Schizophrenia Essay, Research Paper

Schizophrenia is not a single disease, but a broad category of mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is a psychiatry disorder where several structural disturbances occur in the brain. It normally takes place in the temporal and frontal lobes, changing the neural systems and affecting the neurotransmitters in charge of controlling the functioning that takes place in these areas. It is not a structural brain disease that shows up early on X-rays CAT scans, or EEGs. Schizophrenics also have defects in the handling of amino acids.

Schizophrenia usually affects men while they are young and women later in their lives. Schizophrenia often starts out very slowly and progresses to a severely disabling mental illness. Early Schizophrenics tend to experience spontaneous dream like episodes with material that resembles art, myth poetry, and B-movies. Many Patients also show negative symptoms, such as decreased emotional arousal, mental activity, and social drive. Schizophrenia is often confused with split personality, but it is not the same, Though in reality schizophrenia means ?split mind?.

Many scientists believe there are four types of schizophrenia. First of all there is the simple or ?undifferentiated? type, which is characterized by a gradual reduction in the external relations and interests. Next there is the ?hebephrenic? or disorganized type, it is characterized by delusions and false perceptions. Then there is the ?catatonic? type in which there is a state of inactivity and striking motor skills. Last there is the ?paranoid? type which usually arises later in life, which is associated with illogical thinking, delusions of persecution ,or of grandeur. While these four specific types have not been universally accepted, it is the approach most commonly accepted by most psychiatrists.

Schizophrenia crosses all socioeconomic, cultural, and racial boundaries. Different theories of the beginning of schizophrenia have centered on anatomical, biochemical, psychological, social, genetic, and environmental cause. The general view is that the schizophrenic types of reaction result from faulty adjustments to a variety of underlying conditions that may be either physical or psychological, or both. Treatments for schizophrenia may include replacing food with ENF, fortified with higher than usual intake of vitamins such as B1, B3, B6, B12, and mineral intake.

Schizophrenia is a broad category of mental illnesses. It should not be thought of as one single disease, but as many mental diseases joint as one. It can be found in any race, sex, and social status of people. About one in every one-hundred people will be treated for Schizophrenia in their life time. There is an expected new level of awareness from physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists during the next decade.