A disease or disorder
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be defined simply as a mental disorder that makes it hard to differentiate between real and unreal experiences. Individuals suffering from this disorder find it hard making logical decisions and behaving in the right manner during normal circumstances. This disorder is complex such that experts have not really discovered its exact cause though hereditary factors have been known to play a major role. For more than a century, now, schizophrenia has been thought of as a disorder which begins during the adolescent stage or early adulthood (Harrison, p.47).
Individuals with family members suffering from this disorder are likely to also experience it. Studies indicate that the disorder may be triggered by environmental factors especially in individuals who are hereditarily at risk of suffering from it. For instance the development of a fetus may be affected if the mother is experiencing some kind of emotional stress. In such a case social support is very vital since it may improve the patient’s condition. The disorder affects nearly one percent of individuals all over the world and occurs both in men and women.
Schizophrenia not only impacts on those who have the disorder but those close to these patients as well (Jackson p.5). In children, it is not easy to tell whether they have the condition since it can easily be confused with other psychological disorders such as autism. It is however rare in young ones. Schizophrenia has a diversity of symptoms. The disorder develops slowly from months to years and the symptoms keep on elevating just as other illnesses. At the beginning an individual may be tense and may experience trouble while sleeping. The individual also loses concentration.
People suffering from this condition again have trouble making friends and seem withdrawn most of the time. As the disorder progresses, psychotic symptoms begin to develop and they include: moods that display lack of emotions, less reaction to individual’s surroundings, false believes that are not rational and hallucinating. The patient may again experience confusion exchanging thoughts that have no organization. It is significant to note that these symptoms can be different depending on the kind of schizophrenia. The different types of schizophrenia include; disorganized, catatonic, residual, paranoid and undifferentiated.
The disorganized types have trouble thinking clearly and do not express themselves well. They behave like children and display limited emotions. The catatonic types may experience a rigid state such that their muscles cannot move and are not therefore active. They may show less concern towards others. The residual types show less symptoms and cannot be compared to those experiencing full blown schizophrenia. The paranoid types are ever anxious and like arguing with others because they always feel that other people are against them. Lastly the undifferentiated types may exhibit symptoms that are a combination of these other kinds.
It is important to note that individuals suffering from schizophrenia may find it hard keeping friends and even have trouble conducting normal daily activities. These individuals are ever depressed and have thoughts of committing suicide. When conducting tests on individuals to determine whether they have this disorder, a critical evaluation by a psychiatrist is necessary. The diagnosis is performed based on an extensive interview between the patient and his or her family members. There are no medical tests for this disorder and several factors may imply that the illness is present in an individual.
Some of the questions that the psychiatrist may ask while diagnosing the patient entail, family and genetic history, duration of symptoms, level of functioning before indications, response to medication and development background. Scans on the head may be administered to confirm or rule out any changes that occur with this disorder. Treatment of schizophrenia entails comprehensive measures. During an episode of this disorder, a patient may be required to stay in hospital for a long period of time and this is for the sole purpose of safety. The patient may receive basic needs such as food and may be granted optimum rest.
The medications offered to patients with schizophrenia are usually anti-symptomatic to mean that they relieve the symptoms by balancing chemicals in the brain. Despite the fact that these medicines are effective, they can also cause side effects. Researchers have nonetheless addressed these side effects thus patients should not be afraid to seek medical attention. Common side effects for these medicines include dizziness and weight gain. In some instances patients may also experience restlessness, muscle contractions and tremor. Long term side effects include body movements that are hard to control.
For those patients who do not show improvement signs, there are alternative medicines that can be prescribed for them. It should again be noted that schizophrenia is a chronic illness and hence those people suffering form it should stay on medication for a very long time or even the rest of their lives. There are support programs that try to address the problems that patients with such disorders face. These programs teach behavioral skills which are meant to improve the functioning of these patients both at work and home. As mentioned above, support from family members is very fundamental. Evidence from research proves that negligence during childhood can also cause this disorder (Menditto p.21).
Other beneficial skills that may assist people suffering from schizophrenia include; learning to detect early signs and how to deal with them, being knowledgeable on how to take medications, coping with present symptoms, learning life skills such as managing money, building relationships and many others. It is normally necessary that family members and care providers assist a schizophrenic patient to stick to the treatment schedule. Most individuals with this disorder find their symptoms improving especially if they follow the right directions from the doctor.
Other people however, may have functional disabilities and may therefore experience repeated episodes. It is important for community members to assist individuals suffering form schizophrenia since they affect everyone whether directly or indirectly. These patients require supported housing and work rehabilitation. Those patients that experience severe forms of this disorder, may not be able to live alone hence they require company at all times. If family members are unable to provide full attention, they can place the patients in structured places to live there.
Those people with milder forms of schizophrenic can however lead a normal life and engage in satisfying relationships and work experiences. There are several complications that can accompany individuals who suffer from this disorder. These patients are at a high risk of developing problems related to substance abuse. The use of drugs or alcohol elevates the risks of these people experiencing a relapse. Physical diseases are again common in these people since they are mostly inactive. The symptoms might return if medication is not taken correctly or never at all.
There is no known way to prevent this disorder and incase individuals find themselves with the disorder, it is essential that they seek medical advice and do their level best to avoid the symptoms from coming back. Incase the medications are too strong and cannot be continued any more, it is right that a medical profession be informed as soon as possible. Schizophrenia is a disorder that is continuing to affect many people across the globe. With the current changes in lifestyles, many individuals are at risk of developing these disorders especially with the fact that preventive measures are still not known. In simple, the complexities surrounding schizophrenia cannot be easily predicated hence it has become an area of interest in the medical field.
There have been many controversies regarding schizophrenia and present research indicates that the illness is even worse than some fatal diseases such as HIV/AIDS. In the United States for instance, it is estimated that billions of dollars are spent on patients suffering from this disorder every year. Schizophrenia has secured a significant place in the field of neuroscience and molecular biological programs across the world. Biological evidence has suggested that absence of molecular processes in the brain may be the cause of this illness. However, these assumptions are yet to be proved. It is clear that some people do not believe such mental illnesses exist and the more they remain adamant, the higher the losses they will encounter in the near future.
Work Cited
Weinberger,D& Harrison,P. Schizophrenia. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2011 p.47
Birchwood,M.,Birchwood,M.& Jackson,C .Schizophrenia. New York: Psychology Press, 2001p.5
Silverstein,S., Spaulding, W.,& Menditto,A . Schizophrenia .New York: Hogrefe & Huber, 2006 p.21
