Schizophrenia Part 1

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Schizophrenia Part 1
Thursday, July 7, 2022 by Renee D. Warring

Schizophrenia Part 1

Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis. The definition of psychosis is: a set of symptoms characterized by a loss of touch with reality due to a disruption in the way that the brain processes information. When someone experiences a psychotic episode, the person’s thoughts and perceptions are disturbed, and the individual may have difficulty understanding what is real and what is not.¹

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects less than one percent of the United States population. The symptoms are: (1) delusions, (2) hallucinations, (3) disorganized thinking and speech, (4) disorganized or abnormal motor behavior and (5) negative symptoms. Delusions are fixed false beliefs held despite clear or reasonable evidence that they are not true. Persecutory (or paranoid) delusions, when a person believes they are being harmed or harassed by another person or group are most common.² Hallucinations are the experience of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there. Auditory hallucinations, “hearing voices”, are the most common.³Disorganized thinking and speech refer to thoughts and speech that are jumbled and/or do not make sense. For example, the person may switch from one topic to another or respond with unrelated topic in conversation. The symptoms are severe enough to cause substantial problems with normal communication.⁴Disorganized or abnormal motor behavior are movements that can range from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation or can manifest as repeated movements without purpose. When the behavior is severe, it can cause problems in the performance of activities of daily life. It includes catatonia, when a person appears as if in a daze with little movement or response to the surrounding environment.⁵Negative symptoms refer to what is abnormally lacking or absent in the person with a psychotic disorder. Examples include impaired emotional expression, decreased speech output, reduced desire to have social contact or to engage in daily activities, and decreased experience of pleasure.⁶

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 more prone to schizophrenia and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.

There are five warning signs of mental illness to watch for especially when a person has two or more of these symptoms: (1) Long-lasting sadness or irritability, (2) Extremely high and low moods, (3) Excessive fear, worry, or anxiety, (4) Social withdrawal, and (5) Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits.⁷

The onset of schizophrenia in men usually occurs in the late teens to early twenties. For women the onset occurs in the late twenties to early thirties. It is uncommon for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than twelve or older than forty.

There is no cure for schizophrenia. However, it is treatable and manageable with medication and behavioral therapy, especially if it is diagnosed early and treated continuously.

RESOURCES

https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia

²Ibid.

³Ibid.

⁴Ibid.

⁵Ibid.

⁶Ibid.

⁷Ibid.

Signed: Renee D. Warring, Founder of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries

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