Who Gets Schizophrenia?
Symptoms of the Psychological Disorder Schizophrenia
What is schizophrenia? It's a poorly understood, complex psychological disorder characterized by psychotic episodes. Nobody knows for sure who gets schizophrenia or why.
Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder or mental illness that involves severely disturbed moods, thoughts, and behaviors. Researchers aren't certain exactly what causes schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenis have lost touch with reality and can't distinguish fact from fantasy.
The progression of schizophrenia is different for everyone: some people with schizophrenia experience one psychotic episode and go on to live a normal life while others never function independently and always struggle with auditory or visual hallucinations. Other people with schizophrenia experience occasional episodes of irregularity during their otherwise normal lives.
People with schizophrenia believe their hallucinations are real – and the rest of the world is crazy. This makes it difficult to communicate with them, or even attempt to help. Schizophrenia is very different from split personality, multiple personality, or dissociative identity disorder.
Who gets schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia may be genetically caused. A biochemical abnormality such as an enzyme defect or neurological deficit could be at the root of schizophrenia. However, one individual of a pair of identical twins could struggle with schizophrenia while the other one may not, leading researchers to believe that environmental factors play a role in who gets schizophrenia.
Relatives of people with schizophrenia have a higher than average chance of experiencing it themselves. According to The Harvard Guide to Women's Health, a child with a schizophrenic parent has a 1 in 10 chance of developing it, as opposed to a 1 in 100 chance in the general population.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Odd or slightly bizarre behaviors are common at the beginnign of the psychological disorder schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia experience changes in thinking, talking, and behaving are likely – as is social isolation or withdrawal. People with schizophrenia also experience feelings of anxiety and confusion, as well as distorted perceptions of reality or hallucinations. Severe episodes could involve rigid, frozen behavior (sitting or standing completely still for hours at a time) or jumpy nervous actions (pacing, rocking back and forth constantly).
Other symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Hearing voices (auditory hallucinations)
- Delusions of persecution (paranoia)
- Illogical thinking
- Decreased emotional expressions
- Inconsistent thoughts and actions (eg, laughing while describing the hatred of everyone)
- Dangerous behaviors and feelings of invincibility
Treating schizophrenia
It's increasingly possible for people with schizophrenia to lead "normal" lives, because of the development of many new medications and treatments. Since schizophrenia isn't a single condition (it takes a variety of forms), treating schizophrenia revolve around reducing symptoms and minimizing the chances of relapse.
There's no cure, so treating schizophrenia must continue for life.
Treating schizophrenia includes antipsychotic medications, lobotomies, and psychosocial treatments. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) offers resources, support groups, and information for people with schizophrenia and their family members.
If you found What is Schizophrenia? Symptoms of the Psychological Disorder Schizophrenia helpful, try:
- Treating Schizophrenia
- Psychological Disorders
- Three Bizarre Psychological Cases
- Getting Psychological Help
