Schizophrenia as a Very Serious Mental Health Disorder - Coursework Example

Schizophrenia is a very serious mental health disorder characterized by changes in the way of life through mind disintegration and emotional responsiveness of the affected (Bentall, 2003). However, this topic is of importance being that a number of individuals affected in one way or the other by the disorder, rapidly increases at an alarming rate causing a major concern with significant notable changes in the occupational and social dysfunctions (Roazen & Victor, 1991). Thus, this is a reflective paper exploring on the idea of schizophrenia. However, the reliability of the diagnostic procedures in patient identification causes difficulties in measuring the relative effect, (for example, same symptoms comparatively to other disorders overlap. The diagnostic evidence of schizophrenia suggests that it has heritable component, which are significantly stress or environmentally influenced. The factors that cause schizophrenia are initially thought to have emerged at an early neurodevelopment state to increase its risk in development later (Roazen & Victor, 1991). It has been found out that children born in winter or spring are likely to be diagnosed with this disorder especially in the northern hemisphere. It has been proved that at the prenatal procedure, there is high risk of infection due to exposure to the predisposing factors of the vice later in life (Roazen & Victor, 1991). There is additional evidence to the cause in relation to the link between the risk of developing the condition and the pathology of the uterodevelopmental. Genetic heritability, twin With respect to genes, it is very difficult to differentiate the effects of environment and genes. It is evident that twins and adopted individuals have higher level of heritability. However, this varies with the individuals especially in genetically influenced population. It is uncertain that schizophrenia is a complex inheritance condition, with different pathways and potential genes, which are less effective with different people. Urbanization has been confirmed to enhance the risk factor consistently for schizophrenia (Bentall, 2003). The social disadvantages found include migration and poverty related to racial discrimination, social adversity, family dysfunction, poor housing conditions and unemployment. Parents also cause this disorder through child abuse or trauma experienced at an early age, which increases the risks later in life (Roazen & Victor, 1991). Having the disorder or not is not the responsibility of the parent for schizophrenia but dysfunctional, unsupportive relationships between the two are likely to increase the risk. Substance Abuse Structure of a typical chemical synapse, Schizophrenia and smoking People with psychotic disorder are more so influenced to use drugs of which some are unpleasant and difficult to deal with. They feel that the use of these drugs help them to eradicate and or reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, boredom deducing that drugs enhances "feel-good" levels of neurotransmission (Laing,1990). However, regarding psychosis itself, it is well understood that cocaine and methamphetamine use usually result in cocaine or methamphetamine- psychosis, which is induced and sometimes is misdiagnosed to be (schizophrenia). This is likely to persist even if the users abstain from the drug abuse habit. Psychosis induced by alcohol also have the same effects though much lesser with respect to drugs (Bentall, 2003). The signs and symptoms of the disorder experienced typically in youths diagnosed on the observed behaviour, self reports experienced by the patients , to date there is still no laboratory tests to prove the illness (Fallon, 2003). The research studies carried out so far suggests that early environment, social, psychological and genetic related processes are in most cases the contributing factors with drug prescription and recreational activities catalysing and worsens the symptoms (Fallon, 2003). It has been deduced that the antipsychotic medication used on the patients with this disorder only suppresses the activities in the brain pathway but do not treat, from the researches carried out so far it is important to have vocational, psychotherapy and social rehabilitations for the affected individuals to help relax their minds (Fleck, et al,1985). Many people believe that the illness only affects the cognitive part of the brain; however, it can also contribute to chronic behavioural and emotional problems leading to anxiety and major depression (Laing, 1990). The life expectancy of the people with the disorder is approximately 15 years less than normal person being that they encounter social problems when the normal people view them as odds and even fear intermingling with them. Poverty, homelessness, poor health, long-term unemployment, which to them, who are affected, suicide remains their better option. At times, they become nuisance to the environment with witnessed hallucinations, natural persecutory, speech, and disorganized thinking which to others may lead to social isolation or being in motionless postures (Fallon, 2003). These people have both positive and negative disorders that if not kindly examined would be difficult to distinguish between them and the normal people, which at times lead to punishment by the parents not knowing that it is a disorder not indiscipline (Noll, 2006). The positive symptoms are not normally experienced though the signs are there (Bentall, 2003). For example, auditory hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder which are regarded as the psychosis manifestation. The negative symptoms are usually not present in a schizophrenic person but present in the normal healthy person for example symptoms that reflect the absence of the normal abilities and character traits, e.g. poverty of speech,(alogia), lack of friendship desires (asociality), emotional and flat effect, lack of effects on pressure(anhedonia), and lack of motivation (avilition). Researches have deduced that most of the affected people lead poor quality life, are burden on the others and not able to function properly due o the negative symptoms. The diagnosis of these factors are obtained from the reported abnormalities in the behaviour by the family, co-workers, friends, self reported experience, psychiatrists, mental, social and health professionals (Laing,1990). Before one is diagnosed with schizophrenia, three diagnostic criteria should be met according to the Statistical and Diagnostic of Mental Disorders manual. The social and occupational dysfunction, characteristic symptoms and the duration of the condition or situation plays a very important role in the declaration of the disorder (Dalby, 1996). These signs and symptoms do not only need a psychiatrist’s efforts to determine but also need accurate patient history with respect to the subject matter from a very close and or reliable source, determining the extent to which the patient condition has reached (Bentall, 2003). Various conditions come as a result o f either abuse of substances such as drugs, medicine, and physiological effects of medical conditions (Fallon, 2003). The disorders can be complicated with compulsive, obsessive- disorder (COD) to an extent that no one can explain when given chance even though it can be difficult to differentiate the delusions in schizophrenia from compulsions that are represent in COD (Laing,1990). In 2006, the UK campaign under the banner for the abolition of Schizophrenia Label, a group of mental / and consumers health professionals argued about the rejection of schizophrenia diagnosis basing their arguments based on association of stigma and heterogeneity. They called for the adoption of biopsychosocial model on the subject matter (Keen, 1999). Psychiatrists from different countries came up with contradicting issues like exclusion of components, which are very affective in the criteria regarding the disorder hence complicating the outcome and characteristics of the schizophrenia (Lenzenweger, 2010). This is because there are various disorders that share the same signs and symptoms, which are considered a challenge, the experience of the people diagnosed with psychotic need to be accepted rather than being medicalized. Prevention and screening The people who are at very high risk of getting the disorder include those with the family history, symptoms of self-limiting experience of psychotics. There is still no reliability that the schizophrenia will appear in the later development stages, although there is continued research on how and which genetical combination are at high risk of having psychosis-like disorders (Roazen & Victor, 1991). The psychological medication and treatment has been recommended in reducing the 'high-risk' of type disorder (schizophrenia) (Fallon, 2003). However, the schizophrenia treatment may be carried out on people who may not have developed it in controversial due to misunderstanding/ misinterpretation of the signs and symptoms by the psychiatrists (Shaner, et al, 2004). Not knowing the antipsychotic medication’s side effects, with respect to the potentially disfiguring and the potentially lethal syndrome of malignant narcoleptics (Keen, 1999). In schizophrenia prevention, public education and preventative campaigns on health care are the most forms of provide information on risks, early symptoms and other factors, with an aim of improving and provide treatment at the initial stages for the affected without delays (Bentall, 2003). Also with early interventions and new clinical approach in psychosis. This is a secondary strategy in prevention to stop further episodes and to prevent prolonged disabilities associated with schizophrenia (Laing, 1990). Management of schizophrenia The curative concept of this disorder still remains very controversial indeed, as the health professionals still have not come into a consensus on the matter, however, some procedures are in place for symptoms remission which was recently suggested (Fallon, 2003). Effectiveness of its treatment is often assessed through standardized procedures, one of which being the Negative and Positive Syndrome Scale (NAPSS). Management and improving of function and symptoms is perceived to be more attainable than a cure. Hospitalization is not usually common, only few cases of severe episodes of schizophrenia may require admission .There are two cases of admission i.e., voluntary or (if mental health laws allows it) and involuntary (civil or involuntary). There are very few cases of long-term inpatients. The inpatients need or require some services to enhance their well being, these supporting goods and services got from drop-in centres, family who come to get updates on their patients and have the general verdict on the possibility of treatment (Keen,1999). This can be done by observing the status of the available patients, also get services from mental health team, community members and or community Treatment team members, employment supports and support groups led by patients (Dalby, 1996). The schizophrenia can only be treated through community-led method in multiple, informal surveys internationally through the World Health Organization (Fallon, 2003). They have indicted that over several decades, the average outcome of the people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Western countries is worse than the average for people in the non- West (Lenzenweger, 2010). Many researchers and clinicians suspect the level of social acceptance and connectedness are different, although the studies carried out across-cultural groups are seeking a clarification on the findings. Medication The psychiatric treatment procedure involved in the schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication (Bentall, 2003). This can reduce the positive symptoms in most cases of psychosis. The antipsychotic drugs are taking around 7–14 days for you to experience their effect. The available antipsychotic drugs fail, though, majoring on the negative symptoms, and cognition improvements attributed to practice or practical effect (Fallon, 2003). The new antipsychotic drugs are in most cases preferred usually for treatment initially instead of the older antipsychotic; the new drugs are expensive and are likely to cause obesity and diseases related to weight gain. In the recent few years, major randomized results from trials sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health ( US )) confirmed that a first generation antipsychotic representative -, perphenazine, was very effective and cost-effective compared to most of the new drugs administered for up to 18 months. Possibility of recovery The recovery rates always very comparably across the world depending on the studies under which the health profession went through, so the exact definition with respect to recovery is yet to be established (Roazen & Victor, 1991). In Schizophrenia, the working stations/groups proposed standardized criteria involved in remission, improvements in core symptoms and signs have reached an extent that the remaining symptoms have low intensity (Dalby, 1996). This lowers their ability to interfere with behaviour placing them below the typical threshold used in justification of initial schizophrenia diagnosis. With the standardized criteria of recovery proposed by different researchers, a complete return to the functioning levels seen as impossible, inadequate to measure, incompatibility, variability in society definition of psychosocially normal functioning, pessimism, stigma and other factors contributing to self-fulfilling (Lenzenweger, 2010). Most mental health professionals have different perceptions and recovery concepts compares to individuals diagnosed. A very notable limitation of almost all the criteria used in research is the inability to address the person’s own feelings and evaluation with respect to their life (Bentall, 2003). Recovery and schizophrenia are often involved in the continuous loss of a person’s self-esteem, rejection and stigmatization from family and friends, career and school interruptions and or termination, and social stigma (Fallon, 2003). These experiences neither can fade away nor be reversed. People can recover, for example, from alcohol and drug problems with emphasis on personal journeys characterized by factors like choice, hope, achievements, empowerment and social inclusion. Violence The relationship between schizophrenia and violent acts is a contentious topic (Dalby, 1996). Research indicates that there are a higher percentage of people with schizophrenia who commit violent acts than the percentage of the other people without disorder, but lower than the ones with disorders like alcoholism, with reduced difference or not found in neighbourhood in comparisons; with respect to the related factors. Notably variables of socio-demographic and substance misuse The suicidal rates associated with schizophrenia have been on the increase, but a more recent statistics and analysis of studies estimates it at 4.9%. In conclusion These people are also fellow human beings and need care like any other person, disability is not inability, therefore we should kindly monitor and find what best can suite them so that we keep them busy to engage their mind, I wish to emphasize that empty mind is a devils workshop. Reference Bentall, R. (2003). Madness explained: psychosis and human nature. London: Allen Lane. Dalby, J.T. (1996). Mental disease in history: a selection of translated readings. Bern: Peter Lang. Fallon, J.H. (2003). The Neuroanatomy of Schizophrenia: Circuitry and Neurotransmitter Systems. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 3, pp. 77–107. Fleck, S., Theodore, L. and Alice, C. (1985). Schizophrenia and the family. New York: International Universities Press. Keen, T.M. (1999). Schizophrenia: orthodoxy and heresies. A review of alternative possibilities. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 6(6), pp. 415–24. Laing, R.D. (1990). The divided self: an existential study in sanity and madness. New York: Penguin Books. Lenzenweger, M.F. (2010). Schizotypy and schizophrenia: The view from experimental psychopathology. New York: Guilford Press. Noll, R. (2006). The Encyclopaedia of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders (Facts on File Library of Health and Living). New York: Facts on File. Roazen, P. & Victor, T. (1991). Sexuality, war, and schizophrenia: collected psychoanalytic papers. New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A: Transaction Publishers. Shaner, A., Miller, G. & Mintz, J. (2004). Schizophrenia as one extreme of a sexually selected fitness indicator. Schizophrenic Research, 70(1), pp. 101-109. Read More

Urbanization has been confirmed to enhance the risk factor consistently for schizophrenia (Bentall, 2003). The social disadvantages found include migration and poverty related to racial discrimination, social adversity, family dysfunction, poor housing conditions and unemployment. Parents also cause this disorder through child abuse or trauma experienced at an early age, which increases the risks later in life (Roazen & Victor, 1991). Having the disorder or not is not the responsibility of the parent for schizophrenia but dysfunctional, unsupportive relationships between the two are likely to increase the risk.

Substance Abuse Structure of a typical chemical synapse, Schizophrenia and smoking People with psychotic disorder are more so influenced to use drugs of which some are unpleasant and difficult to deal with. They feel that the use of these drugs help them to eradicate and or reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, boredom deducing that drugs enhances "feel-good" levels of neurotransmission (Laing,1990). However, regarding psychosis itself, it is well understood that cocaine and methamphetamine use usually result in cocaine or methamphetamine- psychosis, which is induced and sometimes is misdiagnosed to be (schizophrenia).

This is likely to persist even if the users abstain from the drug abuse habit. Psychosis induced by alcohol also have the same effects though much lesser with respect to drugs (Bentall, 2003). The signs and symptoms of the disorder experienced typically in youths diagnosed on the observed behaviour, self reports experienced by the patients , to date there is still no laboratory tests to prove the illness (Fallon, 2003). The research studies carried out so far suggests that early environment, social, psychological and genetic related processes are in most cases the contributing factors with drug prescription and recreational activities catalysing and worsens the symptoms (Fallon, 2003).

It has been deduced that the antipsychotic medication used on the patients with this disorder only suppresses the activities in the brain pathway but do not treat, from the researches carried out so far it is important to have vocational, psychotherapy and social rehabilitations for the affected individuals to help relax their minds (Fleck, et al,1985). Many people believe that the illness only affects the cognitive part of the brain; however, it can also contribute to chronic behavioural and emotional problems leading to anxiety and major depression (Laing, 1990).

The life expectancy of the people with the disorder is approximately 15 years less than normal person being that they encounter social problems when the normal people view them as odds and even fear intermingling with them. Poverty, homelessness, poor health, long-term unemployment, which to them, who are affected, suicide remains their better option. At times, they become nuisance to the environment with witnessed hallucinations, natural persecutory, speech, and disorganized thinking which to others may lead to social isolation or being in motionless postures (Fallon, 2003).

These people have both positive and negative disorders that if not kindly examined would be difficult to distinguish between them and the normal people, which at times lead to punishment by the parents not knowing that it is a disorder not indiscipline (Noll, 2006). The positive symptoms are not normally experienced though the signs are there (Bentall, 2003). For example, auditory hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder which are regarded as the psychosis manifestation. The negative symptoms are usually not present in a schizophrenic person but present in the normal healthy person for example symptoms that reflect the absence of the normal abilities and character traits, e.g. poverty of speech,(alogia), lack of friendship desires (asociality), emotional and flat effect, lack of effects on pressure(anhedonia), and lack of motivation (avilition).

Researches have deduced that most of the affected people lead poor quality life, are burden on the others and not able to function properly due o the negative symptoms.

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