The Causes of Schizophrenia, Its Diagnosis and Symptoms - Assignment Example

Schizophrenia Introduction Schizophrenia is generally believed to be a delicate neurodevelopment disorder of brain connectivity, indicating how the functional routes in our brains are agitated. It may also be the distribution of how neurons and their synaptic linkages in our brains are produced, eradicated, and preserved. Consequently, it is responsible for much of the populations morbidity since it is regularly a continually disabling disorder. It has a frequency of 18 - 20 cases per 100,000 per year. Its climax age of commencement differs for men and women (Gilmore, 2010). Podosyan (2009) affirms that I % of the population is affected by the disorder. The characteristic age of commencement is the late 20s for women and the early 20s for men. Moreover, women are more expected to have a ‘first break’ later in life. Consequently, approximately one third of women have a commencement of illness after age 30. Among the minor socioeconomic classes, schizophrenia is diagnosed disproportionately. Ordinarily, schizophrenia is caused by a multifaceted contact between thousands of genes and several environmental risk aspects, of which none causes schizophrenia on their own. The developing brain is also possibly to be affected by environmental risk factors. In addition, prenatal infection can cause delicate changes in neuron movement and placement, which would eventually result in irregular connections. It can also act directly on developing circuits and synapses. Immune and stress reactions can be changed permanently by prenatal exposure to infection or stress. This makes an individual to be more sensitive to succeeding environmental stressors that cause irregular associations in the brain (Gilmore, 2010). The causes of schizophrenia are extensively alleged to have a neurobiological foundation. The dopamine hypothesis, which is the main significant theory, asserts that schizophrenia is caused by hyperactivity in brain dopaminergic pathways. This theory is in conformity with the efficiency of antipsychotics and the capability of drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine that arouse dopaminergic activity to provoke psychosis. Moreover, Postmortem studies indicate higher numbers of dopamine receptors in precise subcortical nuclei of schizophrenics than in ordinary brains. Functional and structural abnormalities through brain imaging of schizophrenics and control populations have been an area of concern in recent studies (Podosyan, 2009). Long (2009) explains that schizophrenia frequently commences between the late adolescents and the mid-30s, while commencement before adolescence is unusual. Schizophrenia can also start later in life for instance after age 45 years, but this is infrequent. It generally begins slowly with a pre-psychotic phase of rising negative symptoms for instance bad hygiene and clean up, explosions of anger, social withdrawal, loss of concern in school or work and strange behaviour. A psychotic phase develops some months or years later with illusions, delusions, or disgustingly muddled speech and behaviour. Persons who have a commencement of schizophrenia later in their 20s or 30s have less proof of structural brain irregularities or cognitive damage, exhibit a better result and are more frequently female. Schizophrenia typically persists constantly or regularly for a lifetime. A return to full normal functioning is usually unusual. Some persons exhibit a progressive worsening linked with brutal disability while others seem to have a moderately steady course. The negative symptoms are less receptive to antipsychotic medication but the psychotic symptoms frequently react to treatment with antipsychotic medication. During the course of schizophrenia, the negative symptoms progressively become more important often (Long, 2009). Individuals with schizophrenia frequently have neurological soft-signs including migration disorders, dysgraphaesthesia and ineptness. As indicated by modern research, such soft signs for instance gait commotions and dyskinesias might be noticeable in childhood prior to the start of elaborate psychotic symptoms. Such signs are observed considerably oftentimes in children at danger for schizophrenia. Therefore, signs and symptoms may pre-date the subsequent phase, which is the active or psychotic phase of the illness (Green, 2007). This psychotic phase often lasts for at least one month or less if productively treated. Mutilation in social or occupational functioning is also caused by schizophrenia, which lasts for at least 6 months. Use of illegal drugs, medical condition or medication, does not cause the psychotic phase (Long, 2009). Green (2007) demonstrates various symptoms that a person with this disorder exhibits. These include tameness phenomena, withdrawal, broadcasting, thought reverberation, insertion, unrelenting illusions, delusional sensitivity, and third person hallucinations. When performing diagnosis, symptoms that must be present include thought blocking, loss of social function, unrelenting hallucinations in any modality, catatonic behaviour and thought disorder. Podosyan (2009) agrees that schizophrenia is a disorder distinguished by a pattern of occupational and social weakening and persistence of the disorder for at least 6 months. Negative symptoms are exhibited by the lack of normal social and mental functions while positive symptoms are distinguished by the presence of strange thoughts, insights, and actions. The positive against negative difference was made since some medications appear to be more efficient in treating negative symptoms. Clinically, patients frequently portray both positive and negative symptoms together. Persons with this illness might develop disposition abnormalities for instance unsuitable smiling, laughing, or stupid facial expressions; anxiety, anger or depression. Similarly, some might develop noteworthy loss of interest or enjoyment. Frequently, there is staying up late at night and then sleeping late into the day. The person might decline food owing to delusional beliefs or might show a lack of interest in eating. Movement is frequently anomalous for example rocking, apathetic serenity or pacing. Normally, there are noteworthy cognitive impairments for instance poor memory, impaired problem-solving ability and poor concentration. Many of the persons with Schizophrenia are not aware that they have a psychotic disorder. This poor perception is neurologically caused by illness, rather than merely being a coping behaviour. In addition, this poor insight disposes the individual to nonconformity with treatment and has been found to be prognostic of higher deterioration rates, a poorer course of illness, increased number of instinctive hospitalizations and poorer functioning (Long, 2009). When diagnosing schizophrenia, using emotional state features only is not a dependable way. This is because psychotic features such as delusions and hallucinations can happen in emotional disorders and severe organic psychoses. What is important therefore, is to examine the form of the illness and the content. When ranking schizophrenia, scales for instance the brief psychiatric-rating scale could be used to approximate the course of illness or the clinical reaction to treatment. There are four identified diagnostic characteristics associated with the disorder. These are blunted affect, loosening of associations, ambivalence and autism. The blunted affect is called a restricted range of affect while loosening of associations is referred to as the thought disorder present in schizophrenia. On the other hand, ambivalence or an incapability to make decisions was frequently observed in untreated conditions where patients might drift for hours on the doorsill of a doorway, not certain whether to come in or go out. Autism is a draw back into an internal world, unfathomable to the outsider (Green, 2007). Long (2009) asserts that no laboratory test has been established for diagnostic of this disorder. Nevertheless, patients with Schizophrenia frequently have several non-diagnostic neurological abnormalities. They have lessened volume of the sequential lobe and thalamus, a large cavum septum pellucidi, swelling of the lateral ventricles, hypofrontality and reduced brain tissue. In addition, they have several cognitive shortfalls on psychological testing for example poor memory, changes in brain laterality, irregular smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements, abnormalities in suggested potential electrocephalograms, complexity in changing reaction set, poor attention, impairment in sensory gating, and reduced response time. The diagnosis of schizophrenia is frequently done with the help of a longitudinal examination of the patient. This means that the structure of the disorder is as vital as the content of the disorder in making a diagnosis (Gilmore, 2010). To perform the diagnosis, two or more of these symptoms must be present: delusions, muddled speech, hallucinations, grossly disorganized or catatonic actions. In addition, there must be occupational and or social malfunction. Moreover, the individual must be ill for at least 6 months. On the other hand, the differential diagnosis of a sensitive psychotic incident is wide and challenging. When a substance-related or medical case has been eliminated, the task is to distinguish schizophrenia from schizoaffective disorders. That is a personality disorder, a mood disorder with psychotic features, or a delusional disorder (Podosyan, 2009). In effect, my own sister is on of the individuals that suffer from this disorder. She usually claims to see demons mostly at night. She also more often talks to invisible people. This clearly puts weight on the afore-described signs and symptoms. The life expectancy of persons with Schizophrenia is shorter than that of the broad population for diverse reasons. For instance, about 10% of persons with Schizophrenia commit suicide and between 20% and 40% make at least one suicide effort. There is an augmented danger of assaultive and aggressive behaviour. The main predictors of brutal behaviour are nonconformity with antipsychotic medication, extreme substance use, younger age, past history of aggression and male gender. On the other hand, most persons with Schizophrenia are less risky to some people as compared to the broad population. Drug abuse and alcoholism deteriorate the course of this illness. From 80% to 90% of persons with Schizophrenia are usual cigarette smokers. In addition, nervousness and phobias are common in Schizophrenia, and there is an augmented danger of compulsive-obsession disorder and panic disorder (Long, 2009) The best way to comprehend and prevent schizophrenia is to centre not so much on the risk factors or genes but rather on the developmental route itself, the final ordinary pathway to schizophrenia. The epochs of human brain growth that are significant for synapse and circuit development must be well understood. In addition, when abnormalities in brain wiring really happen in children, danger for schizophrenia should be ascertained. For prevention purposes, the manner in which the established genetic and environmental risk factors change regular developmental paths should also be ascertained (Gilmore, 2010). In treatment, antipsychotic medication curtails the time of psychosis in Schizophrenia, and averts recurrences. Generally, it takes a lot of time before persons can admit that they have and require medication. It may take months before persons suffer a psychotic relapse once they stop their antipsychotic medication. There is increased cerebral mutilation after each psychotic relapse. Enduring treatment with antipsychotic medication is necessary for revival from Schizophrenia. Moreover, persons need lasting financial and emotional support from their relatives (Long, 2009). Psychosocial therapies, including family support, psycho-education and attention, details of living situation, stable reality-oriented psychotherapy, and vocational skills training are vital to the long-term management of these patients (Podosyan, 2009). Conclusion Schizophrenia is a fatal disorder that should be checked psychologically. It may commence in teenage and through to the mid- old age. Its symptoms and diagnostic criteria vary from one individual to the other. It is important to take the correct measures to treat the disorder through psychological therapies and not the normal medication. This is because it is widely believed that individuals will often react negatively to some of the medications. Other strategies that should be applied are counselling the individuals and help them avoid drugs and alcohol, which further deteriorates the conditions of the disorder. References Gilmore, J.H. (2010). Understanding What Causes Schizophrenia: A Developmental Perspective. American Journal of Psychiatry, 167, 1, 8-10. Green, B. (2007). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://priory.com/schizo.htm Long, P.W. (2009). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20ps01.html Podosyan, G.A. (2009). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.health.am/psy/more/schizophrenia/ Read More