Overview of Schizophrenia
by: Renee Kennedy
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a diagnosed mental illness where a person may suffer from
hallucinations, distorted thoughts or a reduced ability to function in society for a period
of at least one month.
There are different approaches to categorizing schizophrenia. According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) schizophrenic disorders
are classified into the following:
Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with the different types of Schizophrenia. In order
to classify schizophrenia into sub types, certain symptoms need to present themselves.
Here is a list of some of the subtypes of schizophrenia and their associated symptoms:
There is no biological test for schizophrenia. Therefore, there is debate on whether or
not the above labels accurately describe the disorders.
Causes of Schizophrenia
There is no specific known cause of schizophrenia, but studies suggest that genetics
and social environment may both play a role.
People with close relatives that have schizophrenia have a higher likelihood to develop
the disease. For instance, about 1% of the general population has schizophrenia. If you
have a parent that has it, you have a 10% chance of developing the symptoms. It
cannot be accurately predicted whether a person will develop schizophrenia based on
their genetic makeup alone.
Certain environmental factors may also have an impact on the possibility of developing
the disease. Prenatal and environmental stressors may influence a person’s
susceptibility.
Treatment Options
Schizophrenia is a life-long condition that can be treated but not cured. Medication is
primarily used to treat the disease. However, sticking to the regimen of the medication
can be a problem and cause the patient to relapse. Patients go off their medication for
many reasons including side effects or the medication may not work. Thus it is important
to back up the medication treatment with psychosocial therapy to keep the patient on
track.
Because of the complexity of this disease it may require a combination of different types
of medication including antipsychotic, antidepressant, and antianxiety drugs. Also, if one
medication does not work, the patient, doctor, and family should work together to try
other medications until the right combination is found. This may not be a simple or short
process.
Newer antipsychotic medications include Seroquel, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Clozaril.
Statistics
Schizophrenia is a disabling disease that affects approximately 1% of the population of
the world. In America it affects 2 million people. Schizophrenia occurs in men and women
and across all races. However, it occurs more frequently in men than in women. Cases
of children having a schizophrenic disorder are rare, onset generally occurs after
adolescence.
Outlook for treatments of Schizophrenia
Scientists are studying brain chemistry to try and determine causes of this disease. Our
knowledge of the relationship between the brain and the disease is growing rapidly.
Specifically it is likely that schizophrenia is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the
brain possibly dealing with the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.
Recent research also suggests that schizophrenia may be prevented by certain
precautions taken during pregnancy, as well as by the early childhood and even the
adult environment. If you know you have a family history of this disease, it may be
beneficial to take these precautions.
One precaution is not to smoke marijuana. A recent study showed that a person with the
genetic disposition for schizophrenia (or the COMT gene) increased their risk by
1,000% if they also smoked marijuana.
Other environmental factors include, but are not limited to
by: Renee Kennedy
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a diagnosed mental illness where a person may suffer from
hallucinations, distorted thoughts or a reduced ability to function in society for a period
of at least one month.
There are different approaches to categorizing schizophrenia. According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) schizophrenic disorders
are classified into the following:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizophreniform Disorder
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with the different types of Schizophrenia. In order
to classify schizophrenia into sub types, certain symptoms need to present themselves.
Here is a list of some of the subtypes of schizophrenia and their associated symptoms:
- Paranoid Schizophrenia - a preoccupation with delusions or auditory hallucinations
- Catatonic Schizophrenia - immobility, stupor or excessive motor activity
- Disorganized Behavior - disorganized speech or behavior
- Schizophreniform Disorder - any of the above symptoms excluding major
depressive or manic disorder - Schizoaffective Disorder - any of the above symptoms including a major
depressive and/or manic disorder - Schizoid Personality Disorder - detachment from social relationships and inability
to express wide range of emotions - Schizotypal Personality Disorder - reduced capacity for social relationships
marked with eccentricities of behavior
There is no biological test for schizophrenia. Therefore, there is debate on whether or
not the above labels accurately describe the disorders.
Causes of Schizophrenia
There is no specific known cause of schizophrenia, but studies suggest that genetics
and social environment may both play a role.
People with close relatives that have schizophrenia have a higher likelihood to develop
the disease. For instance, about 1% of the general population has schizophrenia. If you
have a parent that has it, you have a 10% chance of developing the symptoms. It
cannot be accurately predicted whether a person will develop schizophrenia based on
their genetic makeup alone.
Certain environmental factors may also have an impact on the possibility of developing
the disease. Prenatal and environmental stressors may influence a person’s
susceptibility.
Treatment Options
Schizophrenia is a life-long condition that can be treated but not cured. Medication is
primarily used to treat the disease. However, sticking to the regimen of the medication
can be a problem and cause the patient to relapse. Patients go off their medication for
many reasons including side effects or the medication may not work. Thus it is important
to back up the medication treatment with psychosocial therapy to keep the patient on
track.
Because of the complexity of this disease it may require a combination of different types
of medication including antipsychotic, antidepressant, and antianxiety drugs. Also, if one
medication does not work, the patient, doctor, and family should work together to try
other medications until the right combination is found. This may not be a simple or short
process.
Newer antipsychotic medications include Seroquel, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Clozaril.
Statistics
Schizophrenia is a disabling disease that affects approximately 1% of the population of
the world. In America it affects 2 million people. Schizophrenia occurs in men and women
and across all races. However, it occurs more frequently in men than in women. Cases
of children having a schizophrenic disorder are rare, onset generally occurs after
adolescence.
Outlook for treatments of Schizophrenia
Scientists are studying brain chemistry to try and determine causes of this disease. Our
knowledge of the relationship between the brain and the disease is growing rapidly.
Specifically it is likely that schizophrenia is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the
brain possibly dealing with the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.
Recent research also suggests that schizophrenia may be prevented by certain
precautions taken during pregnancy, as well as by the early childhood and even the
adult environment. If you know you have a family history of this disease, it may be
beneficial to take these precautions.
One precaution is not to smoke marijuana. A recent study showed that a person with the
genetic disposition for schizophrenia (or the COMT gene) increased their risk by
1,000% if they also smoked marijuana.
Other environmental factors include, but are not limited to
- Place of birth - Urban
- Time of birth - Winter
- Infections like Polio, Rubella, Influenza
- Prenatal factors - Famine, bereavement, maternal depression
- Obstretric factors - Rh incompatibility, low birthweight, hypoxia
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