Schizophrenia, What is It?
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder in which the
patient understands the reality is abnormal. Schizophrenia usually cause
hallucinations, delusions, impaired thought and behavior. Schizophrenia is a
chronic mental illness that requires long-term treatment. However, the question
is, whether it is an illness or
not. This is what is often debated by experts whether Schizophrenia is classified
as a disease or not. (Huw Green (2014)).
To know more about Schizophrenia, the following will
describe the signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia that can be categorized in
positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. The first, positive symptoms, reflecting the normal function excessive, such
as: (1) delusions, where people have beliefs that do not correspond to reality,
usually misunderstood experience or have the erroneous perception. For example,
believe that anyone would kill him; (2) hallucinations, e.g. hearing voices or
seeing things that are not based on reality. Hallucinations voice is the most
common hallucination. For many people, hearing voices is synonymous with
schizophrenia and severe mental illness. However it turns out, research has
shown that 5-13% of adults will hear voices at some point during their lives,
in circumstances that may be related to spiritual experiences, bereavement,
trauma, sensory deprivation or impairment, as well as mental and emotional
distress. So, if you hear voices, do not immediately assume that means
schizophrenia; (3) disturbance of thought, namely interference in organizing
thoughts and speak, so that people stop talking in mid-sentence or words
without meaning; and (4) conduct irregular. This could come in the form of
behavior as stupid behavior in young children.
The second, negative
symptoms, showed a decrease in normal functioning, such as no longer
interested in doing daily activities, decreased ability to plan or carry out
activities, lack of attention to personal hygiene, shut up, lose motivation,
and others. Third, cognitive symptoms,
disorders such thought processes. This is the most disturbing symptom and a
cause can not work properly, such as disruption to remember, disturbance in
attention, disturbance in understanding the information, and others. (Angela
Woods and Ben Alderson (2015)).
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. However,
some researchers believe that the disease may occur as a result of problematic
chemicals in the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.
It has been proved from a neuroimaging studies that showed differences in brain
structure and central nervous system of patients with schizophrenia. In
addition, researchers also believe that genetic and environmental factors
contribute to the progression of the disease. However, there are several factors
that can increase the risk of these diseases arise and develop, such as living
conditions are stressful, often consume psychoactive drugs during adolescence
and young adulthood, often affected by exposure to viruses, toxins, or
malnutrition during pregnancy, especially on trimesters first and second, and others.
(Justin
Alford (2015)).
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia can be determined based on
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder fifth edition (DSM-V),
or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems (ICD-10). There are five characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia are
delusions, hallucinations continuously, greeting confusing, very messy, and
decreased social functions such as reduction in emotional expression or do not
want to interact with each other. Someone will be classified as suffering from
schizophrenia if you have a minimum of two classic symptoms described above
significantly in the period of 1 month.
Preliminary testing of schizophrenia can be done with
a blood test and an MRI or CT scan. This test is intended to determine the
physical trauma and a variety of other mental disorders that could have
happened in the past. In addition, the track record of patients with symptoms
of schizophrenia to the consumption of alcohol or other psychoactive substances
must also be carried out to ascertain how much influence these substances cause
symptoms in schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia can attack anyone. In fact, data from
the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1995 mentions, one percent of the
world population suffers from schizophrenia. 75% patients with schizophrenia
begin to have it at the age of 16-25 years. Teens and young adults at high risk
because it is full of life stressors stage. The condition is often too late to
realize the family and the environment because it is considered as part of the
phase adjustment.
Patients with schizophrenia are usually treated by
giving antipsychotic drugs. This drug is used to suppress the activity of the hormone
dopamine receiver. Guidance, training and rehabilitation is also an important
measure in the treatment of schizophrenia. In more serious cases, patients can
be hospitalized in order to minimize the risk. Because the impact of
schizophrenia is not only felt by the patient, it is important for the family
and those closest to give support when interacting with people with
schizophrenia.
Work Cited
