What is schizophrenia

When people think of "madmen" and of people in mental institutions, they are often thinking of people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is the prime example that psychologists and psychiatrists often use to name a psychosis. The general characteristic of people with a psychosis is that they seem to be out of touch with reality.

Many mood disorders, especially mania, are also considered a psychosis. Someone with a neurosis seems to be more emotionally preoccupied, perhaps even overly sensitive to reality rather than out of touch with it. Anxiety disorders are the main examples. Next, in Psychology-online, we will talk about what is schizophrenia.

Our understanding of schizophrenia has developed since its symptoms were first cataloged by the German psychiatrist Emilio Kraepelin in the late 19th century. Although the cause of this disorder remains elusive, its dire symptoms and biological correlates have been absolutely well defined. Despite this,

Schizophrenia is characterized by profound disruption in cognition and emotion, affecting the most fundamental human qualities: language, thought, opinion, affection, and the sense of oneself. The arsenal of symptoms, while powerful, often includes psychopathic manifestations, such as hearing internal voices or experiencing others sensations not connected to an obvious source (hallucinations) and assigning unusual meaning or sense to normal events or holding false beliefs (delusions). There is no definitive symptom for diagnosis; rather, the diagnosis encompasses a pattern of signs and symptoms, along with impaired occupational or social functioning.

Next, we remove you from doubts about some false myths about the symptoms of schizophrenia, the which, as far as possible, are not destructive or dangerous for those who suffer from it or those of their around:

• Delusions they are firmly held erroneous beliefs due to distortions or exaggerations of reasoning and / or interpretations of opinions or experiences. Delusions of being persecuted or watched are common, as is the belief that radio or TV programs, etc., are directing special messages directly to him / her.
• Hallucinations are distortions or exaggerations of perception in any of the senses, although auditory hallucinations ("hearing voices" within your mind, other than your own thoughts) are the most common, followed by hallucinations visuals.
• Disorganized speech / thinking, also described as "thought disorder" or "loss of associations", is a key aspect of schizophrenia. Disorganized thinking is generally assessed based primarily on the person's speech. Therefore, tangential, loosely associated, or incoherent speech that is severe enough to substantially impair effective communication, it is used as an indicator of impaired thought.
• Behaviorseriouslydisorganized includes difficulty in goal-directed behavior (leading to difficulties in activities of daily living), unpredictable agitation or clumsiness, social disinhibition, or behaviors that are strange to viewers. Their nonsense distinguishes them from unusual behavior prompted by delusional beliefs.
• Catatonic behaviors are characterized by a marked decrease in reaction to the immediate surrounding environment, sometimes taking the form of immobility or obvious lack of consciousness, rigid or strange postures, or excess motor activity without objective.

On the other hand, here we show you some symptoms perhaps a little more alarming for those around the patient:

• Affective flattening it is the reduction in the range and intensity of emotional expression, including facial expression, tone of voice, eye contact, and body language.
• Praise, or poverty of speech, is the decrease in the fluidity and productivity of speech, thought is reflected retarded or blocked thoughts, and often manifesting as laconic, the answers to the questions are empty.
• Abulia is the reduction, difficulty, or inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behaviors; it is often mistaken for obvious disinterest.

Onset usually occurs during young adulthood (mid-20s for men, late 20s for women), although the onset may be earlier or later. Can be abrupt or gradual, but most people experience some early symptoms, such as increased social isolation, loss of interests, unusual behavior, or functioning declines before the onset of positive symptoms assets. These are often the first behaviors that concern family members and friends.

Most individuals experience periods of symptom exacerbation and remission, while others maintain a constant level of symptoms and disability that can range from moderate to severe. A small percentage (10% or so) of patients are seriously ill for long periods of time. Most do not return to their previous state of mental functioning. However, several long-term studies reveal that about one-half to two-thirds of people with schizophrenia significantly improves or recovers, some totally.

On a first consideration, symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior appear to be easily defined and clearly pathological. However, the growing attention to cultural variation has made it very clear that what is considered delusional in a culture can be accepted as normal in other. For example, among members of some cultural groups, the "visions" or "voices" of religious figures are part of a normal religious experience.

In many communities, "seeing" or "being visited" by a recently deceased person is not unusual for family members. Therefore, labeling an experience as a pathological or psychiatric symptom can be a subtle process for the clinician with a cultural background or ethnic origin different from the patient; in fact, cultural variations and nuances can occur within diverse subpopulations of a single racial, ethnic, or cultural group.

Often, however, clinicians' training, skills, and views tend to reflect their own social and cultural influences. Schizophrenia is more common in egocentric cultures, compared to sociocentric cultures. In self-centered societies, each person is seen as more or less responsible for himself or herself, and others may withdraw from the victim and allow him / her to fall into isolation. Families can feel free to express criticism and even hostility when a member does not live up to expectations. Cociocentric societies even have other very negative qualities, however they provide help and support in the form of extended families. And, since individual success is not as important as the well-being of the family, they do not judge individuals as harshly.

What kind of culture is better

Cultural psychologist Richard Castillo suggests that city life, wage earning work, and Capitalist society places many demands on people, some of which are not up to par. height. Independence is expected, so the person who is unable to become independent is seen as inadequate. It is expected to be productive, unless you are disabled. So, if you cannot work, you must therefore be disabled, and again it will be inappropriate.

Here's another interesting observation about less developed countries and some non-Western societies: Recovery from schizophrenia is common. In some of these societies, the voices are interpreted as the voices of the ancestors. Sometimes the voices are positive, giving the listener and their family necessary tips. When the advice is followed, the ancestor retires. Even if the voices and urges are negative, they are considered to be the effects of demons or witchcraft, and the appropriate rituals will bring that person back into himself or herself. In Western society, on the other hand, schizophrenia is defined as an "incurable brain disease." No wonder people don't tend to get better!

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.