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Schizophrenia


APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL



The chronic disorder Schizophrenia is brain disorder which affects the psychological part of human being. People with Schizophrenia have a problem in expressing their feelings. There is a change in perceiving reality, thinking and concentration because of which they fail to act in a normal way. They are beyond reality. People with schizophrenia suffer whole life but with proper treatment, they can be helped but for this family needs to support and be patient. Many times due to family members also, people suffering from schizophrenia don't get proper help as still, our society is unable to accept the psychological abnormalities. Total 1% of the population is affected by Schizophrenia. It can develop during early adulthood. Both positive and negative symptoms can be seen.


 SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
A psychiatrist fully assesses the patient to know about the symptoms that have been occurred. Usually, psychologist or psychiatrist uses manual of International Classification of Disease ICD-10 or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM 5 to diagnose the disease as the manual explains what are symptoms that Schizophrenia patient can have. At least for one month, the positive or negative symptoms have to be present to diagnose Schizophrenia.

POSITIVE SYMPTOMS
Positive Symptoms deals with unrealistic experiences and unusual beliefs.
1. Hallucination

  • It is unrealistic experiences and unusual belief that a person can have.
  • Usually, the senses are affected like auditory (sound), visual (sight), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), olfactory(smell). 
  • Hearing the voice of different male or female who can be relative or stranger with negative thoughts.

2. Delusions

  • It is the false fixed belief which is not real but making a different reason to prove it.
  • A person may assume that someone is following them, someone wants to harm them.
  • A person might feel their thoughts has been broadcasted, or someone is sending messages from television.
  • A person may feel being famous and important.

3. Disorganized thinking

  • It is characterized by talking quickly or slowly.
  • A person may skip a topic and talk about the unrelated topic.
  • Forming new words and making word salad.

4. Bizzare Behavior

  • It includes dressing in a bizarre way
  • a person with schizophrenia may have low impulse control, catatonia (abnormality in movement), anger, stereotypical features.

5. Mood and Affect

  •  It includes flat mood, incongruent affect, blunting of mood.



NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS
Negative symptoms deal with the loss of ability and enjoyment in life. A person might feel withdrawn. Simply, it diminishes the ability of the person. The symptoms are represented as 5A.
1.Affective flattening

  • There is a decrement in expressing emotions.
  • Lack of eye contact and body language.


2.Alogia

  • A person with schizophrenia has a problem while speaking.
  • They lack fluency while speaking.

3.Avolition

  • Unable to a daily task.
  • Lack of energy.

4. Anhedonia

  • The person lacks pleasure from previously enjoyable activities.
  • He/she also lack pleasure from their hobbies, interest and sexual life.

5. Avoidance

  • He/she might avoid social life.
  • He/she may lack interest from others.


 COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
Cognitive Symptoms include the mental actions like learning, remembering, and functioning.

  • It includes severe impairment in serial learning, vigilance, executive functioning, motor speed, verbal fluency.
  • There can be a problem in recalling things, often distracted, and problem in working memory.

CAUSES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
There are many factors involved in causing Schizophrenia which is listed as:

1. Genetic Factors: When the family member has Schizophrenia, it can be a risk factor in causing Schizophrenia in next generation. Only one gene is not responsible for the cause of this disease but a complex interplay of genetic variation is involved.

2. Environmental Factors: During the birth of a child, there can be malnutrition which can be a risk factor in causing schizophrenia in later life.

3.Drug Abuse: Usually, these days many teens are taking the drug because of which early onset of schizophrenia is possible. Usually, the use of Marijuana is responsible for psychotic symptoms.

4.Developmental factors (Brain chemistry): The problem in neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate can lead to Schizophrenia.

TYPES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
According to the manual of ICD-10, there are 8 particular types of Schizophrenia.

1. Paranoid Schizophrenia,
2. Hebephrenic Schizophrenia,
3.Catatonic Schizophrenia
4. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
5. Residual Schizophrenia
6. Simple Schizophrenia
7. Cenesthopathic Schizophrenia
8. Unspecified Schizophrenia


DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
Diagnosing schizophrenia is not an easy task. As there are many cultures and religions, it may be misdiagnosed. As it is associated with hallucination, delusions so proper assessment is necessary. More than a doctor, a psychiatrist can help an individual with schizophrenia. the onset of schizophrenia lasting up to 6 months only can give a correct diagnosis. The manuals of ICD-10 and DSM 5 can benefit in diagnosing it.

TREATMENT
Early interventions can really help to reduce the positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of Schizophrenia. As there is no exact cure of Schizophrenia, right help must be taken like visiting for physical examination then to a psychiatrist. Antipsychotic medication like Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Mesoridazine, etc can benefit. Even therapy like cognitive behavior therapy, Assertive Community Treatment, and Supportive therapy can be helpful. Self-management strategies and education can also benefit in the treatment of people with schizophrenia.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs can help in generating new skills. It helps in problem-solving, cooking, cleaning, socializing, managing stress. counseling also do wonders in treatment.

About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.




References:


Schizophrenia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia#treatment

Schizophrenia
www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizophrenia


Schizophrenia
www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia

Schizophrenia: Symptoms and Diagnosis
www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-diagnosis

Schizophrenia-Treatment
www.rethink.org/diagnosis-treatment/conditions/schizophrenia/treatment


Schizophrenia: Overview

www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm


Comments

  1. Jhon macMarch 22, 2018 at 3:58 AM

    Excellent information, I really appreciate sharing this great post. Keep up your work. That is very interesting I love reading and I am always searching for informative information like this.
    schizophrenia unspecified icd 10

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apsara Katuwal DangolMarch 22, 2018 at 9:55 AM

      Thank you Jhon mac. Your comment really motivated me to write articles related psychology.

      Delete

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