Schizophrenia as a Frightening and Mystical Mental Disorder - Assignment Example

The mental disorder is linked to evident alternations in brain structure and shifts in dopamine neurotransmission (Os & Kapur, 2009). The excess of dopamine received the necessary evidence to be connected to schizophrenia. One of the functions of dopamine is to add “salience” by transforming neutral representations into more attractive ones. Thus, with constant dopamine excess the brain of a schizophrenic turns insignificant thoughts into obsessive ones (Pichionni & Murray, 2007). The symptoms of schizophrenia usually appear in adolescence or early adulthood (Os & Kapur, 2009).

Schizophrenia has similar symptoms to psychosis and bipolar disorder, and the diagnosis is based on the duration, drug intake, bizarreness of hallucinations, and presence of depression (Os & Kapur, 2009). Among the most frequent symptoms, psychiatrists distinguish positive symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders, and negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, self-neglect, loss of motivation, emotional blunting, paucity of speech, and “flat affect” (Pichionni & Murray, 2007). Auditory hallucinations are the most significant symptoms which are mostly described by the patients as noises or voices talking to each other, ordering the patient what to do, or even discussing and criticizing him (Jackson & Birchwood, 2001).

Delusions presuppose unreal beliefs about the world, such as persecution, references meant for the patient, or grandiosity (Jackson & Birchwood, 2001). An uncontrollable thinking process, when thoughts change their direction dramatically and suddenly can also serve as a symptom of this mental illness (Pichionni & Murray, 2007). The patient is also prone to feel difficulties memorizing things, keeping attention for a long period, and performing certain tasks (Os & Kapur, 2009). Emotions lose their brightness and are often blurred; the patient suffers from a lack of energy and motivation (Jackson & Birchwood, 2001). Third persons often mark the catatonic or disorganized behavior of patients with schizophrenia (Castle & Buckley, 2012).

There is a certain distinction between acute and chronic schizophrenia. The first starts rather unexpectedly for the patient, often as a result of a stressful event. This type of schizophrenia is more likely to respond to treatment, drug intake in particular, for several reasons. Firstly, the person with acute schizophrenia often turns out to be a normally functioning person caught in a stressful situation. Secondly, medications are the most efficient for the positive symptoms of this mental disorder, which are specific to the acute form. Chromic schizophrenia has longer periods of symptom development, symptoms progression, and more negative symptoms appearance as a result (Taylor, 2011).
Castle & Buckley underline the necessity to distinguish between schizophrenia and such disorders as alcoholic hallucinosis, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, and Axis II disorders (2012). The absence of laboratory tests or pathognomonic symptoms capable of indicating schizophrenia directly makes diagnosis more difficult (Castle & Buckley, 2012). Pichionni & Murray claim that an average general practitioner in England faces two cases of schizophrenia out of two thousand patients a year (2007).

As soon as the diagnosis is made the doctor has to prescribe antipsychotic drugs to the patient. These agents, often referred to first generation antipsychotics, block dopamine D2 receptors but have certain adverse reactions in patients. Haloperidol and chlorpromazine can cause dystonia, sexual dysfunction, and motor side effects (Os & Kapur, 2009). The drugs of second generation, such as risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole also have multiple side effects such as hypertension, insomnia, sedation, and hypersalivation. Thus, the medication depends on the patient`s concomitant dysfunctions and the doctor`s preferences (Pichionni & Murray, 2007).

The concept of schizophrenia is enigmatic as it has changed during the past 100 years since the disorder was first defined. It was perceived as a biological dysfunction, psychological illness, and a social construct. The advances in the sciences allowed the combining of different approaches to the disorder and providing with coherent explanation of its reasons. Schizophrenia is mostly associated with severe hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal, and sometimes the symptoms of this disorder overlap with other mental illnesses. Treatment of schizophrenia includes antipsychotic drugs which block dopamine receptors and prevent dopamine excess. Family therapy and art therapy are sometimes used as additional psychosocial ways of treatment. Read More