Schizophrenia: A Mental Disorder

Abstract

Different types of mental disorders have existed in this world for more than thousand years now. Initially any type of abnormal condition, may it be physical or mental came under the same category of mental disorder and people did not have enough information and means to differentiate between these conditions. Early researches and theories described that people having any type of abnormal condition were possessed by some undefined evil force. Sometimes music or other violent treatments were used to cure the patient. Emil Kraeplin, a German Physicist was the first one to come up with a terminology of Dementia Praecox for such patients suffering from Schizophrenia (Johns Hopkins Medicines).This term was used for the first time by Eugen Bleuler who was a Swiss Psychiatrist. The term Schizophrenia means split minds and was used for such people or patients whose thought processes were disconnected from their emotional responses (The New York Times, 2012). He categorized such patients to suffer from Schizophrenia which was a type of mental disorder. Around 1 percent of American population seems to suffer from this mental disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). There is no definite cure for this disease, however many people facing this mental disorder can still lead a healthy and normal life with some effort and treatment. The aim of this research paper is to define what Schizophrenia actually is, its symptoms and treatment. Additionally, the social attitude of society towards patients suffering from this mental disorder will also be discussed in detail with suggestions and recommendation for the treatment of the disorder.

Table of Contents

Abstract1

Introduction3

Discussion3

Symptoms3

Social Attitude towards Schizophrenia4

Treatment Modalities5

Conclusion6

References8

Schizophrenia: A Mental Disorder

Introduction

Schizophrenia is an extremely chronic and severe mental disorder that disables brain and its normal functioning and thought processes. Many people are affected by this mental illness in early teens or adulthood. But there is no specific time for the occurrence of this problem otherwise and it can happen at any stage of life. The symptoms and condition of this disease is different in different individuals but it normally contains following signs that shows that the person might be having this problem (Johns Hopkins Medicine).

Discussion

Symptoms

Symptoms of Schizophrenia can be divided into 3 types that are negative, positive and cognitive depending upon the nature of the symptom and condition of the patient.

Positive symptoms are those that can happen to a person and then disappear in the form of psychotic behaviors that are unusual for a normal person. In such a condition the person tends to lose connection with the real life. Hallucination is the basic form in which the patient hears different sounds, voices, smells or sees people or things that no one else can see. Delusions are another form in which people develop false beliefs about others. For example, believing that people on television are trying to control them through some secret coded messages. Thought disorders disable the person to think in a logical and organized manner and the person loses connection and logic. The last type of positive symptoms ...