Schizophrenia

Psychosocial Disorder is a mental illness caused or influenced by life experiences and behavioral processes. Psychosocial refers to the psychological and social factors that influence mental health. The American Psychiatric Association distinguishes 16 different types of mental illness. I am going to tell you about schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is the most chronic and disabling of all the severe mental disorders. Schizophrenia is associated with abnormalities of brain function and structure, disorganized speech, behavior, hallucinations and delusions.

People with schizophrenia, do not always have the same kind of symptoms, they may change over time. In most cases, symptoms occur in adolescence after the age of 6 or 11. Children 5 and younger have been known to have schizophrenia but it is very rare. When it appears in people over 45, it is known as late onset schizophrenia. About 1%-2% of the cases occur in people over 80.

Symptoms may be abrupt or insidious. It often can go undetected for 2-3 years because the history someone has of cognitive of behavioral problems. In most cases, the first psychotic episode is preceded by a warning phase. This usually consists of angry outburst, not being very social, loss of personal hygiene, and the loss in interest for enjoyment. The episode is usually characterized by delusions, in which, they cannot distinguish real and unreal. Also by hallucinations that messes with their sensory perception. The most common is hearing voices.

There is no typical pattern following the first episode. About 70% of patients have a second breakdown within 5-7 years after being diagnosed. About 20% of the patients recover fully. The other 80% have problems going back into society. About 60%-70% of patients have never married or had kids, and have few social contacts.

All of the symptoms of social and mental strain cause a high suicide rate. About 10% of patients kill their self within the first 10 years. That is a rate 20 times higher than our general population.