Schizophrenia
How it is caused:
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode. Scientists have long known that schizophrenia sometimes runs in families. However, there are many people who have schizophrenia who don’t have a family member with the disorder and conversely, many people with one or more family members with the disorder who do not develop it themselves.
Scientists also think that interactions between genes and aspects of the individual’s environment are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Environmental factors may involve exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, problems during birth and psychosocial factors.
Signs and Syndromes:
Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. In rare cases, children have schizophrenia too. The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive.
Positive symptoms:
“Positive” symptoms are psychotic behaviors not generally seen in healthy people. People with positive symptoms may “lose touch” with some aspects of reality. Symptoms include: Hallucinations, Delusions, Thought disorders/ unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking and movement disorders (agitated body movements)
Negative symptoms:
“Negative” symptoms are associated with disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors. Symptoms include: “Flat affect” (reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone), Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life, Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities and also reduced speaking
Changes in Thinking
Lack of concentration or being able to follow a train of thought, Seeing or hearing things that aren’t real (hallucinations), Confusing TV and dreams with reality, Strange ideas that may not make sense (for example, thinking that parents are stealing things or that an evil spirit possesses him or her) Paranoia — thinking that people are after him or talking about him and dwelling unreasonably on the past
Changes in Emotions
Being extremely moody or irritable. Angry outbursts or severe fearfulness or anxiety.
Changes in Behavior
The unblinking, vacant expression, Awkward or unusual movements of the face or body, Talking to himself, using odd speech that you can’t understand, or making rapid shifts in topics, Inappropriate responses, such as laughing during a sad movie, Trouble “reading” social cues in others, Problems making and keeping friends, Becoming more and more isolated, and poor personal grooming and self-care, substance abuse and threatening Behaviors
Cognitive symptoms:
For some patients, the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are subtle, but for others, they are more severe and patients may notice changes in their memory or other aspects of thinking. Symptoms include Poor “executive functioning” (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions).Trouble focusing or paying attention. Problems with “working memory”/ the ability to use information immediately after learning it.
Different brain chemistry and structure:
Scientists think that an imbalance in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters (substances that brain cells use to communicate with each other) dopamine and glutamate, and possibly others, play a role in schizophrenia.
Some experts also think problems during brain development before birth may lead to faulty connections. The brain also undergoes major changes during puberty, and these changes could trigger psychotic symptoms in people who are vulnerable due to genetics or brain differences.
How many people have Schizophrenia?
Worldwide about 1 percent of the population is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and approximately 1.2% of Americans (3.2 million) have the disorder. About 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with schizophrenia this year around the world.
Percentage of Ages 13–18
The symptoms of schizophrenia in adolescents are similar to adults, however, adolescents, more often (in 80 percent of diagnosed cases), experience auditory hallucinations and typically do not experience delusions or formal thought disorders until mid-adolescence or older.
Schizophrenia in T.V shows and Movies
Phoebe Buffay — F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The fact that Phoebe is weird and a little bit crazy has been a recurring gag throughout the show. But a lot of her behavior can be categorized as symptoms of schizophrenia. If there’s a show that deserves the title of iconic, it’s F.R.I.E.N.D.S. It cuts across generations and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of it. Phoebe was the flaky one. The one with the crazy ideas. She thought that she was possessed by an old woman’s ghost, tries to raise a box of rats, was convinced that someone dies every time she goes to the dentist and occasionally heard voices in her head. These were her quirks. They are what made her lovable in the show and they are also the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Law And Order: Special Victims Unit
In many of the episodes, they cover many “hard to talk about” topics. Such as the episode: 9 — Weak, season- 6. They cover the topic of schizophrenia.
Black Swan
A committed dancer wins the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” only to find herself struggling to maintain her sanity.
Treatment
The goal of treatment with antipsychotic medications is to effectively manage signs and symptoms at the lowest possible dose. The psychiatrist may try different drugs, different doses or combinations over time to achieve the desired result. Other medications also may help, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs.
Is Schizophrenia curable?
This is crucial for schizophrenia as it is believed that with every psychotic episode, increased damage is done to the brain. While no cure exists for schizophrenia, it is treatable and manageable with medication and behavioral therapy, especially if diagnosed early and treated continuously.
“Schizophrenia.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml.
“Schizophrenia Symptoms: Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-symptoms#1.
“Schizophrenia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 Apr. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354449.
