There are five major types of Schizophrenia. Diorganized Schizophrenia can be described as infentile behaviour. Patients will appear childish by giggling, displaying silly mannerisms and inappropriate emotional responses. Paranoid Schizophrenia is distinguished by the patient’s dellusions and hallucinations with unpredictable behaviours. Cataonic Schizophrenia is usually identified by bizarre physical movements and gestures. Some cases will find the patients remaining completely immobile for days and appear indifferent to his or her surroundings and other cases will the patient hyperactive and wild with sometimes violent behavior. People diagnosed with Residual Schizophrenia often show minor signs of Schizophrenia following a more serious episode or event. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia is the most common form of Schizophrenia. Best used to describe an individual who shows an assortment of symptoms but do not cleary fit into one of the four other major types of Schizophrenia.
Positive-Symptom Schizophrenia (elements added to normal behaviour, such as delusions and hallucinations) and Negative-Symptom Schizophrenia (an absence of normal or desirable behaviours, such as communicative speech and emotional reactivity) are two recent additions to the categorization for distinguishping the types of Schizophrenia. Differentiating the two, proposes that underlying processes may help to explain where and how Schizophrenia is developed.
Schizophrenia affects a persons ability to “think straight” creating the inability to be able to sort out what is relevant and what is not relevant to a situation. The first signs of Schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or even shocking, changes in behavior. Major symptoms of Schizophrenia include irritability, withdrawl, indifference, loss of interest in personal appearance, loss of normal funtion, depression, hearing voices, the belief that someone is watching them or controlling them, the belief that their thoughts are being broadcasted so that others can know what they are thinking and emotional disturbances. Often patients with Schizphrenia will experience behaviours such as delusions and hallucinations. Their thoughts are sometimes hard to follow because of disordered thinking. People suffering from Schizophrenia are often anxious and frightened.
Even though the actual causes of Schizophrenia are unknown, there are many theories to explain its causes and existance but it does appear that Schizophrenia has both enviromental and biological origins. Research has shown that although there is no single “Schizophrenia Gene” studies suggest that genetic factors play an important role in the development of Schizophrenia. A study founded by Anne Bassett and her colleagues of the University of Toronto in early 2000 was performed on 304 Canadians that have appeared to have inherited the predisposition for the disorder. It was announced that they believe that more than one gene is required to develope Schizophrenia, but that they have identified the chromosome that they deem responsible. Another theory to expain Schizophrenia is that the brain contains a biochemical imbalance or a structural abnormality. The Dopamine Hypothesis promotes that Neurotransmitters (substances that permit transmitions between nerve cells) have long been believed to be involved in the advancement of Schizophrenia after the discovery that drugs that block Dopamine action in the brain can be effective in reducing the symptoms of Schizophrenia. Some researchers suggest that structural abnormalities in the brain may be caused by expossure to a virus during prenatal developement. It is said that schizophrenia is effected by high levels of expressed emotion. Although there is no conclusive evidence it has also been implied that stress and trauma can lead to Schizophrenia.
In conclusion, one can see that Schizophrenia is one that schizophrenia is a disabling disease of the brain and that to date, with symptoms that can render a person helpless, alone, and afraid, no single cause can be identified in the development of Schizophrenia but perhaps with time and patience, scientists and reasearch will continue to improve the current forms of treatment which consist mainly of psychotherapy and prescription drug usage and perhaps one day, solve the puzzel that has baffled scientists around the world for centuries and discover the long awaited cure. We must remember that people suffering from this horrifying disorder are human and have real fears and emotions, just like everyone else. They are not “Crazy” or “Insane.” If someone you love is ever faced with Schizophrenia, do not turn your back on them, but rather see that they are well taken care of and receive the treatments necessary to live a normal and happy life.
Reference List
Feldman, Robert S. & Collins Joan E. & Green Judy M. (2004) Essentials of Understanding Psychology, Second Canadian Edition. McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, a Subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Canada.
