Schizophrenia as a Serious Psychiatric Disorder - Essay Example

Schizophrenia Introduction According to Weinberger and Larrison (1854), Schizophrenia is a malady commonly associated with not only poor thinking ability but also slow emotional responses. The disease is usually long term and characterized by varied myriad of symptoms. The most common symptoms associated with predicament include hallucinations whereby one usually hears or sees things that do not exist (Weinberger & Larrison 1856). Apart from hallucinations, the disease also prompts the affected person to have delusions whereby he or she experiences unusual beliefs, which apart from them not being real they are also contradictory. The combination of these hallucinations and delusions normally result to muddled thoughts evident through sudden change of behavior. The study will relay more information on schizophrenia such as its symptoms, causes, diagnosis and medication. There have been many misconceptions and myths about Schizophrenia, some of the most common is that persons affected with this mental condition have split personality whereby they can be behaving normally then suddenly their behavior changes to weird in the next minute, which is not a fact (Mahoney 185). According to numerous medical practitioners’ studies, Schizophrenia is psychotic, whereby those infected reach a point where they no longer believe in their thoughts and normally rely on other people to make decisions for them. This is because people infected with Schizophrenia are unable to distinguish between facts from fiction. Causes and Diagnosis According to research, the actual cause behind Schizophrenia remains unknown though experts believe that this mental condition results from a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Research shows that Schizophrenia is one of the most fatal mental health problems. Everybody is vulnerable when it comes to Schizophrenia although the disease is common in persons aged 15 and 35, both men and women. It is because of this that medical practitioners normally advice for regular medical checkups for one to be in a position of knowing his or her health status (Beck et al. 18). This is because earlier detection of the disease usually increases chances of quick recovery unlike if the disease goes undetected, which is normally a fatal health risk. Research further states that 1 out of 100 people experience the disease in their lifetime. There are several forms of medications for this condition but the commonly used method by medical practitioners includes antipsychotic drugs in besides cognitive behavioral therapy (Beck et al. 18). Once a person contracts this condition, it is usually recommendable that practitioners subject him or her under community mental care team where he or she will be frequently visiting. This is to determine how the recovery process is going on. For a diagnosis, a medical practitioner normally uses a checklist whereby availability of certain symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations are normally an indication that one has schizophrenia. Although most people affected by the condition normally recover, they usually experience hallucinations and relapses but only for a short period in their lives. Treatment If Schizophrenia is under proper management, chances of relapses and hallucinations usually reduce after a short duration. Some of the ways in which one can properly manage the condition is if he or she fully adheres to following the doctor’s prescriptions in addition to taking of drugs as recommended. Continuous taking of medication as prescribed also prevents one from getting relapses (Ritsner 188). It is also a good idea for one to consult a health care specialist if he or she plans to take over-the-counter prescriptions. This is because over-the-counter drugs are sometimes not genuine and can end up resulting to more harm than good. Apart from proper medication, one also needs to openly talk to others and share his or her condition for this normally enables people to be aware and can be in a position to assist once need arises. Self-care is normally important to any person’s health. This is because through self-care, one is not only in a position to take responsibility of his or her health but also stay fit besides staying fit and having proper mental health (Keefe & Harvey 169). Both persons with Schizophrenia and those that lack also out to be attending health seminars and charities in order for them to gain more knowledge on Schizophrenia in addition to how to live with the disease. Symptoms The most common symptoms associated with Schizophrenia are changes in one’s way of thinking and development of strange behavior. This predicament’s symptoms are in two categories including positive and negative. Positive ones associated characterizing this predicament includes hallucinations and delusions whereas withdrawal and lack of function are some few of the negatives (Mahoney 542). Those infected normally portray an emotionless, flat and apathetic appearance (Mahoney 542). The condition normally develops gradually whereby earlier symptoms such as social withdrawal in addition to sleeping disorders usually go undetected unless confirmed by a medical practitioner. In most cases, these earlier symptoms are mistaken for adolescence changes. Hallucinations involve all senses but the most common are usually the sense of hearing and sight. To a person with Schizophrenia, hallucinations are a real experience. Similarly, delusions normally develop suddenly or can also be a gradual process. Apart from hallucinations and delusions, people suffering from Schizophrenia also have thought disorders whereby they have issues with keeping track of their conversations and thoughts (Delisi 21). Concentration is normally a major issue whereby they cannot concentrate on one idea, instead they keep on shifting from one idea to another without completing any of those them, for instance, they cannot completely read and finish a newspaper and neither can they finish watching any television program. People with Schizophrenia have weird behavioral symptoms, apart from their disorganization (Noll 378). They are also unpredictable whereby in one minute they might be communicating normally then suddenly they get agitated, begin shouting and swearing for no exact reason (Noll 378). Some of the patients claim that it normally feels like somebody else is controlling their mind and not themselves. Schizophrenia has a number of negative symptoms but the most extreme include the loss of social interests. This normally results to relationship issues both with friends and with families since in most cases it is mistaken for laziness or rudeness (Noll 378). Causes Although the exact cause of Schizophrenia is still unknown, the reason why some people contract the disease while others does is due to several factors such as genetic disorder, Brain development and birth complications (Mueser & Jeste 55). In terms of gender indifference, researchers claim that Schizophrenia runs in families hence it is inheritable. Studies also claim people with Schizophrenia are different in terms of their brain structure; this proves that the main cause of the disease is due to brain disorders (Mueser & Jeste 44). Studies also claim that pregnancy and delivery complications could result to the development of schizophrenia, for instance, complications during delivery such as insufficient supply of oxygen in addition to excessive bleeding. The main triggers of schizophrenia include having a stressful life such as loss of job, racial abuse and divorce. Although they do not cause schizophrenia, they are more likely to trigger the disease. Apart from stress, another issue that is likely to trigger schizophrenia is drug abuse. Just like stress, abuse of drugs does not cause schizophrenia but its misuse normally increases one’s chances of contracting the disease (Mueser & Jeste 123). Drugs such as cocaine and cannabis are the most known drugs that trigger schizophrenia. Conclusion Studies contend schizophrenia is a mental disorder normally associated with symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Although schizophrenia is a mental disorder, a number of misconceptions and myths about Schizophrenia are ever arising. For instance, the most common misconception is that people with schizophrenia have split personality whereby they have weird behaviors. Many people also believe that people with schizophrenia were feared due to the assumption that they were possessed. It is because of this that most of the people with the disease gradually avoid social interactions and opt to stay in solitude. Schizophrenia is one of the fatal mental disorders, hence it is normally advised that one have regular medical checkup in order to be aware of his or her medical status. This is because earlier detection and treatment of schizophrenia normally prevents one from having the common symptoms associated with the disease. Although the actual cause behind schizophrenia is still under research, factors such as genetic disorder, Brain development and birth complications play a part in the development of the disease. Some of the main triggers of schizophrenia include stress and drug abuse. Work Cited Beck, Aaron T., Rector, Neil, A., Stolar, Neal & Grant, Paul. Schizophrenia: Cognitive Theory, Research, and Therapy. New York: Guilford Press, 2011. Print. Delisi, Lynn, E. 100 Questions & Answers About Schizophrenia: Painful Minds: Painful Minds. Sudbury : Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2009. Print Keefe, Richard & Harvey, Phillip, D. Understanding Schizophrenia: A Guide to the New Research on Causes and Treatment. United Kingdom: Simon and Schuster, 2010. Print Mahoney, J M. Schizophrenia: The Bearded Lady Disease. Bloomington, IN: 1stBooks, 2005. Print. Mueser, Kim T, and Dilip V. Jeste. Clinical Handbook of Schizophrenia. New York: Guilford Press, 2011. Print. Noll, Richard. The Encyclopedia of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders. New York: Facts on File, 2007. Internet resource. Ritsner, Michael S. Handbook of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Volume I. Dordrecht: Springer, 2011. Internet resource. Weinberger, Daniel, R. & Harrison, Paul, J. Schizophrenia. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print Read More