Schizophrenia is characterized as a disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression. This psychological condition is also referred to as “split mind”. About 1% of the population has schizophrenia, totaling to approximately 24 million people in the world. Causes of this disease are mostly unknown, however, scientists predict that Research it is a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors that make a person more likely to develop the condition. Stressful or emotional life events can trigger this psychotic episode, along with the physical brain anatomy. People with schizphrenia have smaller volumes in the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and larger volumes in the pallidum and ventricle volumes.
People with schizophrenia display symptoms that are positive, where inappropriate behaviors are present, and/or negative where appropriate behaviors are absent. Positive symptoms include changes in thoughts and feelings that are added on to a person’s experiences such as paranoia or hearing voices. Negative symptoms are things that are taken away or reduced, like reduced motivation, reduced intensity of emotion, and the catatonic state, meaning one cannot move or talk. Like previously mentioned, hallucinations and delusions are common. Hallucinations, which are false sensory experiences, are usually auditory rather than visual. Delusions are false beliefs, often of persecution or grandeur, usually involving the thought that someone is out to get them.
Since schizophrenia has not been cured, lifelong treatment is required. The most common drug is antipsychotic medication. This disease creates an excess of dopamine, causing excess paranoia and hallucinations. The medication lowers the release of dopamine so the patient has less abnormal experiences. Although the drug is effective, it also has extreme side effects, such as sleepiness and “not feeling like oneself”. Therefore, many prefer to not take the medication, and instead take alternative treatments, such as family therapy, individual therapy, and arts therapy.
Works Cited
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/schizophrenia/treatment/
https://www.health.com/condition/schizophrenia-overview