Schizophrenia, More Common Than You Think

Schizophrenia, More Common Than You Think

Abstract

Century of misconception and fear have made Schizophrenia the most mysterious mental illnesses throughout history. The beliefs of demonic possession and dissociative identity disorder have long been discredited, however, modern science and psychology are just beginning understand the etiology of this disease. Statistics confirm Schizophrenias prevalence world wide making awareness of this illness crucial for successful recovery.

Schizophrenia, More Common Than You Think

Schizophrenia, the term derived from the German root skhizein "to split" and Greek root phrēn "mind," a prevalent and severe mental disorder. The origins of this illness are documented back as far as 2000 BCE yet schizophrenia remains somewhat a mystery. The modern advances in neuroscience and mental health practices are shedding light on this very misunderstood, debilitating disorder.

Schizophrenia interferes with an individual's ability to decipher reality, have emotional regulation and causes disturbances in thought process, perception and personal interactions. The National Institute of Mental Illness reports the disorder affects one percent of the world population; although in America the statistics estimate that 2 million people are afflicted with schizophrenia. Men and woman from all races and socioeconomic status are equally impaired with onset ranging from the ages of sixteen to thirty. Symptoms stereotypically present earlier in men and are rarely indicated after forty-five.

Early onset or childhood schizophrenia diagnoses are on the rise largely due to diagnostic advances in all childhood disorders, allowing less misdiagnosis. Research indicates that childhood schizophrenia is far more significant than adult onset of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is not classified by one distinct symptom and the characteristics can change over time. There are three categories of symptomatic criteria for the disorder: Positive, Negative and Cognitive (disorganized) symptoms. Positive Symptoms refer to the psychotic behaviors adding to the mental illness of these individuals and where schizophrenia illustrates the "splitting off" from reality. Hallucinations are the most common positive symptom; the schizophrenic will feel, hear, see and even smell things that in reality are not present. Auditory hallucinations (voices) are a prevalent positive symptom. These voices tell the schizophrenic what other people are thinking, order the individual to carry out orders and even warn them of danger. There can be numerous voices that "speak" to the individual and the voices can even communicate with each other in the course of these episodes. Delusions are also a positive symptom that are equally debilitating (where uncontrollable fallacious beliefs are firmly clung to though clearly contradictory.) The schizophrenic's believes that their actions, feeling and thoughts are controlled by outside forces. They think that they are being followed, being poisoned or that vital organs have been removed while they slept, perpetuating fear and paranoia. Schizophrenics possess additional positive symptoms that are termed thought and movement disorders (Fletcher & Frith, 2009).

The Negative Symptoms of schizophrenia can be mistaken for depression and are marked by the disruption of "normal" emotion and behavior. Characteristically, the individual has a flat affect, isolate themselves and posses a lack of interest and pleasure in life. The schizophrenic showing negative symptoms can not follow through with common activities and need assistance with day to day tasks as well as woeful neglect of personal hygiene (Fletcher & Frith, 2009).

Clearly, thought process is significantly compromised in people who suffer from schizophrenia and the Cognitive Symptoms (disorganized) expound upon these characteristics. Schizophrenics have a lack of executive function, lack of focus and poor memory. However, the most serious flaw in the cognitive symptoms is anosognosia also know as "lack of insight". The individual never recognized that they are ill and subsequently are noncompliant with treatment (Fletcher & Frith, 2009).

The positive, negative and cognitive