Schizophrenia Defined and Treated - Research Paper Example

Running head: SCHIZOPHRENIA DEFINED AND TREATED Defining, Diagnosing and Treating Schizophrenia College Affiliation The focus of this paper is to evaluate the definition of schizophrenia as determined by psychologists and psychiatrists across the globe. Additionally, the goal is to see what the onsets of schizophrenia are and if it is hereditary or somehow a learned behavior that has come about through environmental or emotional issues or trauma. Though commonly misdiagnosed, there are other behavioral disorders that show similar characteristics. This paper will discuss those overlapping characteristics and how to differentiate between these mental disorders. This description will encompass the characteristics of the behavioral disorder, how it is diagnosed and how patients can cope. The goal is to also discuss treatments of schizophrenia in adults, adolescents and children. Additionally, available treatments will also be recognized. Defining, Diagnosing and Treating Schizophrenia According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website, schizophrenia is categorized as a “chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder” that has plagued many people throughout decades and currently one percent of Americans suffer from the disorder (2009). There are several distinct characteristics that schizophrenics suffer from and vary per individual. There are also a few treatments available to help schizophrenics deal and cope with their mental disorder rather than just cure it (What is Schizophrenia?, 2009). What is Schizophrenia? Defined Schizophrenia is a combination of severe and complex brain disorders that causes a person to have a difficult time determining what is reality and what is not. It often comes from a series of delusional thoughts, abnormal thinking and behavior and even hallucinations and over time, it is difficult for a schizophrenic to function normally after suffering from the disorder for so long. Often times, it is thought to be a disorder that is often confused with a multiple personality or split personality disorder. However, the word, “schizophrenia” does logically mean, “split mind,” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). Symptoms According to information about potential symptoms of schizophrenia, there are three different types and they include: cognitive symptoms, negative symptoms, and positive symptoms. These symptoms often range in severity from extremely severe to barely noticeable. All of these symptoms are quite different and can affect different sensory organs as well as other bodily functions (What are symptoms of schizophrenia, 2009). Cognitive symptoms are more subtle than other symptoms of schizophrenia. They often can make a person have a difficult time in functioning on a day to day basis however and cause extreme emotional issues, resulting in more mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. They often have a hard time concentrating or focusing on what is going on and additionally have difficulty making clear decisions (What are symptoms of schizophrenia, 2009). Positive symptoms are described as when a person psychotically loses touch with reality for awhile and these symptoms can come and go, lasting for awhile or for just a few minutes. Some of examples of these include hallucinations in which the person with schizophrenia may hear, smell, feel or see things that other people can not and the most common is hearing of voices that are not really there. The voices can tell the patient all types of different things, offering guidance, giving them warnings or even command the person to do something. Additionally, people may smell odors that no one else does, touch things that are invisible or see things that no one else can see like a mirage. Other positive symptoms include delusions, thought, and movement disorders. Delusions, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, are defined as “false beliefs that are not part of the persons culture and do not change,” and schizophrenics truly believe that they exist though people have proved that they are illogical. For example, they may think that people on television are sending them special messages to them or broadcasting their thoughts out loud and are often combined with paranoia. Thought disorders are strange ways of thinking and often disorganized thoughts, sometimes talking in babble or making up words even. Movement disorders may occur when a person does a repetitive motion over and over or are catatonic, in which a person will not even move or respond to any external stimuli (What are symptoms of schizophrenia, 2009). Negative symptoms have to do with abnormal emotions and behaviors. One such symptom is that called the flat affect in which the schizophrenic does not move or talks in a monotone voice. They seem to have a lack of pleasure, rarely speak at all or even have a hard time initiating and completing tasks. This can be confused with symptoms of depression (What are symptoms of schizophrenia, 2009). Occurrences People who often time have schizophrenia are typically similar to other cognitive, behavior and mental disorders and illnesses though the reason why it occurs is practically impossible to determine. In men, schizophrenia symptoms typically start to occur in the males early teens or 20s. However, in females, they start to have symptoms in their 20s or early 30s. Though it does occur, it is rare, for children or people over the age of 40 to be diagnosed with schizophrenia (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). Schizophrenia is the leading psychotic disorders in the United States and though the likelihood of developing the disorder decreases with age, if it is diagnosed in children, it is typically very severe. Though the symptoms occur at different ages in males and females, there are a few differences that are unique and somewhat astounding to researchers. Men are more likely to have severe paranoid schizophrenia. For women, the earlier they start menstruation in puberty, the longer they are protected against developing schizophrenia but it is at its most severe in women when a her estrogen levels are low (In-Depth from A.D.A.M., 2011). Risk Factors Though risk factors do not necessarily determine that a person will develop schizophrenia, they are red flags that a patient can approach their doctor with in order to perhaps reduce risks of its development. Other risk factors in developing schizophrenia are genetically related and if a child has a biological parent that has schizophrenia, their risk of also having it increases by ten percent. Additionally, brain abnormalities such as decreased size in certain region and unbalanced levels of brain fluids can also increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and may result in brain development in youth but not appear until later in life (Scholten, A., 2009). According to Scholten (2009), additional risk factors can include environmental factors. People that live in larger cities are more apt to develop schizophrenia rather than others. Also, schizophrenia is more likely found in people that live in the northern hemisphere of the earth and also were born during winter months. Other factors include pregnancy issues when born such as prematurity, low oxygen levels at birth, infections and other maternal issues that could cause schizophrenia to develop later in life. Scholten also reports that people who live in lower socioeconomic conditions are also more susceptible or children that have lost a parent early in life (2009). Diagnosis It is difficult to properly pinpoint and diagnose schizophrenia as there are no laboratory tests that can be ran on a patient to discover whether or not they suffer from this brain abnormality. There are currently some diagnostic tests that are being researched such as blood tests, IQ tests, eye tracking, brain imaging and smell tests; however, it it too early to tell yet if they will be effective as they are in the infant stages of research (Schizophrenia.com, 2010). Often diagnosis can only be made based on how a person acts with close attention to vital signs, hydration, medications that the person may be on or current mental status. However, there are some signs to look for that serve as a checklist that can help diagnose the disorder that can be provided through the help of a reputable psychiatric professional. Diagnosis is extremely important because the sooner a person is diagnosed, the more likely they are to jump back into being able to control it. Additionally, symptoms often overlap with depression or bipolar disorders (Schizophrenia.com, 2010). Myths There are a wide array of myths of schizophrenia. Though people claim to have heard of it, very few actually know what it is and have the tendency to fear it and the people who have been diagnosed with such. One myth is that all schizophrenics have the same symptoms. In actuality, there are different types of schizophrenia, and all symptoms range in a variety of severity and as previously stated, even overlap with mental illnesses. Another myth is that people with schizophrenia are dangerous and unpredictable. Actually, most people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia are usually on medications or undergoing some sort of treatment to curb their behaviors and they are no more violent or aggressive than the average person. Myth number three is that schizophrenia is a characteristic flaw. Actually, it is a brain abnormality as previously stated and people do not just “decide” to have it. Schizophrenia is quick developing is another false concept. Often it develops over time slowly only prevailing more severely after a gradual period of time but those that have an abrupt occurrence of hallucinations or delusions are more likely to have better long-term outcomes. These are just some of the most common myths of schizophrenia (Tartakovsky, M., 2010). Treatments If a person is initially agitated and having one of their first major combats with schizophrenic tendencies though they have not yet been diagnosed, they may require being tranquilized to transport to a hospital or psychiatric hospital if they appear agitated. Sedation or other medications can be given to them to calm them down to lesser degrees of anxiety and agitation. Typically, treatments include additional medications once schizophrenics have been diagnosed. Some of these are antipsychotic drugs that can block dopamine receptors in the brain or others that affect serotonin transmission (Gerstein, P.S., 2011). Medication will help keep schizophrenics stabilized but additional psychosocial treatments can also help them from having relapses that could put them in the hospital and also learn how to adjust to living with this disorder. Schizophrenics can gain illness management information skills to learn more about their illness and learn more about using coping skills to manage persistent symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also retrain the patients thinking and behaviors, teaching them to differentiate reality versus perceptions. Additional treatments such as rehabilitation programs like job counseling, training, and other help to develop skills for occupational and social situations are available. Family education also helps members of the family to cope with helping to care with schizophrenics and therapists can help teach them problem solving skills and coping methods of their own (How is schizophrenia treated, 2011). References Gerstein, P. S. (2011). Emergent treatment of schizophrenia. Medscape Reference, WebMD, LLC. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/805988-overview. In-Depth from A.D.A.M. (2011, November 30). Schizophrenia: in-depth report: risk factors. The New York Times Health Guide. Retrieved from http://health.nytimes.com/health/ guides/diseases/schizophrenia/risk-factors.html. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010). Schizophrenia: definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/ health/schizophrenia/DS00196. National Institutes of Mental Health. (2011). How is schizophrenia treated? National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/ publications/schizophrenia/how-is-schizophrenia-treated.shtml. National Institutes of Mental Health. (2009). What are symptoms of schizophrenia? National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/ publications/ schizophrenia/what-are-the-symptoms-of-schizophrenia.shtml. National Institutes of Mental Health (2009) What is Schizophrenia? National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/ schizophrenia/what-is- schizophrenia.shtml. Schizophrenia.com (2010) Schizophrenia Information: Schizophrenia Symptoms and Diagnosis. Schizophrenia.com., The Internet Mental Health Association, Tides Center. Retrieved from http://www.schizophrenia.com/diag.php#diagnosis Scholten, A. (2009). Risk factors for schizophrenia. Aurora Health Care: Aurora Clinical Research. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved from http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/ yourhealth/healthgate/getcontent.asp?URLhealthgate=%2220110.html%22. Tartakovsky, M. (2010). Illuminating 13 myths of schizophrenia. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/illuminating-13-myths-of-schizophrenia/. Read More