Other Causes of Schizophrenia.

According to the experts in this field, the causes of schizophrenia are not identified yet. There are different ideas or opinions present by some researchers to relate the causes with schizophrenia, as stated above:

 §  Biochemical disorder 

It is in the brain which is neurotransmitter produces too much chemical called ‘Dopamine’. 

The excessive level of dopamine results sensory stimulation and nerve impulse firing in very high mode and consequently to multiplicity of thoughts and altered perceptive levels. 

Person who suffered with biochemical disorder develop schizophrenia 

without having life stress and so on.

§  Genetic factors,  

Schizophrenia can run in families, where,  if one parent has the illness, 

the chances of one of the children inherent this disorder 4-5%.

§  Environmental influence 

It can trigger schizophrenia for example, severe event nature like death of family member, financial loss, failure in exam, divorce, job loss, post-natal disorder and others.

§  Failure in family interactions  
and dynamics result unhappy or violent childhood and lead to poor capacity of mental adjustment in this disorder patient.

Part of brain effect by schizophrenia



credit to:

http://www.elsevierimages.com/image/33522.htm

Many brain regions and systems operate abnormally in schizophrenia, including those highlighted above.

Signs and common features showed by patient with schizophrenia.

 
 

1. Always shift from one topic discussion to another topic that completely unrelated without realized it that they making illogical sense in conversation.

 

2. Difficult concentrate on work, studies and social relationship.      

 

3. Disturbance in sleep rhythm, often not sleeping for days. 

4. Disorganizing speech and behavior, laughing to oneself

    without obvious cause.

 

5. Sitting in one position for hours or day.

6. When the patient is alone, feels that he can hear hallucinated voice talking about him. 

7. Then, starts talking himself, making conversations and 

    gestures with imaginary people. 

 

8. Imaginary and visual hallucinations, seeing non-existent things or people,

    sometimes feel the imaginary image wants make them fearful.

  9. Tend to become suspicious towards relatives, neighbors and friends and feels

    that all ganged up to against him.

  

 10. Become disorganized person in appearance, stops taking bath,

      and looking unkempt.

 

11. Feel somebody controlling him, spying him or everybody can read and hear his thought.

prognosis of schizophrenia

Until now there is no known cure for Schizophrenia. 
Fortunately, there are effective treatments that can reduce the symptoms, decrease the likelihood that new episodes of psychosis will occur and shorten the duration of this psychotic disorder. With the proper medications and supportive counseling, the ability of schizophrenic persons to live and function relatively well in society is excellent. 
 When one refers to a prognosis of schizophrenia, one usually means to question what the possible outcome will be for the patient. 

Predictors

• Due to the nature of the illness, prognosis of schizophrenia can be unpredictable. It’s a medical fact that approximately fifty percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia are either noted to be completely recovered or improved to the point of being able to function independently. 
• Twenty five percent are improved, but require a strong support network, and an additional fifteen percent remain unimproved and are typically hospitalized.
• Over time, women appear to have a better chance at sustaining recovery from symptoms than do men. 

Fatality

• It has been estimated that out of every 10 people who develop schizophrenia, 1 will eventually take his or her own life. Ten percent of the affected population sees no way out of their pain except through death and ends up committing suicide.
• Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to try taking their lives. At all times, take any mention of suicide by them seriously and seek medical assistance. 
• Current research indicated that people who suffer from this  disorder tent to commit more  suicide then the general population .

Violence

• Studies have indicated that those who charged with murder in Western countries have a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. 
• Some research indicated that why this things happened maybe it is because the feelings of perception of threat and command hallucinations that lead them to commit this violent.

Role Play of Schizophrenia

Assalammualaikum and good morning to our respected readers and bloggers..

Today, we were going to post about educational video on schizophrenia..

Actually, this video was originally made by our abnormal psychology's friends..

In that class, we are having a role play represenating one psychological disorder for each group..

Madam Nor Haidzat had given this task to us unfortunately, we are not presenting schizophrenia disorder..

There is another group who get this topic and we feel glad because they allow us to share their video for our physiology's project, since we are educating people about schizophrenia..

Such an amazing and interesting video to be watch..

They originally made this video by themselves and we would like to share it on our blog for the sake of education..

With that, we hope that all of you will may likely get clearer picture about scizophrenia..

May this video benefited to all of you..

Please enjoy the video!

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia

When doctor suspect someone has schizophrenia, they typically ask for medical and psychiatric histories, conduct a physical exam, and run medical and psychological test and exams. these test and exams generally include :

• 1. Laboratory tests.
-These may include a complete blood count (CBC), other blood tests that may help to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, screening for alcohol and drugs, and imaging studies, such as an MRI or CT scan.

 

2.Psychological evaluation. 
• -A doctor or mental health provider will check mental status by observing appearance and demeanor and asking about thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucinations, substance abuse, and potential for violence or suicide.






Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia
-To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must meet the criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions.
-Diagnosis of schizophrenia involves ruling out other mental health disorders and determining that symptoms aren't due to substance abuse, medication or a medical condition. In addition, a person must:


1.Have at least two of the common symptoms of the disorder — delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, or presence of negative symptoms for a significant amount of time during one month.


2.Experience significant impairment in the ability to work, attend school or perform normal daily tasks


3.Have had symptoms for at least six months
-There are several subtypes of schizophrenia, but not everyone easily fits into a specific category. The five most common subtypes are:
• 1.Paranoid. Characterized by delusions and hallucinations, this type generally involves less functional impairment and offers the best hope for improvement.



• 2.Catatonic. People with this subtype don't interact with others, get into bizarre positions, or engage in meaningless gestures or activities.





• 3.Disorganized. Characterized by disorganized thoughts and inappropriate expressions of emotion, this type generally involves the most functional impairment and offers the least hope for improvement.






• 4.Undifferentiated. This is the largest group of people with schizophrenia, whose dominant symptoms come from more than one sub type.



• 5.Residual. This type is characterized by extended periods without prominent positive symptoms, but other symptoms continue.

Do you know what are the causes of Schizophrenia?

Scientist discovered that the causes of schizophrenia affected by the genes as well as environment.

 Genes:  research found that   schizophrenia within the family. Schizophrenia occurs in 1% of the general population, but it occurs in 10 % of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. People who have second-degree relatives such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousin with the disease also can have a chance to develop schizophrenia. The risk of this illness is highest for an identical twin with schizophrenia. He or she has a 40 to 65 % chance of developing the disorder.

Environment: Scientists believes that the interactions between people and the environment are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many environmental factors may lead to this disorder, such as exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and exposure to virus during infancy.