The Causes of Schizophrenia Essay - 3196 Words

Schizophrenia is undoubtedly one of the most common psychological disorders which according to epidemiology, affects at least 1 in 100 individuals (Kolb Whishaw, 2011), equating to 24 million people worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2012). Research has demonstrated that symptoms of the illness usually become apparent in late adolescence or early adulthood (Bear, Connors, Paradiso, 2007), with males typically experiencing an earlier onset in comparison to their female counterparts (Kalat, 2012). Psychological disorders as such have detrimental consequences for their sufferers, in which an individual uncontrollably loses contact with reality, accompanied by the experience of irrational ideas and the presence of distorted†¦show more content†¦Evidence provided will consist of research in which support for the claim has been obtained, followed by contradictory claims which subsequently suggest alternatives. The term ‘schizophrenia’, which was originally known as ‘dementia praecox’ (Latin for ‘premature mental deterioration’), was coined in 1911 by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler (Kalat, 2012). Bleuler used the term as a means of representing a major psychotic illness which he described as the â€Å"splitting of the different psychic functions† within an individual (Bleuler, 1950; as cited in Toates, 2007, p. 540). It is important to highlight momentarily that although the term schizophrenia is Greek for ‘spilt mind’, it is in fact unrelated to dissociative identity disorder (Kalat, 2012). In an attempt to clarify this, Blueler proposed that schizophrenia means â€Å"divided mind† in that many sufferers oscillate between normal and abnormal states, typically experiencing a ‘split’ between emotion and intellect (Bear et al., 2007, p. 679). With only an evasive definition of schizophrenia obtainable, clinicians and researchers have found it easier to identify and classify schizophrenic behaviour, as opposed to providing a definitive definition (Kolb Whishaw, 2011). Core symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, and disorganised speechShow MoreRelatedCauses Of Schizophrenia1426 Words   |  6 Pagesthat there are absolutely genetic causes for schizophrenia. Monozygotic twins share roughly 100% of their genes and dizygotic twins share roughly half of their genes. Findings in twin studies show that monozygotic twins will both experience schizophrenia 46%-53% of the time when one is diagnosed. Among dizygotic twins, 14%-15% will both be diagnosed with schizophrenia. These findings show that there is a clear genetic relevance to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. While the rates among twins are highRead MoreSchizophrenia - Causes and Symptoms828 Words   |  3 PagesSchizophrenia – Causes and Sympt oms Schizophrenia, from a Greek origin meaning, â€Å"splitting of the mind,† is a chronic psychiatric disorder that makes it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is deceptive. This illness alters a person’s ability to think or act, identify reality, portray emotions, and relate to others. Attitudes and behaviors that coincide with this infirmity are contradictory, and the persons who obtain this sickness must learn to live with the conflicting lifestyleRead MoreThe Causes And Cures Of Schizophrenia938 Words   |  4 Pages The causes, cures and intellectual comprehension in schizophrenia patients remains unknown. Scientists have discovered that schizophrenia is a severe condition that develops by a combination of biological, environmental, and unforeseen factors. Since this condition effects no more than two percent of the population, it is challenging to find an adequate sample size for assessments and further study. People suffering from schizophrenia are incapable of determining reality and show a wide array ofRead MoreSymptoms, Causes, And Treatments Of Schizophrenia1702 Words   |  7 PagesSymptoms, Causes, and Treatments of Schizophrenia Cassidy Echalico Florida State College at Jacksonville Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a stigmatized disease that labels victims as crazy. One percent of people develop schizophrenia in their lifetime; more than two million Americans suffer from schizophrenia in a given year (Spearing, 1999). Although schizophrenia affects men and women equally, it often appears earlier in men than in women; Men are generally affectedRead MoreSchizophrenia And Its Symptoms, Causes, Treatments954 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Schizophrenia is a turbulent mental illness that many people throughout America are suffering from. The word schizophrenia comes from th One percent of America’s population is diagnosed with Schizophrenia each year. This mental disorder is more common in late teenagers and young adults ranging from the ages of 20 to 30. It is proven that this illness occurs in more young men than women. People who suffer from schizophrenia usually cannot have normal lives due to the disabling symptomsRead MoreThe Major Types and Possible Causes of Schizophrenia1082 Words   |  4 PagesSchizophrenia is a severe, debilitating disabling disease. There are more than two million Americans who suffer with schizophrenia in any given year. Some of the symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, apathy, lack of emotion, disorganized thoughts, difficulty concentrating or following instructions and memory problems. There are no lab tests to diagnose schizophrenia and most times the pati ent is misdiagnosed with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or major depression (Daily schizophreniaRead More Biological Dysfunction as a Cause for Schizophrenia Essay2153 Words   |  9 PagesBiological Dysfunction as a Cause for Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, which is characterised by a number of both positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are behaviours which are present although should be absent. Examples of these are thought disorders resulting in difficulty in arranging thoughts logically, jumping from one topic of conversation to another and speaking random words. Other positive symptoms of schizophrenia include delusionsRead MoreEssay Biological, Social and Psychological Causes of Schizophrenia558 Words   |  3 PagesBiological, Social and Psychological Causes of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a very serious, long-term disorder that affects about 1% of the world’s population. It affects people anywhere from twenty years old, to forty-five years old. It is known to be one of the most disabling diseases in this age group. Schizophrenia can break down a person’s behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. People who suffer from schizophrenia usually show very inappropriate displays of their actions and feelings. SufferersRead MoreSchizophrenia: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Essay1851 Words   |  8 PagesINTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. Patients experience progressive personality changes and a breakdown in their relationships with the outside world. They have disorganized and abnormal thinking, behavior and language and become emotionally unresponsive or withdrawn. â€Å"The first signs, usually only noticed in looking back on events, are likely to include an unexpected withdrawal of the degree or type of contact that the person used to have with family or school. The personRead MoreSchizophrenia Stigmas, Causes and Brain Activity Differences Essay1967 Words   |  8 PagesSchizophrenia Stigmas, Causes and Brain Activity Differences Contrary to popular belief, Schizophrenia is not a mental health disorder but a psychotic based disorder, in which those affected often experience psychosis. Those experiencing psychosis are known to lose touch with reality; this loss often results in delusions and/or hallucinations. This leads one to ask: what are the social stigmas, plausible causes and brain activity differences related to schizophrenia? Background Schizophrenia is