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.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The symptom of schizophrenia is divided into 3 categories: 

positive symptom, 

negative symptom and 

cognitive symptom.

1) Positive symptom.

It is the psychotic behaviour that only possesses by schizophrenia people but not a normal people. Eg: delusion, thought disorder, movement disorder and hallucination.

2) Negative symptom. 

It is when people of schizophrenia does not possesses the behaviour that normal people have. Eg: Lack of emotional, lack of interest or enthusiasm, seeming lack of interest in the world and speech difficulties and abnormalities.Behavioral deficiencies also associated with schizophrenia, such as social skills deficits, social withdrawal, flattened affect, poverty of speech and thought, psychomotor retardation, and failure to experience pleasure.

3) Cognitive symptoms.

It is only can be recognize through several task for example, poor executive functioning (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions),rouble focusing or paying attention, and problems with working memory (the ability to use information immediately after learning it).

  

Schizophrenia On Film!!!

A Beautiful Mind

A Beautiful Mind is a film which shows about one person begins developing paranoid schizophrenia and endures delusional episodes.  

This film can be watch online. Click this link to start the movie! Enjoy the show :)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbaqex_a-beautiful-mind-full-movie-part-1_shortfilms

Facts that you need to know about schizophrenia...

1) Schizophrenia usually begins before the age 45, although it begins in young adulthood, there are cases which the disorder begins later (over 45years).

% of  Schizophrenia

 2) Schizophrenia can affect 1% of people worldwide. 

 3) Occur equal rates among men and women, however, males tend to account for more than half of patients in services with high number of young adults. 

 4) Childhood onset schizophrenia begins after the age of 5, after normal development.

 5) Childhood schizophrenia is rare and difficult to identify from other developmental disorders such as autism.

 6) Genetics factors play a big role for the cause of schizophrenia. 

 7) Some psychiatrists prefer to address person with schizophrenia as a group or family of disorders (“the schizophrenias”) rather than as single entity.

 8) The onset of symptoms may be either abrupt (sudden) or insidious (gradual).

 9) Unable to detect for about 2 to 3 years after the onset of diagnosable symptoms, due to the symptoms occur such as panic attacks, social phobia and others which complicate the process of diagnosis.

 10) Patient’s first psychotic episode shows the warning phase, with variety abnormal behaviors for example, angry outburst, withdrawal from social activities, loss of attention to personal hygiene and grooming, loss of capacity of enjoyment and others.

 11) Most common form of hallucination in schizophrenia is auditory which is ‘hearing voices’. 

 12) Patients find difficult to concentrate on work or social activites because of the constant ‘buzz’ of hallucinated voices. 

 13) According NIMH statistics; 20% of patient with schizophrenia recovered the full level of functioning that they had before the onset disorder.



 14) 80% have problems reintegrate with society, difficulty forming relationship with others.

 15) Majority (60%-70%) of patients with schizophrenia do not marry or have children, have very few friends or social contacts.

 16) The impact of the difficulties in social interaction as well as stress caused by symptoms themselves, suicide rate among schizophrenia’s patients were high.

Schizophrenia : What inside the brain?

What happens in the brain? If the person who was diagnosis with schizophrenia, the areas of the brain that implicated are the forebrain, hindbrain and limbic system. The reduction in the volume of grey matter especially in temporal and frontal lobes and also the decreased of brain activity in that area. Neurologists also detected the 25% loss of grey matter in some areas of the brain, which started in partial or outer regions of the brain. Furthermore, in 5 years it can spread to the rest of the brain.

Moreover, patients with the worst brain tissue loss can become hallucinations, delusions, bizarre and psychotic thought, hearing voices and depression. Researchs show that neurotransmitters are the causes in the development of schizorphrenia. Overactive dopamine or excessive levels of dopamine can disrupt all aspects of motor, cognitive and emotional functioning which can lead to acute schizophrenia psychosis..


However, according article written by Cazaban A., based on the newer studies indicate that the neurotransmitter serotonin also can cause this symptom. This was discovered through the tests which shown the patients good result with medications that affect the serotonin as well as dopamine.

Thanks to the emerging of new technology, enabled the researchers especially neurologists to study or examine the structure of schizophrenic brains using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imagery) and MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy).




The affected brains were examined and being compared with the normal brain, the findings shown the enlargement of the lateral ventricles, also as stated above, the volume of brain reduced and cerebral cortex become smaller.


Blood circulation also lower in frontal area, whereas temporal lobe structures also become smaller. Not even that area, studies also shown that hippocampus and amygdala reduced in volume. Limbic system which control the mood and emotion and also Superior Temporal Gyrus(STG) involved in language function also notable smaller.

What Is Schizophrenia?

schizophrenic

Schizophrenia, also sometimes known as split personality disorder, 

is a chronic, severe and draining mental illness.

It is considered one of the psychotic mental disorders 

and is characterized by symptoms of thought, behavior, and social problems.

 Psychotic means out of touch with reality or unable to separate real from unreal experiences.

The thought problems associated with schizophrenia are described as psychosis, 

in that the person's thinking is completely out of touch with reality at times. 
 People having this type of illness may likely having the state of 'their own world'. 

For example, 

the sufferer may hear voices or see people that are in no way present 

or feel like bugs are crawling on their skin when there are none.

 Sometimes they also having what we called delusions, 

which are ideas about themselves or others that have no basis in reality.

For instance, 

the individual might experience paranoia, 

in that he or she thinks others are plotting against them when they are not.

Ahlan Wasahlan ;-)

Assalammualaikum Readers and Bloggers..

We are proudly announced to all of you that this blog had been an official blog 

for our Physiological Psychology's subject , sem 1, 2011/2012.

We also would like to express our gratitude to our honorable lecturer,

Dr. Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid,

for giving us this valuable opportunities regarding on how to educate the public

on the relationship between our unique brain structures, functions created by Allah to us,

and the medical illness or psychological disorder.

As psychology's student, we are expected by the public to be more well known in

varieties of medical illness facing by some people. However, we are not in that well know position yet.

We are still learning and our knowledge does not in the 'well known" zone yet.

Due to this expectation from the public and also our responsibilities who are been

training to get well known to some medical diseases nowadays,

we think that this assignment which had been given by our lecturer,

 was a great chance for us to grab all the knowledge regarding on certain medical illness.

Our group had agreed to choose schizophrenia as our main educational material because

we know that sometimes people are familiar with schizophrenia,

but somehow they do not know what actually it is.

Schizophrenia popular in its name but not in its contents.

Thus, we think that this is a big chance for us to spread the knowledge and to educate the public

about what it is schizophrenia is all about..

Apart from that, as the one who are responsible on educating people about this disease,

we are indirectly benefited from this project too.

We can improves our knowledge on this medical illness, 

it help us to understand better about this disease,

and also not to forget we can improve our technology skill since we are using blog as our medium 

to spread the knowledge regarding on schizophrenia disease.

There are so many advantages that we can get as a writer as well as a learner from this project.

Dear readers, 

we would like to tell all of you that this blog was not owned by an individual,

however it was owned by a group.

We are consists of four members in one group.

As students who has been assigned to do this project, each and everyone of us

 have our own hoping as a sign of end of the result for this project.. 

We are creating some hopes, and May Allah ease our job... Insha Allah :)

So, as a leader for this group, I hope that this blog will manage 
       to help people who may or not suffer from schizophrenia diseases as their references. 
 Furthermore, this blog also can be a place or medium where 
       everyone can share their opinion and ideas about this 
diseases.

And me, Suhaila part of this group, 

my hoping is to vow this project to improve our knowledge, 

behavior for the sake of Allah. 

Im also hoping that we can obtain our goal towards this project 

which is educating the people about the medical illness called schizophernia. 

Far from my heart, 

Im hoping that whatever we do in completing this project 

will gain barakah from Him, insha Allah. 

May Allah bless our effort.. Ameen :)

 Me, Aini as a member of this group hoping that people can get information through this blog and also can generate their awareness about this particular disorder.

and last members of this group, me, Farahanum, hope, this blog can give benefit as well as information to all readers outside there. Furthermore, to educate the society that schizophrenia is one of the chronicall disorder that need to be highlighted among society.