medication in North America and are the best type of treatment at this time. However, they do not actually heal the disease and cant guarantee that there will be no further psychotic episodes. Some patients however do not need medication and dont get any benefits from taking it. A doctor will prescribe the medication that works best for the suffering person. Mental and support services are also an important part in the treatment of schizophrenia. If the psychological therapy is combined with the antipsychotic medication, this will effectively help an ill individual deal with their mental disorder. As well friends and family are an essential part in the treatment for an ill person. Family and friends will supply the ill individual with the best suitable living environment and the sufficient financial and emotional support they need which makes them seriously involved in the recovery process. Even though there are several treatment and recovery options available for people suffering from schizophrenia, the characteristics of the disease makes it very hard to find the appropriate type of

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder medicine needed and the accurate amount for each person. The medication decreases the

psychotic symptoms of the illness and usually allows the individual to function more adequately and appropriately. The talk therapy helps the individual recover, but if the therapy were to be used without any medication, it would be very unsuccessful and the individual would still suffer from all of the symptoms. Financial and emotional support from family and friends is necessary for the recovery of a schizophrenic when they are home. However it is not uncommon for a schizophrenic to end up taking their life or relapsing during the recovery process.

In conclusion, it is clear that supporting and providing for people suffering from schizophrenia is essential to better the lives of the person suffering as well as their families, friends, and the public. Schizophrenia is a very severe illness that is difficult for everyone involved. Schizophrenia is a socially and economically distressing mental illness that literally robs people from their greatest and most productive time in their lives and forces them to take medication for the rest of their lives. There are many mental health centres that help individuals suffering from Schizophrenia and other illnesses like it such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial disorder. Researchers are still searching for a cure. But individuals that have to struggle with schizophrenia have many resources to help them cope with their illness and manage their lives in a positive way. This is why so many psychologists and therapists are needed to help the people suffering with diseases like schizophrenia, because these people are unable to help themselves. To conclude, schizophrenia brain disorder is a very serious issue in Canada and it affects a lot of people. All of the awful and unpredictable symptoms, unknown causes, and the difficulty looking for cures and ways to aid individuals is what makes schizophrenia definitely one of the harshest and most terrifying psychotic disorders to have to suffer through.

Schizophrenia Brain Disorder Reference

Bathen, Sigrid. A Nightmare in Broad Daylight. California Journal, October 1997. Retrieved April 26, 2011.

Cookson, Clive. Secrets of Schizophrenia. Financial Times, Mental Health Vol. 5, Article 52, April 30, 1996. Retrieved April 26, 2011.

Young, Patrick. Schizophrenia. New York and Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. Retrieved April 29, 2011.

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC. Retrieved April 29, 2011.

Ross, Colin A. Schizophrenia: Innovations in Diagnosis and Treatment. New York: The Hayworth Maltreatment and Trauma Press, 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2011.

Valenstein, Elliot S. Blaming the Brain: The Truth about Drugs and Mental Health. New York: The Free Press, 1988. Retrieved April 28, 2011.

Willian R. McFarlane, Multifamily Groups in the Treatment of Severe Psychiatric Disorders. New York: The Guilford Press, 2002. Retrieved May 7, 2011.

Healthier You Schizophrenia Fact Sheet. Bethesda, MD: National Institute of Mental Health, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2011.

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Schizophrenia Brain Disorder Merrill, David B. Schizophrenia. Bethesda, MD: PubMed Health Online. February 7, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2011.

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