Schizophrenia means “split mind” but does not mean having multiple personalities. It is more of a split from reality. It is a chronic condition that usually surfaces for men in their early to mid 20s and for women in their late 20s (Crash Course). It is a unique disease with a variety of symptoms, subcategories, causes, and treatments. Schizophrenia is a complex brain disease with a variety of symptoms, subcategories, causes, and luckily treatments.
Schizophrenia is characterized by many symptoms that have been broken up into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive. Positive symptoms are those that are not commonly seen in healthy people (NIMH). They “add” to the character of a patient and give them traits not seen in healthy …show more content…
(Jones and Hayward 28). Disorganized schizophrenia is characterized by inconsistent speech and thought but not delusions ("Schizophrenia”). Patients may also fail to show normal emotional responses. Their responses may seem “flat” or inappropriate such as laughing at sadness and being sad upon hearing happy news (Jones and Hayward 28). Residual schizophrenia is a chronic category diagnosed to those with a history absent of psychotic symptoms but not of negative symptoms (Jones and Hayward 29). Catatonic schizophrenia is diagnosed when a person withdraws or even becomes mute ("Schizophrenia”). It is characterized by extreme over or under activity, being negative, and repeating others’ words or actions (Jones and Hayward 28 and 29). Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of schizophrenic symptoms and a major mood disorder such as depression ("Schizophrenia”). Categorizing the different types of schizophrenia has made schizophrenia easier to diagnose, and therefore easier to treat. Scientists have pinpointed a few main causes of the disorder such as genetics, environment, and brain …show more content…
It's a combination of medication, social input, and psychological inputs,” said Farooq Ahmad, MD London Institute of Psychiatry (IRI Training). Medication is a common way to treat schizophrenia. There are two branches of antipsychotic medications that are prescribed. The first is conventional antipsychotics that treat positive symptoms. New generation antipsychotics treat both positive and negative symptoms with less side effects, making them the most common choice ("Schizophrenia”). Antipsychotic drugs are not a cure but a short term solution that if taken regularly could make living with schizophrenia easier (Jones and Hayward 82). Some medications include neuroleptic drugs, which are often called antipsychotic drugs, making it clear that the drugs are primarily intended to treat the symptoms of psychotic illness (Jones and Hayward 68). The antipsychotic effects aren't always immediate, but in time the symptoms will decrease (Jones and Hayward 69). Psychosocial treatments also prove effective and assist doctors in finding medications that will work. Individuals who participate in regular psychosocial treatments are less likely to relapse or be hospitalized (NIMH). Finally, there is therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that seeks out connections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A cognitive therapist will often gather information on how the
Schizophrenia is characterized by many symptoms that have been broken up into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive. Positive symptoms are those that are not commonly seen in healthy people (NIMH). They “add” to the character of a patient and give them traits not seen in healthy …show more content…
(Jones and Hayward 28). Disorganized schizophrenia is characterized by inconsistent speech and thought but not delusions ("Schizophrenia”). Patients may also fail to show normal emotional responses. Their responses may seem “flat” or inappropriate such as laughing at sadness and being sad upon hearing happy news (Jones and Hayward 28). Residual schizophrenia is a chronic category diagnosed to those with a history absent of psychotic symptoms but not of negative symptoms (Jones and Hayward 29). Catatonic schizophrenia is diagnosed when a person withdraws or even becomes mute ("Schizophrenia”). It is characterized by extreme over or under activity, being negative, and repeating others’ words or actions (Jones and Hayward 28 and 29). Schizoaffective disorder is a combination of schizophrenic symptoms and a major mood disorder such as depression ("Schizophrenia”). Categorizing the different types of schizophrenia has made schizophrenia easier to diagnose, and therefore easier to treat. Scientists have pinpointed a few main causes of the disorder such as genetics, environment, and brain …show more content…
It's a combination of medication, social input, and psychological inputs,” said Farooq Ahmad, MD London Institute of Psychiatry (IRI Training). Medication is a common way to treat schizophrenia. There are two branches of antipsychotic medications that are prescribed. The first is conventional antipsychotics that treat positive symptoms. New generation antipsychotics treat both positive and negative symptoms with less side effects, making them the most common choice ("Schizophrenia”). Antipsychotic drugs are not a cure but a short term solution that if taken regularly could make living with schizophrenia easier (Jones and Hayward 82). Some medications include neuroleptic drugs, which are often called antipsychotic drugs, making it clear that the drugs are primarily intended to treat the symptoms of psychotic illness (Jones and Hayward 68). The antipsychotic effects aren't always immediate, but in time the symptoms will decrease (Jones and Hayward 69). Psychosocial treatments also prove effective and assist doctors in finding medications that will work. Individuals who participate in regular psychosocial treatments are less likely to relapse or be hospitalized (NIMH). Finally, there is therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that seeks out connections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A cognitive therapist will often gather information on how the