SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness, and one of a larger class of psychotic disorders defined by the presence of delusions (false beliefs) and/or hallucinations (sensory perceptions without external sensory input). Schizophrenia may also be characterized by disorganized speech and behavior and by negative symptoms such as social, cognitive, and emotional withdrawal. 

The fundamental schizophrenia is a disorder of personality, characterized by distortion of thoughts. People suffering from schizophrenia often have the feeling of being controlled by external forces. Schizophrenia was once thought to be caused by disturbed family interaction patterns, it is now understood that the cause of the disease is biological, while it also interacts with the environment. Schizophrenia has a profound impact on the family. However, the family can play an important role in the treatment of persons with this disorder. 

Impact of Schizophrenia on Brain

There is a strong reason to believe that significant hereditary factors are involved in the causes of schizophrenia. Many researchers are currently discovering the genetic causes of schizophrenia that transmit across generations. The probability of success increases with as the genes of other complex diseases are discovered. Use of contemporary technologies in medical examination processes has revealed notable clues on the causes of schizophrenia.

Occurrence of schizophrenia directly impacts the gray matter of the brain. Gray matter of the brain of people suffering from schizophrenia gets reduced from frontal and temporal lobes. Computer images of brain activity show that part of the brain that governs thought and mental functions shows abnormality in functioning in people with schizophrenia (Medicine Net, 2011). The magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, showed that the same region of the brain in some people with schizophrenia appears to be damage or with abnormal development. The CT scan indicates that the fluid-filled cavities in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia tend to be larger than those that are not met.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms of schizophrenia depend on age, gender, and cultural background of a person. It is necessary to evaluate cognitive and perceptual distortions in the framework of the cultural environment. Many people with schizophrenia experience difficulties with learning, memory, and attention. People with schizophrenia have difficulties in building social relationship with others. In social situations, they also experience anxiety. They tend to react inappropriately or show no reaction during a conversation, or they may talk to themselves. Along with these traits, studies show that schizophrenic patients are sensitive, tends to display suspicious behavior, and being hypersensitive to criticism. People suffering from schizophrenia use a strange language. ...