CONTENTS

NO. TITLE PAGE

1 Title of psychological disorder 1

2 Introduction 2

3 A real story about a schizophrenia disorder 3

4 What is schizophrenia disorder? 5

5 Types of schizophrenia disorder 6

6 The causes of schizophrenia disorder 7

7 The early signs of schizophrenia disorder 10

8 The symptoms of schizophrenia disorder 11

9 The diagnosis for the schizophrenia 14

10 The treatments for the schizophrenia disorder 15

11 Conclusion 18

12 References 19

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TITLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISORDER :

SCHIZOPHRENIA

INTRODUCTION

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 Psychological disorder is a disorder of the mind involving thoughts, behaviors and

emotions that can be cause neither self nor others significant distress. During our research

about psychological disorder, we had found that schizophrenia is a unique disease and has

become the world biggest fear.

Many people believe they know what schizophrenia is. However, it is very

misunderstood by many people as they view in with a narrow-mind as it is simply labeled as

a psychological problem. The truth is schizophrenia is a medical illness, just like diabetes and

cancer. It is not a split personality, it is not caused by bad parenting or childhood trauma, and

it does not necessarily mean violent behavior. It is a very serious and devastating disease of

the brain. It is actually quite common, as it occurs in 1 of 100 people at some point in their

lives. The disease begins for most people between 16-25 years old, it is uncommon to begin

after age 30, and rare after age 40. Although both males and females can have schizophrenia,

more males have the disease. There are several symptoms of schizophrenia, all being very

serious and many of them are frightening.

For years the disease has been misunderstood. However, in recent decades more

information has been revealed about schizophrenia and we now have a better understanding.

However, it is a complex disease and is often difficult to understand. The brain chemistry

behind the disease goes into great depth, as there are several theories.

A REAL STORY ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER

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 VINCENT VAN GOGH

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Zundert, a town in the southern

Netherlands. Van Gogh died at his own hand in France at the age of 37. The son of a

Protestant pastor, he was the eldest of six children and, by all accounts, had a normal, happy

childhood. Van Gogh came from an upstanding family of clergymen, art-dealers, and military

officers, and his parents wished for him to follow in this tradition. As a child, he was an

insatiable reader, with wide-ranging interests, including religion. Although his mother was a

talented artist, van Gogh did not pursue art in his early life. He was especially close to his

younger brother, Theodore (Theo), his most staunch supporter.

In 1873, at age 20, van Gogh traveled to London, he fell in love with an English girl

by whom he was rejected. Saddened and disillusioned, he resigned himself to a solitary life as

a language teacher and a lay preacher in England. From 1879 to 1880, van Gogh did

missionary work in Southwestern Belgium. He had deep sympathy for the poor and

unfortunate. He gave away all of his possessions and fell into despair and poverty. In his

solitude, van Gogh began to draw. He also underwent a spiritual awakening and decided that

his mission in life was to console humanity through art.

Van Gogh moved to Paris, where his brother Theo worked as an art-dealer. Theo

introduced him to many of the popular painters of the time, including Paul Gaugin, Camille

Pissarro, and Georges Seurat. In 1888 he settled in Arles in Provence, where he painted his

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famous series of Sunflowers. He invited Gaugin to live with him, but the relationship suffered

because of extreme conflict and personality differences. Gaugin left shortly thereafter. In

extreme despair, at the age of 35, on Christmas Eve of 1888, Van Gogh cut off a part of his

left ear. Mentally ill, he was treated at the hospital in Arles shortly after this event. He was

then committed to the asylum in St. Remy, where he was under medical supervision for 12

months. He continued to paint while in the asylum.

Vincent van Gogh shot himself on July 27, 1890. He died two days later with his

brother Theo present. Theo died only six months later. Although he sold only one painting

during his life, van Gogh is now considered one of the greatest Dutch painters since

Rembrandt. His fame was probably enhanced by his well-documented mental difficulties.

WHAT IS THE SCHIZOPHRENIA?

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 Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that generally appears in late adolescence or early

childhood and affects the way a person behaves, thinks, feels, act, and sees the world. Thus,

people with schizophrenia often have an altered perception of reality. They may see or hear

things that do not exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to

harm them, or feel like they are being constantly watched. This can make it difficult to

negotiate the activities of daily life, and people with schizophrenia may withdraw from the

outside world or act out in confusion and fear.

Moreover, schizophrenia is a challenging disorder that makes it difficult to distinguish

between what is real and unreal, think clearly, manage emotions, relate to others, and function

normally. But that does not mean there is any hope. Otherwise, schizophrenia can be

successfully managed. The first step is to identify the signs and symptoms. The second step is

to seek help without delay. So, with the right treatment and support, a person with

schizophrenia can lead a happy and fulfilling life.

Contrary to public perception, schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple

personalities. Besides, the vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent and do

not pose a danger to others. Although schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, there is help

available.

Last but not least, with support, medication, and therapy, many people with

schizophrenia are able to function independently and live fulfilling lives.

TYPES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

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 There are different types of schizophrenia such as paranoid schizophrenia, catatonic

schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, and undifferentiated schizophrenia.

Paranoid schizophrenia is the type in which a patient has delusions and hallucinations

of a theme of persecution. The patient is in fear of being harmed or controlled by

others and hallucinations are quite common.

Catatonic schizophrenia is the type in which a patient is disturbed in such a way that

their movement and responsiveness to the environment have diminished. This is

known as the catatonic stupor. Another factor is negativism, this is when an individual

refuses to follow instructions.

Disorganized schizophrenia is the type in which a patient has incoherent speech, loose

associations, irrationality, and disorganized behavior. A person with this type of

schizophrenia has inappropriate, unpredictable, or grossly exaggerated responses.

They may experience delusions and hallucinations, but not of the same theme of a

patient with paranoid schizophrenia. Overall their behavior is very abnormal and

bizarre.

Undifferentiated schizophrenia is the type in which a patient has mixed symptoms

which cannot put them in any one category. Some people with schizophrenia have

symptoms that change over time. They are put under the label of undifferentiated

schizophrenia.

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 THE CAUSES OF THE SCHIZOPHRENIA

In the past, people did not think that schizophrenia was a medical illness. Instead, they

thought it was some sort of psychological problem. More and more information is discovered

about schizophrenia and describes the causes, which is entirely biological.

Recent evidence has been gathered that pointed to one physical cause a heavily

biological basis that originates in the fetus. What happens to people who develop

schizophrenia is as a fetus the neurons do not develop properly, causing the patients to have

disorganized thoughts and problems with mental functioning. Another study states that there

are 5 chromosomes involved that contribute to schizophrenia, but chromosomes 22 and 6

play the biggest role. New studies show that there are new genes that are responsible for

schizophrenia as well as manic depression. The likeliness of inheriting schizophrenia from a

parent, or both parents is relatively high.

There is a combination of inherited genetic factors and non-genetic factors in the cause

of schizophrenia. During the first two decades of life there is an ongoing process of brain

development and maturity. During this stage, when the connectivity and communication

within neural circuitry are disrupted, patients end up with a variety of symptoms and

impairments. Therefore, the common pathway that defines schizophrenia is misregulation of

information processing in the brain. The rate at which an identical twin also has

schizophrenia is at 40%, which means that non-genetic factors do have a role. Studies have

shown that birth during winter or in urban areas have increased the risk of schizophrenia. An

example is infections during pregnancy or early childhood. Non-genetic factors that can

possibly contribute to the increased risk of schizophrenia are the effects of poor nutrition on

fetal and childhood brain development, exposure to toxins that damage neurons or affect

neurotransmitter systems such as alcohol and retinoid, and exposure to radiation that might

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cause mutations. Any damage to the neurotransmitter systems of the brain at an early age will

put an individual in high risk of having schizophrenia.

The causes of schizophrenia are often inherited, but there is a wide list of non-genetic

causes. Although inherited genetic factors greatly contribute to the chance of offspring to

develop schizophrenia, there are non-genetic factors that can also contribute the likeliness of

developing the disease. For this reason it is always important for a pregnant woman to stay

healthy, even a virus like a flu can seriously harm a fetus and damage brain development.

However, the cause of schizophrenia is still unclear. Some theories about the cause of this

disease include:

a) Genetics (heredity)
Scientists recognize that the disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits

a tendency to develop the disease. Similar to some other genetically-related illnesses,

schizophrenia may appear when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes,

like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years or after dealing

with highly stressful situations.

b) Biology (abnormalities in the brains chemistry or structure)
i) Chemistry - Scientists believe that people with schizophrenia have an

imbalance of the brain chemicals or neurotransmitters such as dopamine,

glutamate, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters allow nerve cells in the

brain to send messages to each other. The imbalance of these chemicals affects

the way a persons brain reacts to stimuli, which explains why a person with

schizophrenia may be overwhelmed by sensory information such as loud

music or bright lights, which other people can easily handle. This problem in

processing different sounds, sights, smells and tastes can also lead to

hallucinations or delusions.

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 ii) Structure - Some research suggests that problems with the development of

connections and pathways in the brain while in the womb may later lead to

schizophrenia.

c) Viral infections and Immune disorders

Schizophrenia may also be triggered by environmental events, such as viral infections

or immune disorders. For instance, babies whose mothers get the flu while they are

pregnant are at higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Thus, people who

are hospitalized for severe infections are also at higher risk.

THE EARLY SIGNS OF THE SCHIZOPHRENIA

The signs of schizophrenia are different for everyone. Symptoms may develop slowly over

months or years or may appear very abruptly. The disease may come and go in cycles of

relapse and remission.

a) Behaviours that are early warning signs of schizophrenia include:

Hearing or seeing something that is not there

A constant feeling of being watched

Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing

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 Strange body positioning

Feeling indifferent to very important situations

Deterioration of academic or work performance

A change in personal hygiene and appearance

A change in personality

Increasing withdrawal from social situations

Irrational, angry or fearful response to loved ones

Inability to sleep or concentrate

Inappropriate or bizarre behaviour

Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult

However, for anyone who experiences several of these symptoms for more than two weeks

should seek help immediately.

THE SYMPTOMS OF THE SCHIZOPHRENIA

There are several symptoms that people with schizophrenia suffer from. Some suffer

from a few, some suffer from many, and some suffer from all. Or the symptoms can change at

different times. The symptoms are split into two categories. Negative symptoms and positive

symptoms. Negative symptoms are symptoms that are absent or lacking, but they should be

there. Positive symptoms are existing symptoms that should be absent. Negative symptoms

can be the initial signs of schizophrenia, and start to become noticeable when one loses

interest in usual activities or becomes unfeeling. However, sometimes types of moodiness

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and withdrawal are typical for many teenagers. Some of these negative symptoms can

become very severe, and one may not even be able to do a simple task like grocery shopping.

It used to believe that negative symptoms are side-effects of the treatment against

schizophrenia but now it is known to be false. Positive symptoms are usually very obvious

because the patient would believe something that does not make sense to others around them.

A medical or mental health professional may use the following terms when discussing

the symptoms of schizophrenia.

a) Positive symptoms
The disturbances that are added to the persons personality.

Delusions Beliefs that others are unable to see. A typical delusion is the belief

that one is being spied on, plotted against, harmed or tormented. Some believe

they have special powers or are being controlled by other forces. Often

delusions of some sort of religious nature are common.

Hallucinations Individuals have the ability to hear, see, smell, taste, or feel

something. The most common form of hallucinations is hearing voices. Usually

these voices are talking to the person or about the person in a nasty and critical

way.

Thought disorders One may have difficulty sorting out or processing their

thoughts in such a way that they can communicate with others. Their speech

may become incoherent or fragmented because their thinking is not straight.

Excitement Individuals may seem hyperactive or restless as they feel various

rapidly changing emotions.

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 Grandiosity Individuals get such a great feeling of wealth, power and fame.

They become so unrealistic that they start to think that they can withstand

bullets and fly over buildings.

Suspiciousness/persecution Individuals start to guard themselves and

become mistrustful of others. They believe that they are being watched and

others are trying to harm them. They begin to search for proof of their

suspicions.

Hostility Abusive, sarcastic, and uncooperative behavior towards family and

caregivers.

b) Negative symptoms
The capabilities that are lost from the persons personality.

Blunted affect Individuals may say that they feel less emotionally connected

to what is around them, and they appear less responsive to their surroundings.

An alternative is when an individual responds with an inappropriate emotion,

such as laughing for no apparent reason.

Emotional withdrawal An individual becomes less social, has fewer

interests, and fewer personal relationships.

Poor rapport A lack of energy or drive which allows them to do nothing

more but eat or sleep. To those around them they appear as lazy, but this is part

of the disease because a drive mechanism in the brain is missing.

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 Passive/apathetic/social withdrawal One spends most of their time alone

because they feel safer and calmer. They are so wound up in their own thoughts

that they lose interest in the feelings and lives of others.

Difficulty in abstract thinking An individual cannot see beyond details and

move from the specific to the general.

Lack of spontaneity A hesitance in speech or action. They decrease

spontaneous movements or they become very strange with their own

movements.

Stereotyped thinking An individual can hold a very rigid attitude or belief

against somebody which may seem unreasonable. Repetitive thoughts interfere

with their thoughts.

Physical symptoms In severe cases a person might sit motionless and stare

off into space for a long period of time. They become less concerned about their

personal hygiene.

Positive symptoms are usually more striking and call attention to the patient, however,

negative symptoms are also important as they can impair a person's ability to function and

live in their society.

THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE SCHIZOPHRENIA

A schizophrenia diagnosis is reached by observing the actions of the patient. If the doctor

suspects possible schizophrenia, they will need to know about the patient's medical and

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psychiatric history. Certain tests will be ordered to rule out other illnesses and conditions that

may trigger schizophrenia symptoms. Examples of some of the tests may include:

Blood tests
Imaging studies - To rule out tumours and problems in the structure of the brain
Psychological evaluation - A specialist will assess the patient's mental state by

asking about thoughts, moods, hallucinations, suicidal traits, violent tendencies or

potential for violence, as well as observing their demeanour and appearance

DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA

It is important to establish that the signs and symptoms have not been caused by, for example,

a prescribed medication or substance abuse. Also, the patient must:

a) Have at least two of the following typical symptoms of schizophrenia -

Delusions
Disorganized or catatonic behaviour
Disorganized speech
Hallucinations
Negative symptoms that are present for much of the time during the last 4 weeks
b) Experience considerable impairment in the ability to attend school, carry out their

work duties, or carry out everyday tasks

c) Have symptoms which persist for 6 months or more
THE TREATMENTS FOR THE SCHIZOPHRENIA

There is no cure to schizophrenia, but it can be treated. Full recovery is possible, but it

cannot be predicted. The delusions and hallucinations are most intense for people age

between 20 to 30 years old but tend to decline later on in age. Therefore later on in life, one

may experience fewer positive symptoms. However, hallucinations are still possible late in

life.

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 There is no simple way to diagnose schizophrenia, as the symptoms can represent other

problems. It's possible that one might have epilepsy or brain tumors. If one has hallucinations

it is not definite that they have schizophrenia because it could be possibly could be the result

of drug abuse from cocaine. There is no blood test to determine the presence of the disease

either. It takes a doctor sometime to diagnose the disease, as the symptoms have to be present

for at least six months. The diagnosis is done according to a detailed patient history, and the

patient's symptoms.

Drugs are the key form of treatment for schizophrenia, as they are for other diseases.

These drugs help control the symptoms of the disease. Medications called antipsychotics,

developed in the 1950's, are the drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic

problems. This way, they do not have to remain in the hospital for years. These drugs can

treat other things as well as anxiety. Sometimes the side effects can be a drawback to the

drug, so other drugs have to be taken to lessen the side effects. Although antipsychotics often

control the positive symptoms, the negative symptoms do not necessarily respond to these

drugs. Therefore, not only drugs are necessary but psychosocial therapy and social support.

When the disease first strikes, and is severe, hospitalization is probably necessary since the

patient can receive a lot of help. Even after the disease is treated, or partially treated, regular

visits to the doctor or help from support staff is necessary. It is important to receive this type

of help. This way people can get encouragement, make friends, and get good practical advice.

A good education of the disease is important for the entire family when it is present in a

member. If someone is experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, encourage them to see a

medical or mental health professional immediately. Early treatment can mean a better long-

term outcome.

a) Recovery and Rehabilitation

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 While no cure for schizophrenia exists, many people with this illness can lead

productive and fulfilling lives with the proper treatment. Recovery is possible through

a variety of services, including medication and rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation

can help a person recover the confidence and skills needed to live a productive and

independent life in the community.

i) Types of services that help a person with schizophrenia include:

Case management helps people access services, financial assistance, treatment

and other resources.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs are programs that help people regain

skills such as employment, cooking, cleaning, budgeting, shopping, socializing,

problem solving, and stress management.

Self-help groups provide on-going support and information to persons with

serious mental illness by individuals who experience mental illness themselves.

Drop-in centers are places where individuals with mental illness can socialize

and receive informal support and services on an as-needed basis.

Housing programs offer a range of support and supervision from 24 hour

supervised living to drop-in support as needed.

Employment programs assist individuals in finding employment and gaining the

skills necessary to re-enter the workforce.

Therapy or Counseling includes different forms of talk therapy, both

individual and group, that can help both the patient and family members to better

understand the illness and share their concerns.

Crisis Services include 24-hours hotlines, after hours counseling, residential

placement, and in-patient hospitalization.

b) Antipsychotic Medication

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 Medications are often used to help control the symptoms of schizophrenia. They help

to reduce the biochemical imbalances that cause schizophrenia and decrease the

likelihood of relapse. Like all medications, however, antipsychotic medications should

be taken only under the supervision of a mental health professional. Atypical

antipsychotics are less likely to cause some of the severe side effects associated with

typical antipsychotics such as tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, and tremors.

c) Miscellaneous Antipsychotic Agents

Miscellaneous antipsychotic agents function differently than typical or atypical

antipsychotic medications. Loxapine is one such miscellaneous antipsychotic and

is used to treat agitation in people with schizophrenia.

Side effects

Side effects are common with antipsychotic drugs. They range from mild side effects

such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness and dizziness which usually

disappear after a few weeks to more serious side effects such as trouble with muscle control,

pacing, tremors and facial ticks.

The newer generation of drugs has fewer side effects. However, it is important to talk

with a mental health professional before making any changes in medication since many side

effects can be controlled.

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, schizophrenia is a very uncommon disease, and it is fortunate that

nowadays it is less misunderstood. We have acquired a better knowledge of schizophrenia

and have learned that it is indeed a very serious and frightening medical illness. The disease

itself is not fatal, but can lead to death. 10% of all people who get schizophrenia commit

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suicide. Many people suffer with schizophrenia end up in poverty as well, for example, one

third of the homeless population is America suffers from schizophrenia. This shows that the

symptoms of schizophrenia stop people from living normal lives, as they end up alienating

themselves. For this reason, a lot treatment with support is necessary for somebody with

schizophrenia. The best way to make someone feel better is to let them know that they are

worthy.

Schizophrenia will continue to victimize millions. Our health care system can feel the

effects of schizophrenia, as it is the largest contributor to the cost of hospitalization, and it

costs Canada well over $2 billion per year. Fortunately, at least there is some sort of treatment

for this serious and misunderstood disease. As we continue to perform further medical

research we hope that one day there will be a cure for schizophrenia. Until then, it is

important that everyone has a good knowledge of the topic and be aware that it is quite

common and it is not what most people think it is.

REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing. pp. 101

05. ISBN 978-0890425558.

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"An Introduction of Schizophrenia". http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/schizintro.html

Bibbo, Kimberly "Change In View: Schizophrenia Moves From Psychology to

Biology". http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web1/Bibbo.html

Kneisl C. and Trigoboff E. (2009). Contemporary Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing. 2nd

edition. Pearson Prentice Ltd. p. 371

Schizophrenia. Mental Health America. March 2016. Retrieved 20th March 2016

Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. January 2016. Retrieved 24th

November 2016.

Schizophrenia. Vincent Van Gogh illness. Psychological Disorder. April 2010. Retrieved 24 th

November 2016.

"Several genes confirmed as responsible for schizophrenia and manic depressive illness".

http://www.schizophrenia.com/newsletter/397/397genes.html

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