Who Is to Blame for Schizophrenia?

Abstract

This paper is a focus on the psychological disorder, schizophrenia. It discusses the symptoms and the different categories each symptom falls into as defined by the DSM IV. It also discusses the different types of diagnosis that may be used for schizophrenia, such as biological, psychodynamic, cognitive and sociocultural. Treatment options, such as psychotherapy, medication, and community health services, are reviewed. And lastly, this paper will cover what can be done to better improve the lives of people with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe brain disease. It is said that 2.5 million people in the United States currently have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1 out of every 100 people in the world suffers from schizophrenia at some point in their lifetime (Comer, R., J., 2002). The disease is equally common among men and women but usually seen earlier in men. Schizophrenia is divided into three categories of symptoms, positive, negative and psychomotor.

The positive symptoms include delusions, which are the sufferer’s belief that something is a great truth even though there is no factual evidence to back it up. There are different types of delusions believed by people who have schizophrenia. The first is delusions of persecution, which is said to be the most common in schizophrenia. This type of delusion exists when a schizophrenic feels that others are conspiring against him, which then creates the paranoid symptoms that sometimes go along with the disease. There are also delusions of reference, in which the schizophrenic injects special meaning into the speech and/or behavior of other people. Delusions of grandeur occur when someone believes he is unique and possesses special talents or qualities; for example, he might think he is a great inventor or a person with divine powers. And finally, delusions of control pertain to individuals who feel that their thoughts, words and behaviors are controlled by others (Comer, R.J., 2002).

Disorganized thinking and speech is also a positive symptom of schizophrenia. These symptoms occur when the thought and/or speech processes of a schizophrenic do not work in a logic fashion and result in miscommunication and confusion for everyone concerned. Often the schizophrenic uses incomplete sentences and shift topics at rapid pace, making his speech incoherent. Hallucinations and heightened perceptions are positive symptoms that occur when people visualize objects that are not there. This also includes imagined voices that schizophrenics hear which, at times, give them threats, warnings, or commands. The final positive symptom this paper will address is inappropriate affects, which is showing inappropriate emotions during certain situations, for example showing great signs of joy at a funeral (Comer, R., J., 2002).

One of the negative symptoms for schizophrenia is poverty of speech, which is a decline in speech and speech content. Blunted and flat affects are manifest when a person shows little or no emotions, speaking in the same tone of voice. Loss of volition happens when a persons loses interests in any goals or ambitions and loses energy altogether. Lastly, social withdraw is a negative symptom that may occur when a person feels more comfortable away from situations where he has to face reality. Other symptoms can create a constant state of confusion for the schizophrenic and cause him to withdraw, which can eventually lead to loss of social skills.

There is only one psychomotor symptom, catatonia, that is seen in schizophrenia. Catatonia is present when people project themselves in awkward movements or gestures that can last from hours to days (Comer, R. J., 2002). The sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms is called the acute phase of schizophrenia. Psychosis is the state of mental impairment, which is marked by hallucinations, delusions and disturbances in sensory perception. Some people may have several psychotic episodes while others may only have one in their lifetime (Petland, et. al., 2003). Any one of these symptoms can create a state of confusion for the individual and may be seen as shocking to others around them. Coping with the symptoms of schizophrenia can be extremely hard for the family who sees their loved one change drastically from the person they used to know.

Schizophrenia usually appears during late adolescence and occurs in three separate stages. The first stage, the prodromal phase, the person is not yet showing obvious signs of illness but is starting to withdraw and exhibit odd changes in their behavior and speech. The second phase, called the active phase, is the time that many of the extreme symptoms mentioned earlier become apparent. It is during the third phase, or the residual phase, that the symptoms decrease and return to a prodromal level (Comer, R., J., 2002).

Schizophrenia can only be diagnosed after six months of symptoms that are interfering with their daily life. The DSM-IV has categorized five types of schizophrenia. The first is disorganized type of schizophrenia, which centers on the symptoms of confusion, incoherent and flat or inappropriate affect. This can include social withdraw, attention and perception disturbances as well as unusual mannerisms. The second kind is catatonic type of schizophrenia, which can be displayed by either catatonic exhilaration or a catatonic trance. Paranoid type of schizophrenia is indicated by auditory hallucinations and delusions that people are conspiring against the schizophrenic. In the undifferentiated type of schizophrenia, the physician can not pin- point how the patient should be classified since there are overlapping symptoms. And residual type of schizophrenia occurs when social withdraw, unsuitable emotions, irrational thinking and odd behaviors all take place. Physicians also classify people that show positive symptoms as a Type I schizophrenia and patients that demonstrate negative symptoms as a Type II schizophrenia (Comer, R., J., 2002).

There are many different viewpoints as to what causes schizophrenia. The biological view is that inappropriate brain activity causes the disease to occur. Adherents to this viewpoint believe that the disease is inherited and that schizophrenia is brought on later after a major, stressful occurrence. This viewpoint is supported by twin studies, family genetics studies, and adoption studies. It has been proven that it is more common to develop schizophrenia if it runs in the family. In one twin study, it was shown that if one twin had schizophrenia, then there was a 48% chance the other would develop it as well. They have performed adoption studies to see if schizophrenia was