Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Katelyn and Trent

Definition:

 * Schizophrenia** is a severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, incoherence and physical agitation; it is classified as a "thought" disorder.

History:

 * It originated by a theory condoned by Eugen Bleuler in the early 1900's.
 * The theory was misconceived as a description of split personalities.
 * In reality, it is actually a splitting of psychic processes.
 * It was claimed and still remains today that the individuals diagnosed are split or isolated from reality.

**Public Perception:**

 * Misconceptions
 * Caused by media and false accusations
 * Multiple personalities
 * Psychopathic traits
 * Personality or trait disorders
 * Reality
 * Unknown by majority of public
 * It is used as a false accusation by lawyers to justify unusual behavior
 * Ask for mental help in replacement of jail time

** Causes: **

 * Unknown
 * What is understood: 2 Factors influence diagnostics
 * Genetic
 * Born with certain genes linked to Schizophrenia
 * Not common in families
 * Environmental
 * Only developed if the genes needed, and the correct environmental factors are brought together
 * The individual usually must be at risk
 * Analogy
 * Flower, eggs, sugar is to cookies as environmental, genes, and biological factors are to Schizophrenia

** Signs and Symptoms: **

 * Positive- Expressed outwardly by the individual
 * Delusions
 * Exaggerated and distorted beliefs, or ideals
 * Hallucinations
 * Hearing voices, feeling odd sensations, and smelling foul odors


 * Negative- Always present, but also less responsive to medication
 * Linked to how well one functions in ones environment
 * Examples:
 * Apathy, lack of motivation, absence of speech, inability to experience pleasure, and lack of emotional response

** Treatments: **

 * Medications:
 * Aripiprazole, Clozapine, Ziprasidone, Resperidone, Quetiapine, Olanzapine
 * Effects:
 * Different for each patient
 * For positive symptoms
 * Controls symptoms and thought disorder
 * For negative symptoms
 * Less effective
 * Therapy
 * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
 * Useful to those with anxiety and mood disorders
 * Helps patient understand the distortions in how they perceive things
 * Supportive Psychotherapy
 * Supports the patient
 * Gets the family involved
 * Deals with illness and its effects
 * Educates the patient and family
 * Connects them to the community

References:
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 * 5) Diseases & Disorders Volume 3- Yellow Fever