Psych: Schizophrenia Essay

Submitted By iand37
Words: 1063
Pages: 5
Open Document
Ian DeBarro
Professor Damm
Psyc 1
December 18th, 2013
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic brain disorder that is disabling to the person with it. Schizophrenia is a disorder that makes a person hear voices others do not hear and other symptoms as well. The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories: cognitive, negative, and positive symptoms. Schizophrenia is mainly caused by several different factors and only about one percent of Americans. There is currently no known treatment to cure schizophrenia, so most of the treatments done are to eliminate the symptoms of schizophrenia. The most common treatments for the symptoms are antipsychotic medication and a variety of psychosocial treatments. The main issues that come along with Schizophrenia are entirely mental issues. Those with schizophrenia may think that their minds are being read by others, people plotting to harm them, and even others controlling their thoughts. often times you cannot tell if someone has schizophrenia until they begin to talk about what they are really thinking and what is on their mind. People affected with schizophrenia may also not always make sense when they talk. Schizophrenia also makes it very difficult to maintain a job or care for themselves, so addition care may be required by others such as a caregiver. Schizophrenia is a hereditary disease so it is know to run in families. Schizophrenia only affects about one percent of the population but the chances of getting schizophrenia jumps to ten percent if a first-degree relative has the disease. This just in susceptibility to the disorder increases if second-degree relatives, such as aunts or cousins, have the disorder as well. Scientists believe several genes are associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but that no gene causes the disease by itself (NIMH). The disorder is involved with higher rates of rare genetic mutations and hundreds of diverse genes. Other recent studies suggest that schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making important brain chemicals malfunctions (NIMH). The part of the brain that is involved in higher functioning skills is most likely where the problem occurs. Another likely cause of schizophrenia is an imbalance in the complex chemical reactions in the brain. These chemical reactions involve the neurotransmitters glutamate and dopamine. One of the three categories of symptoms are positive symptoms. Positive symptoms are psychotic behaviors not seen in healthy people (NIMH). People with positive symptoms "lose touch" with reality. This specific symptom though can be severe sometimes, and other times is hardly noticeable. Some examples of positive symptoms are hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Hallucinations involve sensing things that appear to be real while conscious, but have really been created by the mind. The most common type of hallucination associated with schizophrenia are the "voices" that are heard. Delusions are false beliefs that are not part of the affected person's culture. These delusions are still believed by the person with schizophrenia even after others prove that they are illogical and not true. An example of this would be believing your neighbors are controlling your thoughts and behavior with magnetic waves. Thought disorders are just dysfunctional ways of thinking. Such as when a person have trouble organizing his or her thoughts or connecting them logically (NIMH). Movement disorders appear mostly as agitated movements of the body. Certain body motions may be repeated over and over by someone with the disorder. In extreme circumstances a person may become catatonic. Catatonia is a state in which a person does not move and does not respond to other (NIMH). Catatonia was more common when treatment for schizophrenia was not obtainable, and is very rare today. Negative and cognitive symptoms are not as extensive as the positive symptoms are
Show More

Related Documents: Psych: Schizophrenia Essay

psych final paper- schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Alyssa Storey Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Schizophrenia is one of the most widely known psychological disorders. Because it is so well-known, it is surrounded by many stereotypes. The amount of people that understand schizophrenia is much smaller than the amount that thinks they do. Schizophrenia consists of three groups of symptoms. There are three main perspectives with theories on this disorder, and two main treatments options. There were a few minor changes in the…

Words 1835 - Pages 8

Psych: Schizophrenia and Mechanism Underlying Schizophrenia Essay

Running head: DISCOVERING SCHIZOPHRENIA Discovering Schizophrenia Schizophrenia, a psychiatric disease that is generally associated with the idea of madness was first identified as a discrete mental illness by Dr. Kraepelin in 1887. In fact, Schizophrenia has been traced to Egypt, as far back as the second millennium before Christ. Depression, dementia, as well as thought disturbances that are typical in schizophrenia are described in detail in the Book of Hearts (Emile). Any television…

Words 1270 - Pages 6

Psychology: Schizophrenia and widely Used Treatments Essay

edu/bb/neuro/neuro03/web2/acazaban.html Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects one to two percent of people worldwide. The disorder can develop as early as the age of five, though it is very rare at such an early age. Most men become ill between the ages of 16 and 25 whereas most women become ill between the ages of 25 and 30. Even though there are differences in the age of development between the sexes, men and women are equally at risk for schizophrenia. There is of yet no definitive answer…

Words 484 - Pages 2

Essay about Analyzing Psychological Disorders

struggle with these disorders, ranging from schizophrenia to anxiety to sleeping disorders and beyond. Each disorder must be looked at from a number of perspectives, and the nature-nurture perspective can be influential. In order to treat these issues, many symptoms and side effects accompany their treatment with drugs. How does schizophrenia play a part in this field? Biology can affect psychological disorders and activities, especially concerning schizophrenia. According to Pinel (2011), the temporal…

Words 1950 - Pages 8

35 Minute Phone Interview

currently lives in Jupiter, Florida with husband and three children. Degrees that she has obtained include, RN BSN, Psych ARNP PHD and CNS. She is currently working as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern university at West Palm beach campus and as a Psych ARNP at Futures of Palm beach practice. She has been an RN since 1987, 29 years and an ARNP since 1991, 17 years. First job as a Psych ARNP was in an out- patient center in Weston Florida called Dr. Deborah Gorin MD. As a Clinical Nurse specialist…

Words 769 - Pages 4

Schizophrenia Paper

Schizophrenia Lifestyle Christie Pamphile Miami Dade College Schizophrenia Lifestyle I chose Schizophrenia because people have the mindset of thinking they’re crazy when that isn’t the case. Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that shouldn’t be taken lightly. “People with schizophrenia have a higher risk of medical illness than does the general population”(Connolly, Kelly, p.125). Many people suffering from Schizophrenia have learned to live their lives normally by taking slower steps. What…

Words 694 - Pages 3

Ps380 Unit 8 Assignment

Unit 8 Assignment Gina Holland PS380 Professor Sara Barnett Schizophrenia Name of Disorder The name of the disorder that I would like to use is Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior. Symptoms of Disorder Symptoms can vary depending on the individual. They usually include delusions, hallucinations and illusions, lack of emotional expression, disordered thinking…

Words 766 - Pages 4

Research Paper

A. Diagnostic Criteria The criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia is dependent on multiple factors. Each factor has its own specific criteria such as a duration of time and severity of the symptom. The American Psychiatric Association states that there are positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms are classified as hallucinations, which includes hearing voices and having paranoid delusions. Negative Symptoms are explained as the loss or decrease in the ability…

Words 2216 - Pages 9

Normal Nuts Essay example

institution. It is often forgotten that mental illnesses are in fact, actual medical conditions and not just a word used to label crazy people. Some mental illnesses that people have stigmas about are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. In actuality people with mental illnesses can hold jobs, have families, and lead productively lives once treated properly (Fisher & Ahern). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is a sort of anxiety disorder that causes a person to become obsessed…

Words 987 - Pages 4

Nature Vs Nurture Research Paper

Heredity is where certain gene traits are carried on to their children and so on. There are certain diseases that are inherited such as schizophrenia, which cause behavioral problems. Schizophrenia causes an altered sense of reality. Some behaviors associated with this disease are hallucinations and delusions. Many times those diagnosed with schizophrenia will be perceived as odd and/or abnormal due to their behavior. (Genetics and Behavior,…

Words 548 - Pages 3