Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects people worldwide. This disorder is one of the most severe brain disorders. By definition, it is characterized by profound distortions in one’s thought process, emotions, perceptions, and behavior. It is also known as a “split mind”; the person is in a world that has nothing to do with everyday experiences. This serious mental disorder causes an individual to lose contact with reality. It can be accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, abnormal thinking, diminished motivation, and disturbed work and social functioning.
The prevalence of schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the population in America. Scientists do not fully understand what causes this dreadful disease but there is, however, risk factors that we can be aware of. A risk factor can be described as a quality that you possess that would make you more susceptible to the disease than that of someone who cannot identify with the risk factor. Certain family history traits may increase the risk of developing the disease. A person with a close family member who has schizophrenia has a ten percent chance of getting the disease (Schizophrenia). Schizophrenia has a pattern of unique and predictable symptoms. There are two main types of symptoms: positive and negative symptoms. The positive symptoms are delusions or hallucinations; negative symptoms are deficits in behavior or an inability to express emotion. But what exactly are these symptoms and are they easy to detect?
Given proper support, many people with schizophrenia can learn how to deal with their symptoms, and lead reasonably comfortable and productive live (Long, Philip).
Schizophrenia can affect people of any age. Schizophrenia usually strikes young people between the ages of 16 and 25. It can also appear later in adulthood however, onset is less common after age 30, and rare after age 40. Although rare, there is a childhood form of the illness, it can be found in children as young as the age of 5. Schizophrenia does not discriminate. The disease affects men and women with equal frequency, the only difference is the common age that the onslaught of schizophrenia begins. For men, the age of onset for schizophrenia is often between the ages of 16 to 20 years of age. For women, the age of onset is usually later in life, on average between the ages of 20 to 30 years of age (Long, Philip).
Just as other diseases have signs or symptoms, so does schizophrenia. Symptoms are not identical for everyone. Some people may have only one episode of schizophrenia in their lifetime, while others may have recurring episodes, but lead relatively normal lives in between. However others may have severe symptoms for a lifetime. The more obvious types of symptoms are the positive ones. One characteristic that is often experienced is delusions, which are known as thoughts with meanings that are unrealistic. For example, people with this disorder tend to believe that they are someone else in disguise such as Elvis or Jesus. Another type of delusion is the delusion of grandeur, which is when an individual believes that they are more important than they actually are. A less common but very real type of delusion is a delusion of persecution, which is when an individual is convinced that others are plotting against him. But even more severe is perceptions known as hallucinations.
Schizophrenia is a very sad, and devastating disorder. With proper diagnosis, and treatment, schizophrenics can, and do go on to live a normal and healthy life. In severe cases, people may be required to go to the hospital for a long period of time. Treatment of schizophrenia has not been very successful. At this time, the only successful type of treatment is therapy. Research is still being conducted to find improved ways of treating schizophrenia, but the disease is too complex to find the perfect solution.
Works Cited
Long, Philip. Schizophrenia. 2009 Internet Mental Health. 03/20/13 <http://www.mentalhealth.com/>.
“Schizophrenia.” The New York Times Schizophrenia. 06 02 2008. A.D.A.M.. 03/20/13 <http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/schizophrenia/overview.html>.
