Schizophrenia as Mental Illness - Research Paper Example

Psychology: Discussing Schizophrenia Due INTRODUCTION For the average person it is very difficult to truly understand mental illness. There are many different kinds of illnesses and conditions that can affect the psyche and behavior of individuals in ways outside their control. Most people cannot understand what it would be like to not be able to trust your own judgment, to hear voices no one else can hear, or see things that no one else can see. However, that is part of the reality for people suffering from schizophrenia on a daily basis all over the world. Schizophrenia is one of the most complex, puzzling, and multi-faceted condition that, despite treatments and medications that has been developed to treat sufferers of schizophrenia, is still a mystery in many ways to medicine, psychology, and those who suffer from it (Shore, 1993). HISTORY In the simplest of definitions schizophrenia is a severe, often disabling, and chronic brain disorder. Schizophrenia is not a disease of the modern world, there are reports of people suffering from symptoms that today we attribute to schizophrenia that goes back thousands of years. It was not until the 1908 when a Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Bleuler, would coin the term “schizophrenia, “which translates in Greek as “split brain” (LeVine , 2009). The causes of schizophrenia, like most topics concerning this illness, are debated among experts. There is no single way to develop schizophrenia, however, the causes are generally associated with “genes and environments” and “unusual brain chemistry and structure” (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). While the likelihood of suffering from schizophrenia is averaged at approximately 1%, but for individuals with a family history of schizophrenia have an apparent 10% chance of developing the condition. This lends credence to the perspective that there is a strong genetic factor in the causes of schizophrenia. Much modern research has been done in viewing and understanding the brain of schizophrenics and has noticed some difference in the function and structure of the brain that may be contributory to the condition. There is also a marked chemical reaction involving neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate present; this does support the theory that there is a structural and chemical difference between average brain and brain that suffer from schizophrenia. Anyone, again, could develop schizophrenia, however it is more common in men than women and symptoms generally manifest in the late teens and early twenties, with decreased likelihood of developing symptoms after the age 45. This condition almost always effects adults, however, it is not impossible for it to appear in children but the occurrence is much more rare (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). DISCUSSION Schizophrenia, again, is a complex condition with many different symptoms and effects upon the sufferer. Sometimes the symptoms may come and go and be hardly noticeable, while others manifest behaviors that vary a great deal from normal. There are four major side effects that are recognized as schizophrenia; hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. These symptoms can cause the sufferer to hear voices, believe things that are not true or logical, they may mix up their worlds and thinking, which can result in gibberish, and finally, habitual movements or ticks can, also, be seen. There are five different types of schizophrenia that experts have identified, each with certain specific characteristics and symptoms (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). 1. Paranoid Schizophrenia: This type can be quite debilitating. It involves hallucinations and delusions that result in thoughts of persecution, jealousies, anger, and religious themes. Sufferers of this form of the disease can become violent, as well as, suicidal (Krans, 2010). 2. Disorganized Schizophrenia: This form of the disease can make day-to-day living impossible for many sufferers. This form is characterized by speech disorders. The organization of thoughts can manifest as gibberish, unusual ticks, and a great deal of inappropriateness in social settings, like inappropriate laughing in somber settings (Krans, 2010). 3. Catatonic Schizophrenia: This type of schizophrenia gets its name from the immobility and, sort of unresponsive state that it places the sufferer in. They, also, manifest behaviors, such as copying the actions of others or mimic other people’s words and statements (Krans, 2010). 4. Residual Schizophrenia: This form of schizophrenia is identified when an individual experiences one clear schizophrenic episode but then the disease seems to become behaviorally dormant. They may, however, still show mild speech problems and unusual thinking at times (Krans, 2010). 5. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia: This form is really not so much type of schizophrenia but a classification needed for individuals who symptoms are intermixed among the different type above. Some individuals manifest different schizophrenic behavior characteristic of all types (Krans, 2010). Considering the number of different manifestations of the condition it should be clear why there is so many varying opinions on its causes, symptoms, and a great deal of public misconceptions of the disease. It is the latter that can have a profound effect on schizophrenic sufferers. Schizophrenia seldom affects only the sufferer; a diagnosis of schizophrenia has a huge impact on the sufferer’s family and friends. It can cause the sufferer to become more isolated, which is not conducive with positively living with the condition. Due to television, film, and popular fiction people have an incredibly warped interpretation of the disease and the behaviors and attitudes of schizophrenics. Schizophrenics, unstably ranting at voices are encouraging frightening behavior, violence, harm, and even murder. It is a misconception that most schizophrenics are inevitably violent and dangerous; as a whole they do not turn into serial killers. These misconceptions can cause the individuals suffering to suffer further from greater depression and that is not beneficial to patients working to find treatment to constantly have to overcome a false stigma that truly does not represent the majority of schizophrenia sufferers (Murray & et. al, 2009). Fortunately, the diagnosis of schizophrenia does have hope. There are a number of different approaches that are believed to relieve the patients of the symptoms, behaviors, and the more negative aspects of the condition, like limiting the number of hallucinations, delusions, paranoid thinking. Psychoanalytical treatment has been perceived as a great benefit in helping patients deal with and handle their schizophrenia. However, there are others researchers who support drug therapies as the most efficient and certain means by which to immediately and regularly control the most negative symptoms of the condition. While antipsychotic, also called psychotropic, drugs have been shown to directly affect the chemical imbalances that contribute to the disorder. Unfortunately, the greatest issue with heavy medicated treatments is the overall, potential, side effects to the patient for the use of the medications. Psychotropic medications do come with risks all their own. For the majority of the last several decades the compromise in treatment became psychopharmacological approaches, which means that both approaches are used to give the patient the most benefit. Unfortunately, that is where the research has stagnated. Today we still know so little about the condition so our treatments have somewhat been stagnated. Perhaps, as we move into the future of medicine we will come to understand schizophrenia better and this will bring about new and innovative ways to effectively predict, prevent, and treat the condition (LeVine , 2009). CONCLUSION Schizophrenia is a very serious condition that can cause many difficulties for sufferers that can hugely impact their quality of life, their relationships with family and friends, which can result in serious accessory illnesses, like depression that only impact the existing schizophrenia. People need to know how to recognize the symptoms and have the knowledge beyond the typical stereotypes to apply how to help, not hinder the sufferer’s progress in dealing with the condition. It is imperative that the research continues to better access, understand, and address the issues of schizophrenia and alleviate the symptoms and suffering of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. REFERENCES Krans, B. (2010, October 10). Understanding schizophrenia. Healthline, 1-13. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/schizophrenia LeVine , K. (2009). Schizophrenia and modern treatment:the balance of biology and psychoanalysis. Boston University Neuroscience- The Nerve, 1. Retrieved from http://www.bu.edu/thenerve/archives/fall-2009/schizophrenia/ Murray, R. M., & et. al, (2009). Psychiatry and clinical psychology. In R. Murray, P. Jones, E. Susser, J. Van Os & M. Cannon (Eds.), Home Browse by Subject Medicine Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology The Epidemiology of Schizophrenia The Epidemiology of SchizophreniaNew York/London: Cambridge University Press Shore, D. (1993). Special report: Schizophrenia 1993. (pp. 1-288). DIANE publishing. National Institute of Mental Health. (2014). What is schizophrenia?. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml Read More