Schizophrenia Disorder
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Mental health is necessary for improving an individual’s wellbeing. However, Schizophrenia, a chronic mental disorder, alters the usual brain functioning by making it difficult for an individual to distinguish between what is unreal and real. Even though `schizophrenia may lead to: delusion, behavioral disorders and hallucination, schizophrenia patients have no split personality. The current schizophrenia condition is; paranoid Schizophrenia and is associated with unreal reality perception. The paranoid schizophrenia patients tend to hear, feel and see things that doesn’t exist. Other schizophrenia conditions include; undifferentiated Schizophrenia, catatonic Schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Schizophrenia patients around the world during psychotic episodes, attempt suicide, live in fear and confusion and have an increasing risk of substance abuse.
However, with the right medication and reliable support, schizophrenia patients can get better over time. Focus on this essay is on: causes, types, signs and symptoms, and treatment for Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia has no fully known causes. Causes of Schizophrenia are broadly categorized into environmental causes and genetic causes (Rapaport & Miller, 2016). Vulnerable individual react with the environment hence initiating the disorder. Also, abnormal brain structure causes Schizophrenia even though it is quite unlikely. Rapaport & Miller (2016) believed that dopamine and glutamate both neurotransmitter occur naturally in contributing to schizophrenia disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), genetic First Degree Relative (FDR) is the most significant risk in contracting Schizophrenia. First-degree relative occurrence is relatively low in the general population, but having it as a parent with Schizophrenia elevates schizophrenia risk. However, the risk increases if both parents are schizophrenia patients. Additionally, individuals with a close relative with Schizophrenia are at significant risk in contracting it. Risk factors of Schizophrenia include; family history, substance abuse, pregnancy complications, childbirth complications, physical abuse in childhood, and viral infection at the prenatal stage. Therefore, environmental factors, brain chemistry, and genetics contribute to Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia can be different from one person to the other. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), Schizophrenia is into four main categories: catatonic Schizophrenia, undifferentiated Schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Catatonic schizophrenia patients have a tendency of having a mental, emotional and physical shut down and can last for long periods. The patient is not able to feel the urge for eating nor drinking instead, the patient can stand and have no facial expressions. Catatonia becomes a medical emergency if it last for four hours. However, undifferentiated schizophrenia patients are poor in expressing themselves and appear to be paranoid and confused. Schizoaffective disorder patients are delusional and they also tend to have mood disorder, insomnia and sometimes tend to oversleep. Paranoid schizophrenia patient have extreme paranoia. Overall, the psychiatrist, before diagnosing Schizophrenia, evaluates the patient’s behavior and also, consider the triggering factor of the schizophrenia condition.
Schizophrenia manifests itself on five main symptom characteristics: Delusion, disorganized speech, hallucination, chaotic behavior, and abnormal behavior. Delusion occurs in over 90% of schizophrenia patients (Rapaport & Miller, 2016). Delusion is a false belief against reality. Illusion can be in persecution, reference, grandeur, and control. Disorganized speech and behavior on the hand, can show in unpredictable agitation and includes excessive and useless movement, resistance to instruction, and lack of response. Also, hallucination on schizophrenia patients is very common and tends to worsen when the patients are in solitude. Schizophrenia patient’s negative symptoms reduce the ability of their body to function normally. Negative traits of schizophrenia patients also include social withdrawal and the inability to experience pleasure. Other signs and symptoms include; flat gaze, irrational statements, insomnia, and poor personal hygiene. Signs and symptoms vary from one patient to the other, and the severity of Schizophrenia differs according to the age and gender of the patient. Teenagers experience similar symptoms as adults, even though early symptoms manifest themselves in teenagers and include insomnia, truancy, poor performance at school, poor self-motivation, depression, and solicitude. Therefore, the right prevention measure is sticking to the treatment plan.
The availability of symptoms on an individual will enable a qualified doctor to investigate to establish a diagnosis. The doctor will perform a physical examination and medical history. There are specific investigations carried out to diagnose Schizophrenia, but the doctor can carry out additional studies such as computed tomography and medical resonance imaging and blood test to establish causes of symptoms. With the diagnosis, the doctor will contact a psychiatrist who will use an assessment tool and exclusive interviews to evaluate the patient for Schizophrenia. Later, the doctor determines if the symptoms have an association with any sign outlined in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.
DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis also include disturbance that is not due to drug abuse and has last for six months at least, bipolar disorder, and interpersonal relations.
A great percentage of schizophrenia patients require a more prolonged treatment plan. According to Rapaport & Miller (2016), it is also advisable to avoid stigmatization associated with Schizophrenia. Treatment for Schizophrenia includes: chemotherapy, counseling, and social rehabilitation. Immediate treatment of Schizophrenia by a qualified psychiatrist is fundamental to recovery. Schizophrenia patients are advised that even when they feel better, they need to continue with the treatment plan. Drugs used in schizophrenia treatment are antipsychotics and can be administered orally or by injection. The effectiveness of antipsychotics depends on the type of Schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia patients have a quicker response to antipsychotics and they can easily adjust to their surrounding with the help of antipsychotics. On the other hand, in relaxing catatonic schizophrenia patient’s muscles, benzodiazepines is administered to make them attentive to react to their environment. Antipsychotic drugs are less effective in treating schizophrenia disorder but reduce psychotic symptoms (Rapaport & Miller, 2016). However, on treating Schizophrenia, the patient should:
manage stress, exercise regularly, sleep well, avoid substance abuse, maintain regular nutrition meals, and seek social support.
Research development on Schizophrenia focuses on genetic relationship to social, genetic, developmental, and other factors causing Schizophrenia. Statistical analysis now involves modern tools hence enabling researchers to identify particular genes that affect brain development. Also, the scientist is investigating other factors including infections which may alter brain development. Introduction of conventional or standard antipsychotics ( trifluphenazine/stelazine, prolaxine/fluphenazine, thioxene/navene, trifluoperazine/stelazine, and perphenazine/trilafon), atypical antipsychotics (clozapine/clozaril, risperidone/Risperdal, and olanzapine/Zyprexa) with fewer side effects, is due to the help of scientist. Side effects can be shared,less common, are more serious. Most common side effects include constipation, blurry vision, drowsiness and drying mouth. Less common side effects include stiff of muscle on one side, changes in menstrual, muscle stiffness, and restlessness. More serious side effects include slurred speech, muscle tremors and poor immune system.
Generally, Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, and it involves long term treatment plans. Schizophrenia has no known causes, and it is believed that the association of genetic, environmental, and abnormal brain structure can cause Schizophrenia. The overall treatment goal of Schizophrenia is to reduce and manage signs and symptoms. However, there is a misconception on Schizophrenia, which may alter the rate of recovery. For a steady improvement, self- help initiative should be implied. Early diagnosis of Schizophrenia can be helpful for the first treatment and keeping symptoms under control.Additionally, on suspicion of Schizophrenia on an individual, one should offer encouragement and support, but if possible, ask for the professional help from a qualified doctor or a psychiatrist. Sometimes, a medical emergency is needed. Finally, schizophrenia patients should not be on their own.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.
Goldsmith, D. R., Rapaport, M. H., & Miller, B. J. (2016). A meta-analysis of blood cytokine network alterations in psychiatric patients: comparisons between schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Molecular psychiatry, 21(12), 1696-1709.