Many people around the world suffer from schizophrenia. It is a long-term illness which, unfortunately, has no cure. However, there is affective treatment available for the condition. Being diagnosed with schizophrenia can be a traumatic experience for an individual, especially as there is still such a stigma attached to the condition in the media. There are many possible causes of schizophrenia, and more research is being done constantly in order to learn more about its triggers and how to treat it in the most effective way.
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2010), “schizophrenia is a mental disorder which affects thinking, feeling and behaviour.” It is probable that the condition will begin between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five, and will affect around one in one hundred people.
Although the media often associates the term ‘schizophrenia’ with violence, in truth this is a rare correlation. Many people with schizophrenia do not need to be admitted to hospital, and many lead stable lives with successful careers and relationships (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010).
The term ‘schizophrenia’ only came into usage in 1911. Recently prior to that, the condition was considered to be a distinct mental illness by Emil Kraepelin in 1887 (Medicine Net B, 2011). Despite the fact that schizophrenia was only named relatively recently, the illness has been referred to all through recorded history. According to Medicine Net B (2011), “Ancient Egyptian, Hindu, Chinese, Greek, and Roman writings described symptoms similar to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.” In medieval times, schizophrenia, along with many illnesses, was regularly seen as a sign of the individual being possessed by evil spirits (Medicine Net B, 2011).
According to Medicine Net (2011), there are five different types of schizophrenia. An individual’s diagnosis will be based on the symptoms that they are experiencing at the time of assessment. The five types are: paranoid schizophrenia, disorganised schizophrenia, catatonic schizophrenia, undifferentiated schizophrenia and residual schizophrenia.
Paranoid schizophrenia is diagnosed when the person is engrossed in one or more delusions or is suffering from numerous auditory hallucinations, but when they are not showing symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia (Medicine Net, 2011).
Disorganised schizophrenia’s symptoms include disorganised speech and behaviours. This type is diagnosed when these symptoms are present, but when the individual is not displaying enough symptoms to be diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia.
According to the Medicine Net website (2011), a person who is diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia usually displays at least two of the following symptoms: “difficulty moving, resistance to moving, excessive movement, abnormal movements, and/or repeating what others say or do.”
Undifferentiated schizophrenia is considered as a diagnosis when the sufferer experiences at least two of following symptoms: disorganized speech or behaviour, hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms or catatonic behaviour, but when the person does not fit the diagnosis of paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic type of schizophrenia (Medicine Net, 2011).
Residual Schizophrenia is diagnosed when the full-scale typical positive symptoms of schizophrenia are lacking, when the sufferer has a less acute type of the condition or is only displaying negative symptoms (Medicine Net, 2011).
Schizophrenia is a long-standing mental illness that can lead to a variety of different symptoms, all psychological (NHS, 2010). Hallucinations can be a common indication of schizophrenia. In other words, a sufferer may see or hear things that are not real. Delusions are another common symptom. A sufferer of schizophrenia can hold beliefs that oppose real evidence and that are not cantered around reality. In addition to hallucinations and delusions, a sufferer may have confused thoughts as a result of the previous two symptoms. All of these symptoms, and others, can result in the sufferer demonstrating changes in behaviour (NHS, 2010).
Medical professionals tend to define the condition as a psychotic illness. This label indicates that, at times, an individual might be unable to differentiate their own thoughts and concepts from those of reality (NHS, 2011).
People with schizophrenia can have problems with clear thinking. They may find concentration difficult and their minds may flit between ideas. This can lead to other people finding it difficult to understand the sufferer when they are speaking (BBC Health, 2012).
Additionally, people with the condition may feel like they are being controlled, either physically or mentally. People with this symptom can believe that someone is taking their thoughts away and replacing them with others, or that their body is being manipulated to act in certain ways (BBC Health, 2012).
There is no simple answer as to what causes schizophrenia. It is commonly agreed that the condition is likely a result of a combination of factors, including genetics and stressful life events, among others (Mind, 2011).
Dopamine is a chemical responsible for carrying messages among the cells in the brain. Evidence suggests that a higher than average level of dopamine may lead onto the progress of schizophrenia. However, it is not yet confirmed how this happens, or whether every individual with schizophrenia has high levels of dopamine (Mind, 2011).
It is possible that intensely stressful life events can prompt schizophrenia to develop. A link has also been found between social isolation and the condition, among other mental health conditions. Homelessness, poverty, unemployment, bereavement and harassment are all examples of factors which can trigger schizophrenia. According to Mind (2011), one particular study revealed that considerably more individuals who heard destructive voices reported that abuse, either sexual or physical, was a reason.
Studies have revealed that the use of cannabis and other recreational drugs can lead to the onset of schizophrenia. Studies also show that, if a person is suffering from schizophrenia, using drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines can worsen the existing symptoms (Mind, 2011).
Some families appear to have a vulnerability to developing schizophrenia, signifying a genetic factor to its onset. However, as opposed to there being a ‘schizophrenia gene’ it is generally believed that some specific genes may cause some individuals to be more prone to the illness. Still, possession of this gene does not guarantee the person to develop schizophrenia. This does not mean they will necessarily develop schizophrenia (Mind, 2011).
Schizophrenia typically first emerges in an individual while they are in their late teens or in their twenties (Grohol, 2011). It affects men more than it does women. The main treatment for schizophrenia is medication. Unfortunately, agreement and adherence to a medication routine is habitually a major problem related to the continuing treatment of schizophrenia. Due to the fact that sufferers of schizophrenia often take themselves off their medication from time to time, the consequences of this are felt intensely felt by the sufferer and by their friends and family.
Therefore, effective treatment of schizophrenia hinges on a life-long routine of both medication and psychosocial therapies (Grohol, 2010). While the drug therapies help to keep the psychosis under control, the psychosocial therapies are imperative in helping the individual to gain employment, function positively in relationships, develop coping skills and communicate with other people (Grohol, 2010).
With the right support, a person who has schizophrenia can come to terms with their diagnosis, as well as learn to live and function with it successfully. However, strength with schizophrenia is reliant on the individual conforming with the plan of treatment which is put together by themselves and their doctor, and upholding the balance of therapy and medicinal drugs. An abrupt halt on medication or therapy will often result in a relapse of the person’s symptoms of schizophrenia, and will mean that a slow recovery will have to be started from scratch (Grohol, 2011).
Schizophrenia is a complicated condition with some very traumatic symptoms. A diagnosis of schizophrenia can be devastating to an individual but it can also lead to them receiving the help and support they need in order to handle and live with the illness. There are many possible known causes, and many known treatments. However, there is still a large amount that is still unknown about the condition, and research is constantly taking place in order to widen the scope of knowledge among medical professionals. Hopefully in time much more will be known about schizophrenia, and people who suffer with the condition will be able to be helped more easily.
References
BBC Health. (2012). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/emotional_health/mental_health/disorders_schiz.shtml
Grohol, J.M. (2011). Schizophrenia Treatment. Retrieved from
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31t.htm
Medicine Net, (2011). What are the Different Types of Schizophrenia? Retrieved from
http://www.medicinenet.com/schizophrenia/article.htm#types
Medicine Net B, (2011). What is the History of Schizophrenia? Retrieved from
http://www.medicinenet.com/schizophrenia/page2.htm
Mind. (2011). Understanding Schitzophrenia. Retrieved from
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/schizophrenia#causes
NHS Choices. (2010). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/schizophrenia/Pages/Introduction.aspx
The Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2010). Schizophrenia: Key Facts. Retrieved from
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfoforall/problems/schizophrenia/schizophren
iakeyfacts.aspx
