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Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling brain disease, affecting about one percent of the population. It is ¡§marked by severe distortion and disorganization of thought, perception, and affect, by bizarre behavior and by social withdrawal.¡¨ 1 Although schizophrenia has likely been around for a very long time, it wasn¡¦t recognized as a disease until the late 19th century. In 1896, Emil Kraepelin, a German psychiatrist, made the first medical breakthrough in this specific disease by listing symptoms of it. Kraeplin was familiar in the field and was famed for his work with the mentally ill. The term schizophrenia was first used by Eugene Blauer to describe this disorder in 1911. Although this word, in Greek, means, ¡§split mind¡¨, it doesn¡¦t mean that schizophrenics had split personalities. It refers to how schizophrenics split themselves from reality through delusions and hallucinations of the mind. There are many causes of schizophrenia and many factors that contribute to this disease. ¡§Family studies of the genetics of schizophrenia show that the more closely one is related to a schizophrenic, the more likely one is to develop schizophrenia.¡¨1 ¡§Another cause of Schizophrenia is said to be because of severely dysfunctional and stressful family functions such as if a child lived in an environment of constant hostility and anxiety and in which there is no security. If a child has a strong genetic schizophrenic background, and the child is brought up in a bad environment, the chances of this child of contracting the disease are increased.¡¨1 There are many other causes being researched such as ¡§trauma at birth, viruses or infections at an early age, trauma at an early age, chemical imbalance and protein abnormalities¡¨2. There are numerous research studies being conducted to learn more about the cause of this potentially disabling disease. Schizophrenia first appears in an individual through drastic changes in behavior. During the long, often lifetime, course of this disorder, changes are very severe and shocking to loved ones. Symptoms come on suddenly and the severity of them added to the ¡§ long lasting, chronic pattern of schizophrenia, often causes a high degree of disability.¡¨3 ¡§Although all individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have lost touch with reality, there are 3 basic types of this brain disorder: 1. Disorganized Schizophrenia-lack of emotion, disorganized speech 2. Catatonic Schizophrenia-waxy flexibility, reduced movement, rigid posture, sometimes to much movement 3. Paranoid Schizophrenia-strong delusions or hallucinations¡¨ 2 Positive symptoms of this disease ¡§denote the presence of normal behavior¡¨ while negative ones are ¡§the absence of normal behavior¡¨ 2 in entirety. Disorder of the mind caused by schizophrenia makes it hard for the individual to think clearly or logically. Delusions, fabricated beliefs or thoughts are very common among schizophrenics. Hallucinations, in which the person receives ¡§unreal perceptions of the environment¡¨3, include hearing voices, seeing or smelling things not present, and tactile hallucinations. Often schizophrenics have poor grooming and health habits due to these factors. Negative symptoms include ¡§social withdrawal, absence of emotion, and expression, reduced energy, activity, and motivation.¡¨4Symptoms of schizophrenia come worst during ¡§active phases¡¨, when all of the above symptoms occur. Usually, schizophrenics have milder symptoms both before and after this active phase. ¡§ People with schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These symptoms may leave them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behavior can be so disorganized that they may be incomprehensible or frightening to others. Available treatments can relieve many symptoms, but most people with schizophrenia continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives; it has been estimated that no more than one in five individuals recovers completely.¡¨ 4 Schizophrenia can lead to many problems, such as, learning problems, hyperactivity, psychotic, depressed moods, sexual dysfunction, hyperactivity, guilt or obsession, odd or suspicious personality, anxious or fearful personality, and dramatic and antisocial personality. The diagnosis of schizophrenia is crucial to treatment. As with any other mental disorder it is often difficult to diagnose, as many of its symptoms can be confused with bipolar or major depressive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications, developed in the 1950¡¦s are used in the treatment of schizophrenics. While these medications have been very successful in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia, they are not cures. Many people experience side effects from these medications. Hospitalization is often necessary in cases of severe schizophrenia. Doing so ensures the individuals safety, while allowing health professions to make diagnosis about medications and the disease. Some people with schizophrenia are unable to readjust to society once his or her symptoms are controlled. Therefore, ¡§psychological therapy, family therapy, and occupational training may be used along with anti-psychotic medication to help these people get back into the community.¡¨ 3 ¡§Research is gradually leading to new and safer medications and unraveling the causes of the disease. Scientists are using many approaches from the study of molecular genetics to study of populations to learn about schizophrenia.
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