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facts on schizophrenia
Other people may find it hard to make sense of what a individual
with schizophrenia is speakingabout. In some cases, the person may
spend hours entirely still, without chatting. On othersituations he
or she may appear fine, until they begin describing what they are
in fact thinking.
The effects of schizophrenia reach far beyond the patient -
schizophrenia does not only affect theman or woman with the
condition. Families, acquaintances and society are affected too.
Aconsiderable proportion of people with schizophrenia have to
depend on others, because they areunable to hold a job or care for
themselves.
With suitable handling, sufferers can lead productive lives,
management can help lessen many ofthe conditions of schizophrenia.
But, a large number of sufferers with the ailment have to dealwith
the signs and symptoms for life. This does not stand for that a
person with schizophrenia whogets treatment cannot lead a
satisfying, productive and meaningful life in his or her
community.
Schizophrenia most usually hits between the ages of 15 to 25
among males, and about 25 to 35in females. On many occasions the
condition develops so slowly that the sufferer does not knowhe/she
has it for an extended period of time. While, with other people it
can hit unexpectedly anddevelop fast.
Schizophrenia, probably many health problems combined - it is a
multipart, lasting, harsh, andcrippling brain condition and affects
roughly 1% of all adults worldwide. Experts say schizophreniais
probably many sicknesses disguised as one. Study shows that
schizophrenia is likely to be theresult of flawed neuronal
development in the brain of the foetus, which later in life appears
as afull-blown illness.
Schizophrenia impacts men and females equally. However, an
article in the BMJ says thatschizophrenia impacts 1.4 men for every
1 female.
The Schizophrenic Disorders Clinic at the Stanford School of
Medicine describes schizophreniaas "a thought condition: a brain
dysfunction that disturbs with a man or woman's ability to
thinknaturally, regulate emotions, make decisions, and speak about
to others."
Schizophrenia is a harsh brain disease that interferes with
normal brain and mental function. itcan result in hallucinations,
delusions, paranoia, and significant shortage of inspiration.
Withoutmanagement, schizophrenia affects the ability to think
clearly, manage feelings, and socializeproperly with other people.
It is often crippling and can profoundly influence all areas of
your life(let's say, becoming not able to work or go to school).
Being told that you or someone you lovehas schizophrenia can be
intimidating or even devastating. The fantatstic method to improve
yourquality of life with schizophrenia is to learn as much as you
can about this condition and thenadhere to the advised
handling.
There are quite a few forms of schizophrenia, and the specific
forms are clinically determined
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based upon signs and symptoms. The nearly all ordinary kind is
paranoid schizophrenia, whichcauses frightened thoughts and hearing
threatening voices.
Schizophrenia does not include multiple personalities and is not
the same condition asdissociative identity disorder (also called
multiple personality dysfunction or split personality).
What causes schizophrenia? There are many theories about the
cause of schizophrenia, butnone have yet been confirmed.
Schizophrenia may be a genetic disorder, since your odds ofgetting
schizophrenia increase if you have a parent or sibling with the
condition, but most peoplewith family members who have
schizophrenia will not develop it. It may also be related
toproblems experienced during pregnancy (such as undernourishment,
or being exposed to a viraldisease) that harms the unborn child's
developing nervous system. John Nash, an Americanmathematician who
worked at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in Economics
and livedwith paranoid schizophrenia nearly all of his life. He
finally managed to live without medication. Afilm was made of his
life "A Beautiful Mind", which Nash says was "loosely accurate". A
studypublished in The Lancet found that schizophrenia with active
psychosis is the third most cripplingcondition after quadriplegia
and dementia, and ahead of blindness and paraplegia. The
wordschizophrenia comes from the Greek word skhizein meaning "to
split" and the Greek wordPhrenos (phren) meaning "diaphragm, heart,
mind". In 1910, the Swiss psychiatrist, EugenBleuler (1857-1939)
coined the term Schizophrenie in a lecture in Berlin on April 24th,
1908.
Nobody has been able to identify one single cause. Experts
believe several factors are generallyinvolved in contributing to
the onset of schizophrenia. The likely factors do not work in
isolation,either. Evidence does suggest that genetic and
environmental factors usually act together tocause schizophrenia.
Evidence revealed that the diagnosis of schizophrenia has an
inheritedelement, but it is also significantly influenced by
environmental triggers. In other words, imagineyour body is full of
buttons, and some of those buttons consequence in schizophrenia if
anyperson comes and presses them enough times and in the right
sequences. The buttons would beyour genetic susceptibility, while
the individual pressing them would be the environmentalaspects.
Your genes. If there is no history of schizophrenia in your
family your odds of developing it areless than 1%. However, that
danger rises to 10% if one of your parents was/is a sufferer. A
genethat is probably the most studied "schizophrenia gene" plays a
astonishing function in the brain: Itmanages the birth of new
neurons as well as their integration into pre-existing brain
circuitry,according to a paper posted by Cell. A Swedish reasearch
found that schizophrenia and bipolardisorder have the same genetic
triggers. Thirteen locations in the human genetic code may
helpdemonstrate the cause of schizophrenia - a reasearch involving
59,000 people, 5,001 of whomhad been clinically determined with
schizophrenia, identified 22 genome locations, with 13 newones that
are thought to be involved in the development of schizophrenia. The
scientists added
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that of particular importance to schizophrenia were two
genetically-determined processes - the"micro-RNA 137" pathway and
the "calcium channel pathway". Principal investigator,
ProfessorPatrick Sullivan, of the Center for Psychiatric Genomics
at the University of North Carolina Schoolof Medicine, said "This
reasearch gives us the clearest picture to date of two different
pathwaysthat might be going erroneous in people with schizophrenia.
Now we need to focus our researchvery urgently on these two
pathways in our quest to comprehend what brings about this
cripplingmental ailment."
Chemical imbalance in the brain. Experts believe that an
imbalance of dopamine, aneurotransmitter, is involved in the start
of schizophrenia. They also believe that this imbalance ismost
possibly caused by your genes making you prone to the biological
disorder. Someresearchers say other the levels of other
neurotransmitters, for example serotonin, may also beinvolved.
Changes in key brain functions, such as perception, emotion and
behavior leadspecialists to conclude that the brain is the
biological site of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia couldbe triggered
by faulty signaling in the brain, according to research published
in the journalMolecular Psychiatry.
Family relationships. Although there is no evidence to prove or
even indicate that familyrelationships might cause schizophrenia,
some patients with the sickness believe family tensionmay trigger
relapses.
Environment. Although there is yet no definite proof, many
suspect that prenatal or perinataltrauma, and viral infections may
contribute to the development of the ailment. Perinatal
means"occurring about 5 months before and up to one month after
birth". Stressful experiences oftenprecede the emergence of
schizophrenia. Before any acute signs and symptoms are
apparent,people with schizophrenia habitually become bad-tempered,
anxious, and unfocussed. This cantrigger relationship problems,
divorce and unemployment. These factors are often blamed for
theonset of the disease, when really it was the other way round -
the disorder triggered the crisis.Therefore, it is extremely
difficult to know whether schizophrenia triggered certain stresses
oroccurred as a result of them.
Some medicines. Cannabis and LSD are known to cause
schizophrenia relapses. According tothe State Government of
Victoria in Australia, for people with a predisposition to a
psychoticsickness such as schizophrenia, usage of cannabis may
trigger the first episode in what can be adisabling condition that
lasts for the rest of their lives. The National Library of Medicine
says thatsome prescription drugs, such as steroids and stimulants,
can cause psychosis.
The brain. Our brain consists of billions of nerve cells. Each
nerve cell has branches that give outand receive messages from
other nerve cells. The ending of these nerve cells
releaseneurotransmitters - kinds of chemicals. These
neurotransmitters carry messages from the endingsof one nerve cell
to the nerve cell body of another. In the brain of a man or woman
who hasschizophrenia, this messaging system does not work
properly.
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Schizophrenia causes two groups of signs: negative conditions
and positive signs. Negative signsgenerally include apathy or lack
of motivation, self-neglect (for example not bathing), and
reducedor inappropriate emotion (such as becoming angry with
strangers). Negative conditions usuallyappear first and may be
confused with depression. Positive symptoms, which generally
appearlater, include conditions for example hallucinations,
delusions, and disorganized or confusingthoughts and speech. signs
of schizophrenia usually emerge in adolescence or early
adulthood.signs can appear quickly or may develop gradually, often
causing the illness to go unrecognizeduntil it is in an advanced
stage when it is more difficult to treat.
How is schizophrenia clinically determined? Schizophrenia is
diagnosed primarily with a medicalhistory and a mental health
assessment. Other tests, such as blood tests or imaging tests,
maybe done to rule out other conditions that can mimic signs of
schizophrenia.
How is schizophrenia treated? There is no remedy for
schizophrenia, but many people cansuccessfully manage their
symptoms with prescription drugs and professional
counseling.Consistent, long-term handling is critical to the
successful management of schizophrenia.Regretably, people with
schizophrenia frequently do not seek management or they
stopmanagement due to repulsive unwanted side effects of medicinal
drugs or lack of support.
There is, to date, no physical or laboratory test that can
absolutely diagnose schizophrenia. Thedoctor, a psychiatrist, will
make a diagnosis based on the sufferer's clinical signs.
However,physical testing can rule out some other disorders and
conditions which sometimes have similarconditions, such as seizure
disorders, thyroid dysfunction, brain tumor, drug use, and
metabolicdisorders.
conditions and signs of schizophrenia will vary, depending on
the individual. The conditions areclassified into four categories:
Positive conditions - also known as psychotic signs. These
areconditions that appear, which people without schizophrenia do
not have. as an example, delusion.Negative conditions - these refer
to elements that are taken away from the individual; loss orabsence
of normal traits or talents that people without schizophrenia
normally have. as anexample, blunted emotion. Cognitive signs and
symptoms - these are signs and symptoms withinthe man or woman's
thought processes. They may be positive or negative signs, just for
instance,poor concentration is a negative sign. Emotional signs and
symptoms - these are symptomswithin the individual's feelings. They
are usually negative symptoms, such as blunted emotions. Below is a
list of the major symptoms:
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Delusions - The patient has false beliefs of persecution, guilt
of grandeur. He/she may feel thingsare being controlled from
outside. It is not uncommon for people with schizophrenia to
describeplots against them. They may think they have extraordinary
powers and gifts. Some patients withschizophrenia may hide in order
to protect themselves from an imagined persecution.
Hallucinations - hearing voices is much more common than seeing,
feeling, tasting, or smellingthings which are not there, but look
as if very real to the patient.
Thought condition - the individual may jump from one subject to
another for no logical reason. Thespeaker may be hard to follow.
The sufferer's speech might be muddled and incoherent. In somecases
the person afflicted may believe that somebody is messing with
his/her mind.
Other signs schizophrenia patients may experience include: Lack
of motivation (avolition) - theperson afflicted loses his/her
drive. Everyday automatic actions, for example washing and
cookingare abandoned. It is essential that those close to the
patient understand that this loss of drive isdue to the ailment,
and has nothing to do with slothfulness. Poor expression of
emotions -responses to happy or sad situations may be lacking, or
improper. Social withdrawal - when asufferer with schizophrenia
withdraws socially it is frequently since he/she believes somebody
isgoing to harm them. Other reasons could be a fear of interacting
with other humans because ofpoor social skill sets. Unaware of
ailment - as the hallucinations and delusions seem so real forthe
sufferers, many of them may not believe they are unwell. They may
refuse to takeprescriptions which could help them enormously for
fear of side-effects, for example. Cognitivedifficulties - the
person afflicted's capability to concentrate, remember things, plan
ahead, and toorganize himself/herself are affected. Communication
becomes more difficult.
Impaired eye movements linked to schizophrenia - research
workers from the University of BritishColumbia explained in the
Journal of Neuroscience that people with schizophrenia find it
harder tofollow a moving dot on a computer screen.
Tests and diagnosis: A schizophrenia diagnosis is carried out by
observing the actions of thesufferer. If the doctor suspects
possible schizophrenia, they will need to know about the
patient'smedical and psychiatric history. Certain tests will be
ordered to rule out other sicknesses andconditions that may trigger
schizophrenia-like conditions. Examples of some of the tests
mayinclude: Blood tests - to determine CBC (complete blood count)
as well as some other blood tests.Imaging scientific studies - to
rule out tumors, problems in the structure of the brain, and
otherconditions/illnesses. Psychological evaluation - a specialist
will assess the patient's mental stateby asking about thoughts,
moods, hallucinations, suicidal traits, violent tendencies or
potential forviolence, as well as observing their demeanor and
appearance.
Schizophrenia - Diagnostic Criteria: patients must meet the
criteria laid down in the DSM(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders). It is an American Psychiatric Associationmanual
that is used by health care professionals to diagnose mental
ailments and conditions. The
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health care professional needs to exclude other possible mental
health disorders, for examplebipolar disorder or schizoaffective
disorder. It is also essential to establish that the signs andsigns
and symptoms have not been induced by, for example, a prescribed
medicine, a medicalcondition, or substance abuse. Also, the person
afflicted must: Have at least two of the followingtypical signs and
symptoms of schizophrenia - Delusions, Disorganized or catatonic
behavior,Disorganized speech, Hallucinations, Negative symptoms
that are present for much of the timeduring the last four weeks.
Experience considerable impairment in the capability to attend
school,carry out their work responsibilities, or carry out every
day tasks. Have signs which persist for sixmonths or more.
Sometimes, the man or woman with schizophrenia may find their signs
andsymptoms frightening, and conceal them from some others. If
there is harsh paranoia, they maybe suspicious of family or friends
who try to help. There are many elements in disease that makeit
difficult to confirm a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Collecting neurons from the nose to diagnose schizophrenia -
research workers from Tel AvivUniversity, Israel, reported in
Neurobiology of ailment that collecting neurons from the nose of
thepatient may be a rapid way to test for schizophrenia. Noam
Shomron of TAU's Sackler Faculty ofMedicine, and team describe how
they devised a potential way of diagnosing schizophrenia bytesting
microRNA molecules found in the neurons inside the person
afflicted's nose. A sample canbe taken via a simple biopsy. Shomron
believes this could become a "more sure-fire" way ofdiagnosing
schizophrenia than ever before. It may also be a way of detecting
the devastatingailment earlier on. Schizophrenia treatment is
usually much more effectual if it can begin duringthe early
stages.
Are autism and schizophrenia related? - when seen at first
glance, autism and schizophreniaappear to be entirely different
disorders. However, a discovery made by research workers at TelAviv
University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Sheba Medical
Center showed that the twodisorders have similar roots, and are
linked to other mental conditions, for example bipolardysfunction.
Both schizophrenia and autism share come traits, including a
limited ability to lead anormal life function in the real world, as
well as cognitive and social dysfunction. The scientists found a
genetic link between the two disorders, which causes a elevated
dangerwithin family members. Dr. Mark Weiser and team found that
people with a sibling withschizophrenia had a twelve-fold elevated
chance of having autism than those withoutschizophrenia in the
family.
Schizophrenia genetically linked to four other mental health
problems or disorders - researchworkers the Cross Disorders Group
of the Psychiatric Genomic Consortium reported thatschizophrenia,
major depressive condition, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum
disorders, andADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity condition)
share the same typical inherited genetic faults.
Does schizophrenia begin in the womb? Stem cell study says yes -
researchers from the SalkInstitute in California have demonstrated
that neurons from skin cells of sufferers withschizophrenia behave
oddly in early stages of development, supporting the theory
thatschizophrenia begins in the womb.
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The researchers, who posted their results in the journal
Molecular Psychiatry, say their findingscould provide clues for how
to detect and treat the disorder early. Research workers
identifygenetic mutations that may cause schizophrenia -
Schizophrenia impacts around 2.4 milliongrown ups in the US. The
exact cause of the condition is unknown, but past research
hassuggested that genetics may play a part. Now, investigators from
the Columbia University MedicalCenter in New York, NY, have
uncovered clues that may build on this idea. The research
teampublished their findings in the journal Neuron.
Schizophrenia and cannabis use may have genetic link - There is
growing evidence that cannabisuse is a cause of schizophrenia and
now a new study led by King's College London, UK, alsofinds
augmented cannabis use and schizophrenia may have genes in
ordinary.
How a genetic variation 'may increase schizophrenia risk' - The
exact causes of schizophrenia areunknown, but past study has
suggested that some folks with the condition possess certain
geneticvariations. Now, research workers at Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine in Baltimore,MD, say they have begun
to understand how one schizophrenia-related genetic
variationinfluences brain cell development. Research workers
identify more than 80 new genes linked toschizophrenia - What
causes schizophrenia has long baffled scientists. But in what
exactly isdeemed the largest ever molecular genetic study of
schizophrenia, a team of internationalresearchers has pinpointed
108 genes linked to the condition - 83 of which are newly
discovered -that may help identify its causes and pave the way for
new interventions. Schizophrenia 'made upof eight specific genetic
disorders' - Past scientific tests have indicated that rather than
being asingle disease, schizophrenia is a collection of different
disorders. Now, a new study byresearchers at Washington University
in St. Louis, MO, claims the condition consists of eightdistinct
genetic disorders, all of which present their own specific signs
and symptoms. Brainnetwork vulnerable to Alzheimer's and
schizophrenia identified - New study has emerged thatreveals a
specific brain network - that is the last to develop and the first
to show indications ofneurodegeneration - is more vulnerable to
unhealthy aging as well as to disorders that emerge inyoung people,
shedding light on conditions for example Alzheimer's disorder and
schizophrenia.
handling options: The UK's National Health Service4 says it is
important that schizophrenia isrecognized as early as possible,
since the chances of a recuperation are much greater the earlierit
is treated. Psychiatrists say the nearly all effective treatment
for schizophrenia sufferers isusually a combination of medicine,
psychological counseling, and self-help resources. Anti-psychosis
drugs have transformed schizophrenia handling. Thanks to them, a
large numberof sufferers are able to live in the community, rather
than stay in hospital. In many parts of theworld care is delivered
in the community, rather than in hospital. The primary
schizophreniatreatment is medication. Sadly, compliance is a major
problem. Compliance, in medicine, meansfollowing the medication
regimen. People with schizophrenia often go off their medicine for
longperiods during their lives, at huge personal costs to
themselves and frequently to those aroundthem as well. The
Cleveland Clinic says that the sufferer must continue taking
medication even
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when signs are gone, otherwise they will come back. a lot of
sufferers go off their medicine withinthe first year of management.
In order to address this, successful schizophrenia managementneeds
to consist of a life-long regimen of both drug and psychosocial,
support therapies. Themedication can help control the sufferer's
hallucinations and delusions, but it cannot help themlearn to
communicate with others, get a work, and thrive in society.
Although a significant numberof people with schizophrenia live in
poverty, this does not have to be the case. A individual
withschizophrenia who complies with the management regimen
long-term will be able to lead a happyand productive life. The
first time a individual experiences schizophrenia symptoms can be
veryupsetting. He/she may take a long time to recover, and that
recovery can be a lonely experience.It is crucial that a
schizophrenia sufferer receives the full support of his/her family,
friends, andcommunity services when start appears for the first
time.
drugs: The medical management of schizophrenia generally
involves drugs for psychosis,depression and anxiety. This is
because schizophrenia is a combination of thought condition,mood
dysfunction and anxiety illness. The nearly all ordinary
antipsychotic drugs are Risperidone(Risperdal), Olanzapine
(Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Ziprasidone (Geodon), and
Clozapine(Clozaril): Risperidone (Risperdal) - introduced in
America in 1994. This drug is less sedating thanother atypical
antipsychotics. There is a higher probability, compared to other
atypicalantipsychotics, of extrapyramidal conditions (affecting the
extrapyramidal motor system, a neuralnetwork located in the brain
that is involved in the coordination of movement). Although
weightgain and diabetes are possible risks, they are less possibly
to happen, compared with Clozapineor Olanzapine. Olanzapine
(Zyprexa) - approved in the USA in 1996. A typical dose is 10 to
20mg per day. danger of extrapyramidal signs and symptoms is low,
compared to Risperidone. Thisdrug may also improve negative
conditions. However, the risks of serious weight gain and
thedevelopment of diabetes are significant. Quetiapine (Seroquel) -
came onto the market in Americain 1997. Typical dose is between 400
to 800 mg per day. If the sufferer is resistant tomanagement the
dose may be higher. The danger of extrapyramidal signs and symptoms
is low,compared to Risperidone. There is a danger of weight gain
and diabetes, however the risk islower than Clozapine or
Olanzapine. Ziprasidone (Geodon) - became obtainable in the USA
in2001. Typical doses range from 80 to 160 mg per day. This drug
can be given orally or byintramuscular administration. The risk of
extrapyramidal conditions is low. The danger of weightgain and
diabetes is lower than other atypical antipsychotics. However, it
might contribute tocardiac arrhythmia, and must not be taken
together with other medicines that also have this sideeffect.
Clozapine (Clozaril) - has been obtainable in the USA since 1990. A
typical dose rangesfrom 300 to 700 mg per day. It is very effective
for sufferers who have been resistant tomanagement. It is known to
lower suicidal behaviors. patients must have their blood
regularlymonitored as it can impact the white blood cell count. The
danger of weight gain and diabetes issignificant.
How typical is schizophrenia? The prevalence of schizophrenia
around the globe varies slightly,
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depending on which report you look at, from about 0.7% to 1.2%
of the adult population ingeneral. Nearly all of these percentages
refer to people suffering from schizophrenia "at sometime during
their lives". An Australian reasearch found that schizophrenia is
more ordinary indeveloped nations than developing ones. It also
found that the ailment is less widespread thanpreviously thought.
Estimates of 10 per 1,000 people should be changed to 7 or 8 per
1,000people, the reasearch concluded. In the USA about 2.2 million
grown persons, or about 1.1% ofthe population age 18 and older in a
given year have schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is not a
'very'ordinary disorder. Approximately 1% of people throughout the
globe suffer from schizophrenia (orperhaps a little less than 1% in
developing countries) at some point in their lives. It is
estimatedthat about 1.2% of Americans, a total of 3.2 million
people, have the disorder at some point intheir lives. around the
globe, about 1.5 million people each year are clinically determined
withschizophrenia. In the UK it is estimated that about 600,000
people have schizophrenia.
Sometimes people understand psychosis or schizophrenia to be
unrelenting, even with theintervention of psychotherapy. It is
contended herein that remedy, and humanistic therapy inparticular,
can be helpful to the psychotic person, but, perhaps, the therapist
may have difficultyunderstanding how this approach can be applied
to the problems of psychosis. Although it is aprevalent opinion in
our society that schizophrenics are not responsive to
psychotherapy, it isasserted herein that any therapist can relate
in a psychotic individual, and, if therapy isunsuccessful, this
failure may stem from the therapist's qualities instead of those of
the psychoticperson.
Carl Rogers created a theory and remedy indicated by the terms
"umanistic theory" and "man orwoman-centered therapy". This
theoretical perspective postulates many significant ideas,
andseveral of these thoughts are pertinent to this discussion. The
first of these is the idea of"conditions of worth", and the idea of
"the actualizing tendency." Rogers asserts that our society
isapplicable to us "conditions of worth". This means that we must
behave in certain methods inorder to receive rewards, and receipt
of these rewards imply that we are worthy if we behave inmethods
that are acceptable. As an example, in our society, we are rewarded
with money whenwe do work that is represented by employment.
In terms of the life of a schizophrenic, these conditions of
worth are that from which stigmatizationproceeds. The psychotic
human beings in our society, without intentionality, do not behave
inways that produce rewards. Perhaps some people believe that
schizophrenics are parasites inrelation to our society. This
estimation of the worth of these folks serves only to compound
theirsuffering. The mentally unwell and psychotic human beings, in
particular, are destitute in social,personal and economic
spheres.
Carl Roger's disapproved of conditions of worth, and, in fact,
he believed that human beings and
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other organisms strive to fulfill their potential. This striving
represents what Roger's termed "theactualizing tendency" and the
"force of life." This growth enhancing aspect of life motivates all
lifeforms to develop fully their own potential. Rogers believed
that mental ailment reflects distortionsof the actualizing
tendency, based upon faulty conditions of worth. It is clear that
psychotic peoplehandle negatively skewed conditions of worth.
It is an evident reality that the mentally ill could more
successfully exist in the world if stigmaswere not applied to them.
The mentally unwell engage in self-denigration and self-laceration
thatculminate in the destruction of selfhood. This psychological
physical violence toward the mentallyill is supported by
non-mentally unwell other folks. The class of self-abuse by
psychotic individualswould certainly abate if the normative
dismissal of the mentally ill as worthless is not perpetuated.
In spite of a prevalent view that psychotic individuals are
unsuccessful in the context ofpsychotherapy, Roger's theory and
therapy of compassion cannot be assumed to be unhelpful tothe
mentally unwell. The key components of Rogers' approach to
psychotherapy includeunconditional positive regard, accurate
empathy and genuineness. Unconditional positive regard,accurate
empathy and genuineness are considered to be qualities of the
therapist enacted inrelation to the client in terms of humanistic
remedy. These qualities are essential to the process ofhumanistic
remedy. In terms of these qualities, unconditional positive regard
is a view of a man orwoman or client that is accepting and warm, no
matter what that man or woman in therapyreveals in terms of his or
her emotional problems or experiences. This means that an person
inthe context of humanistic psychotherapy, or in therapy with a
humanistic psychologist or therapist,should anticipate the
therapist to be accepting of whatever that person reveals to the
therapist. Inthis context, the therapist will be accepting and
understanding regardless of what one tells thetherapist.
Accurate empathy is represented as understanding a client from
that man or woman's ownperspective. This means that the humanistic
psychologist or therapist will be able to perceive youas you
perceive yourself, and that he will feel sympathy for you on the
basis of the knowledge ofyour reality. He will know you in terms of
knowing your thoughts and feelings toward yourself, andhe will feel
empathy and compassion for you based on that fact. As another
quality enacted by thehumanistic therapist, genuineness is
truthfulness in one's presentation toward the client; it
isintegrity or a self-representation that is real. To be genuine
with a client reflects qualities in atherapist that entail more
than simply being a therapist. It has to do with being an authentic
manor woman with one's client. Carl Rogers believed that, as a
therapist, one could be authentic anddeliberate simultaneously.
This means that the therapist can be a "real" individual, even
while heis intentionally saying and doing what's required to help
you.
The goal of therapy from the humanistic orientation is to allow
the client to achieve congruence interm of his real self and his
ideal self. This means that what a individual is and what he wants
tobe should become the same as remedy progresses. self-confidence
that is achieved in therapy
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will allow the client to elevate his sense of what he is, and
self-confidence will also lessen hisneed to be better than what he
is. Essentially, as the real self is more accepted by the client,
andhis raised self-confidence will allow him to be less than some
kind of "ideal" self that he feels he iscompelled to be. It is the
qualities of unconditional positive regard, accurate empathy
andgenuineness in the humanistic therapist that allow the therapist
to assist the client in cultivatingcongruence between the real self
and the ideal self from that client's perspective.
What the schizophrenic experiences can be confusing. It is clear
that most therapists,psychiatrists and clinicians cannot understand
the perspectives of the chronically mentally ill.Perhaps if they
could understand what it is to feel oneself to be in a solitary
prison of one's skinand a visceral isolation within one's mind,
with hallucinations clamoring, then the clinicians whotreat mental
ailment would be able to better empathize with the mentally unwell.
The problem withclinicians' empathy for the mentally ill is that
the views of mentally unwell people are remote andunthinkable to
them. Perhaps the solitariness within the minds of schizophrenics
is the nearly allpainful aspect of being schizophrenics, even while
auditory hallucinations can form what seems tobe a mental
populace.
Based upon standards that make them feel inadequate, the
mentally unwell respond to stigma byinternalizing it. If the
mentally ill man or woman can achieve the goal of congruence
between thereal self and the ideal self, their expectations
regarding who "they should be" may be reconciledwith an acceptance
of "who they are". As they lower their high standards regarding who
theyshould be, their acceptance of their real selves may follow
naturally.
Carl Rogers said, "As I accept myself as I am, only then can I
vary." In humanistic therapy, thetherapist can help even a
schizophrenic accept who they are by reflecting acceptance of
thepsychotic person. This may culminate in curativeness, although
perhaps not a complete remedy.However, when the schizophrenic
becomes more able to accept who they are, they can thenvary. Social
acceptance is crucial for coping with schizophrenia, and social
acceptance leads toself-acceptance by the schizophrenic. The
accepting therapist can be a key component inreducing the negative
consequences of stigma as it has affected the mental unwell
sufferer client.This, then, relates to conditions of worth and the
actualizing tendency. "Conditions of worth" affectthe mentally
unwell more drastically than other people. Simple acceptance and
empathy by aclinician may be curative to some extent, even for the
chronically mentally ill. If the schizophrenicperson is released
from conditions of worth that are entailed by stigmatization, then
perhaps theactualizing tendency would assert itself in them in a
positive way, lacking distortion.
In the tradition of person-centered therapy, the client is
allowed to lead the conversation or thedialogue of the therapy
sessions. This is ideal for the psychotic person, provided he
believes he isbeing heard by his therapist. Clearly, the
therapist's mind will have to stretch as they seek tounderstand the
client's subjective perspective. In terms of humanistic therapy,
this theory would
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appear to apply to all persons, as it is based upon the
psychology of all human beings, eachuniquely able to benefit from
this approach by through the growth potential that is inherent
inthem. In terms of the amelioration of psychosis by means of this
remedy, Rogers offers hope.
Schizophrenia, from the Greek roots schizein ("to split") and
phren- ("mind"), is a psychiatricdiagnosis that describes a mental
ailment characterized by impairments in the perception orexpression
of reality, nearly all frequently manifesting as auditory
hallucinations, paranoid orbizarre delusions or disorganized speech
and thinking in the context of significant social oroccupational
dysfunction. onset of symptoms usually occurs in young
adulthood.
Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling mental sickness that may
be brought about by abnormalamounts of certain chemicals in the
brain. These chemicals are called
neurotransmitters.Neurotransmitters control our thought processes
and emotions. Schizophrenia is a group ofserious brain disorders in
which reality is interpreted abnormally. Schizophrenia results
inhallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior.
People with schizophreniawithdraw from the people and activities in
the world around them, retreating into an inner worldmarked by
psychosis.
Schizophrenia is usually identified in people aged 17-35 years.
The sickness seems earlier inmales (in the late teens or early
twenties) than in women (who are affected in the twenties to
earlythirties). Many of them are disabled. They may not be able to
hold down jobs or even performtasks as simple as conversations.
Some may be so incapacitated that they are unable to doactivities
most people take for granted, such as showering or preparing a
meal. Many arehomeless. Some recover enough to live a life
relatively free from assistance.
Environmental factors are merely speculative and may include
complications during pregnancyand birth. For instance, some
scientific tests have shown that offspring of women whose sixth
orseventh month of pregnancy occurs during a flu epidemic are at
increased danger for developingschizophrenia although other
scientific tests have refuted this. During the first trimester
ofpregnancy, maternal starvation or viral infection may result in
increased risk for schizophreniadevelopment in the offspring. It
has even been conjectured that babies born in the winter seasonare
at elevated danger for developing this mental illness in their
early adulthood.
Genetic factors appear to play a role, as people who have family
members with schizophreniamay be more likely to get the ailment
themselves. Some researchers believe that events in a manor woman's
environment may trigger schizophrenia. for instance, problems
during intrauterinedevelopment (infection) and birth may increase
the danger for developing schizophrenia later inlife.
People with schizophrenia describe odd or unrealistic thoughts.
In many instances, their speech ishard to follow due to disordered
thinking. common forms of thought dysfunction include
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circumstantiality (talking in circles around the issue),
looseness of associations (moving from onetopic to the next without
any logical connection between them), and tangentiality (moving
fromone topic to another where the logical connection is visible,
but not relevant to the issue at hand).
Schizophrenia is a harsh, lifelong brain illness. People who
have it may hear voices, see thingsthat aren't there or believe
that others are reading or controlling their minds. In males, signs
andsymptoms usually begin in the late teens and early 20s. They
include hallucinations, or seeingthings, and delusions for example
hearing voices.
Schizophrenia can be treated with medication in the form of
tablets or long-acting injections.Social support for the person and
support for carers is important. Counselling may be offered tothe
individual with schizophrenia and their family. Brain scanning,
especially MRI scanning, hasprovided a far greater understanding of
the condition and led to the development of antipsychoticmedication
and therapies.
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but scientific
evidence suggests that paranoidschizophrenia is an organic or
medical condition, not just a psychological malady of the mind.
TheNational Institute of Mental Health reports that 1 percent of
the total population is diagnosed withschizophrenia. Paranoid
schizophrenia is one of the five types of schizophrenia; the
conditionsthat distinguish paranoid schizophrenia from the other
kinds are paranoid delusions and beliefs ofpersecution.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that
schizophrenia is known to run infamilies with a history of
psychiatric disorders. However, this is not always the case.
According tothe Mayo Clinic and NIMH, evidence from years of
research point to genes from first-degreerelatives leading to an
increased risk of developing schizophrenia. NIMH also points out
thatongoing scientific tests are focusing on chemical malfunctions
in the brain as keys to the geneticlink between relatives and
persons with schizophrenia. According to the Mayo Clinic, the
scientificsociety continues to work toward proving that genetics is
the primary cause of the disorder.
Changes in thinking and behaviour are the nearly all obvious
signs of schizophrenia, but peoplecan experience symptoms in
dissimilar ways. The signs and symptoms of schizophrenia areusually
classified into one of two categories - positive or negative.
Positive signs and symptoms :represent a vary in behaviour or
thoughts, for example hallucinations or delusions. Negative
signsand symptoms : represent a withdrawal or lack of function that
you would usually anticipate to seein a healthy individual; for
instance, people with schizophrenia often appear emotionless, flat
andapathetic
The condition may develop slowly. The first indications of
schizophrenia, such as becomingsocially withdrawn and unresponsive
or experiencing changes in sleeping patterns, can be hard to
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identify. This is because the first symptoms often develop
during adolescence and changes canbe mistaken for an adolescent
"phase". People frequently have episodes of schizophrenia, during
which their signs and symptoms areparticularly severe, followed by
periods where they experience few or no positive signs andsymptoms.
This is known as acute schizophrenia.
A hallucination is when a person experiences a sensation but
there is nothing or nobody there toaccount for it. It can include
any of the senses, but the nearly all common is hearing
voices.Hallucinations are very real to the man or woman
experiencing them, even though people aroundthem cannot hear the
voices or experience the sensations. Research using brain-scanning
equipment shows changes in the speech area in the brains ofpeople
with schizophrenia when they hear voices. These scientific tests
show the experience ofhearing voices as a real one, as if the brain
mistakes thoughts for real voices. Some peopledescribe the voices
they hear as friendly and pleasant, but more frequently they are
rude, veryimportant, abusive or annoying. The voices might describe
activities taking place, discuss thehearer's thoughts and
behaviour, give instructions, or talk directly to the man or woman.
Voicesmay come from different places or one place in particular,
such as the television.
A delusion is a belief held with complete conviction, even
though it is based on a mistaken,strange or unrealistic view. It
may affect the way people behave. Delusions can begin suddenly,or
may develop over weeks or months. Some people develop a delusional
idea to explain ahallucination they are having. as an example, if
they have heard voices describing their actions,they may have a
delusion that someone is monitoring their actions. Someone
experiencing aparanoid delusion may believe they are being harassed
or persecuted. They may believe they arebeing chased, followed,
watched, plotted against or poisoned, often by a family member or
friend.Some people who experience delusions find different meanings
in everyday events oroccurrences. They may believe people on TV or
in newspaper articles are communicatingmessages to them alone, or
that there are hidden messages in the colours of cars passing on
thestreet.
People experiencing psychosis frequently have trouble keeping
track of their thoughts andconversations. Some people find it hard
to concentrate and will drift from one idea to another.They may
have trouble reading newspaper articles or watching a TV programme.
Peoplesometimes describe their thoughts as "misty" or "hazy" when
this is happening to them. Thoughtsand speech may become jumbled or
confused, making conversation difficult and hard for otherpeople to
understand.
A man or woman's behaviour may become more disorganised and
unpredictable, and theirappearance or dress may appear unusual to
other folks. People with schizophrenia may behaveinappropriately or
become extremely agitated and shout or swear for no reason. Some
people
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describe their thoughts as being controlled by someone else,
that their thoughts are not their own,or that thoughts have been
planted in their mind by someone else. Another recognised feeling
isthat thoughts are disappearing, as though someone is removing
them from their mind. Somepeople feel their body is being taken
over and someone else is directing their movements andactions.
The negative signs and symptoms of schizophrenia can frequently
appear several years beforesomebody experiences their first acute
schizophrenic episode. These initial negative symptomsare
frequently referred to as the prodromal period of schizophrenia.
conditions during theprodromal period usually appear gradually and
gradually get worse. They include becoming moresocially withdrawn
and experiencing an increasing lack of care about your appearance
andpersonal hygiene. It can be difficult to tell whether the signs
and symptoms are part of thedevelopment of schizophrenia or caused
by something else. Negative symptoms experienced bypeople living
with schizophrenia include: Losing interest and motivation in life
and activities,including relationships and sex. Lack of
concentration, not wanting to leave the house, andchanges in
sleeping patterns. Being less possibly to initiate conversations
and feelinguncomfortable with people, or feeling there is nothing
to say The negative signs of schizophreniacan frequently result in
relationship problems with acquaintances and family because they
cansometimes be mistaken for deliberate laziness or rudeness.
Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but no one gene is
thought to be responsible. It's morepossibly that dissimilar
combinations of genes make people more vulnerable to the
condition.However, having these genes doesn't necessarily stand for
you will develop schizophrenia.Evidence the illness is partly
inherited comes from scientific studies of twins. Identical twins
sharethe same genes. In identical twins, if one twin develops
schizophrenia, the other twin has a one intwo chance of developing
it too. This is true even if they are raised separately. In
non-identicaltwins, who have different genetic make-ups, when one
twin develops schizophrenia, the otheronly has a one in seven
chance of developing the condition. While this is higher than in
thegeneral population (where the chance is about 1 in a 100), it
suggests genes are not the onlyfactor impacting the development of
schizophrenia.
scientific studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there
are subtle differences in thestructure of their brains. These
changes aren't seen in everyone with schizophrenia and can occurin
people who don't have a mental sickness. But they suggest
schizophrenia may partly be adysfunction of the brain.
Neurotransmitters. These are chemicals that carry messages
between brain cells. There is aconnection between neurotransmitters
and schizophrenia since medicines that alter the levels
ofneurotransmitters in the brain are known to alleviate some of the
symptoms of schizophrenia.Research suggests schizophrenia may be
brought about by a change in the level of twoneurotransmitters:
dopamine and serotonin. Some scientific tests indicate an imbalance
between
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the two may be the basis of the problem. Others have found a
alter in the body's sensitivity to theneurotransmitters is part of
the cause of schizophrenia.
Study has shown that people who develop schizophrenia are more
possibly to have experiencedcomplications before and during their
birth, for example a low birth weight, premature labour, or alack
of oxygen (asphyxia) during birth. It may be that these things have
a subtle effect on braindevelopment.
The main psychological triggers of schizophrenia are stressful
life events, such as abereavement, losing your career or home, a
divorce or the end of a relationship, or physical,sexual, emotional
or racial abuse. These kinds of experiences, though stressful, do
not causeschizophrenia, but can trigger its development in someone
already vulnerable to it.
drugs do not directly cause schizophrenia, but scientific tests
have shown drug misuse increasesthe danger of developing
schizophrenia or a similar illness. Certain drugs, particularly
cannabis,cocaine, LSD or amphetamines, may trigger symptoms of
schizophrenia in people who aresusceptible. Using amphetamines or
cocaine can lead to psychosis and can cause a relapse inpeople
recovering from an earlier episode. Three major scientific studies
have shown teenagersunder 15 who use cannabis regularly, especially
"skunk" and other more potent forms of the drug,are up to four
times more possibly to develop schizophrenia by the age of 26.
As a consequence of their delusional thought patterns, people
with schizophrenia may bereluctant to visit their GP if they
believe there is nothing wrong with them. It is possibly someonewho
has had acute schizophrenic episodes in the past will have been
assigned a care co-ordinator. If this is the case, contact the man
or woman's care co-ordinator to express yourconcerns. If someone is
having an acute schizophrenic episode for the first time, it may
benecessary for a friend, relative or other loved one to persuade
them to visit their GP. In the caseof a rapidly worsening
schizophrenic episode, you may need to go to the accident and
emergency(A&E) department, where a duty psychiatrist will be
obtainable. If a individual who is having anacute schizophrenic
episode refuses to seek help, their nearest relative can request
that a mentalhealth assessment is carried out. The social services
department of your local authority canadvise how to do this. In
harsh cases of schizophrenia, people can be compulsorily detained
inhospital for assessment and management under the Mental Health
Act (2007).
If you or a friend or relative are recognized with
schizophrenia, you may feel anxious about whatwill happen. You may
be worried about the stigma attached to the condition, or feel
frightened andwithdrawn. It is significant to remember that a
diagnosis can be a positive step towards gettinggood,
straightforward information about the illness and the kinds of
handling and servicesobtainable.
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Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that impacts more than
2 million men and women everyyear in the United States.
Schizophrenia can have devastating effects, leaving the
suffererwithdrawn, paranoid, and delusional. Though there is
currently no remedy for schizophrenia,many treatment options are
available. These remedies are highly effectual at reducing
symptomsof the ailment and preventing relapse. If you have
schizophrenia, it is important to get identifiedand seek management
from a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Diagnosing schizophrenia can sometimes be difficult as certain
symptoms can be confused withother medical conditions. signs of
schizophrenia are quite similar to those induced by brain injuryor
surgery, drug abuse, chronic Vitamin B12 deficiency, or
tuberculosis. There is no physical testthat can prove that you have
schizophrenia. Instead, a diagnosis is made based upon your
signsand symptoms, family history, and emotional history. In some
cases, it may be difficult todiagnose a first episode of
schizophrenia. When a man or woman has only a first episode, in
theearly stages it may be called schizophreniform illness. In this
case, a doctor may have to track acase over a period of time to
establish a pattern of the indications of schizophrenia.
Though there is no treat for schizophrenia, a wide variety of
handling options are obtainable tosufferers with the disorder.
Schizophrenia treatment is now quite effective in most cases, and
cansuppress symptoms and prevent relapse in a large number of
schizophrenics. However, remediesare ongoing and usually
lifelong.
he most common medical management for schizophrenia is the use
of antipsychotic medicine.70% of people using prescriptions for
schizophrenia perk up, and medicine can also cut therelapse rate
for the condition by half, reducing it to 40%. Classic
schizophrenia medicationincludes Thorazine, Fluanxol, and
Haloperidol. These prescription drugs are very effectual inhealing
the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Newer "atypical" medicinal
drugs includeRisperdal, Clozaril, and Aripiprazole. These
prescriptions are recommended for first-line handlingand are also
good at reducing positive symptoms. Nearly all medications are less
effectual athealing negative symptoms.
Antidepressants are recommended for those suffering from
schizoaffective condition.Antidepressants can successfully reduce
the symptoms of depression in these patients.
Psychotherapy of some class is highly recommended for people
suffering from schizophrenia. Byadding behavioral interventions for
schizophrenia to a medical treatment regimen, the rate ofrelapse is
further reduced, to only 25%. many forms of psychotherapy are
obtainable toschizophrenics. Cognitive therapy, psychoeducation,
and family therapy can all helpschizophrenics handle their
conditions and learn to operate in society. Social skill sets
training isof great significance, in order to teach the patient
specific ways to regulate themselves in socialsituations.
Alternative therapies for schizophrenia are available, although
they are never recommendedwithout first seeking medical handling.
They are most effective when paired with antipsychotics
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and administered under doctor supervision. In particular,
dietary supplements have proven tohave dramatic effects on the
signs and symptoms of schizophrenia. Glycine Supplements:Glycine,
an amino acid, is shown to help alleviate negative symptoms in
schizophrenics by up to24%. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish
oils, Omega-3 fatty acids high in EPA can help toreduce positive
and negative conditions associated with schizophrenia.
Antioxidants: Theantioxidants Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Alpha
Lipoic Acid show a 5 to 10% improvement in signsof the ailment.
A sufferer's support system may come from several sources,
including the family, a professionalresidential or day program
provider, shelter operators, friends or roommates, professional
casemanagers, churches and synagogues, and other people. because
many patients live with theirfamilies, the following discussion
frequently uses the term "family." However, this should not betaken
to imply that families ought to be the primary support system.
There are numerous situations in which patients with
schizophrenia may need help from people intheir family or society.
frequently, a individual with schizophrenia will resist handling,
believing thatdelusions or hallucinations are real and that
psychiatric help is not required. At times, family orfriends may
need to take an active role in having them seen and evaluated by a
professional. Theissue of civil rights enters into any attempts to
provide management. Laws protecting patientsfrom involuntary
commitment have become very strict, and families and community
organizationsmay be frustrated in their efforts to see that a
seriously mentally unwell individual gets neededhelp. These laws
vary from State to State; but generally, when people are dangerous
tothemselves or other people due to a mental illness, the police
can assist in getting them anemergency psychiatric evaluation and,
if necessary, hospitalization. In some places, staff from alocal
society mental health center can evaluate an individual's illness
at home if he or she will notvoluntarily go in for management.
Sometimes only the family or other folks close to the person
with schizophrenia will be aware ofstrange behavior or thoughts
that the man or woman has expressed. Since patients may
notvolunteer such information during an examination, family members
or friends should ask to speakwith the man or woman evaluating the
patient so that all relevant information can be taken
intoaccount.
Ensuring that a person with schizophrenia continues to get
management after hospitalization isalso significant. A sufferer may
discontinue medications or stop going for follow-up
management,often leading to a return of psychotic symptoms.
Encouraging the sufferer to continue handlingand assisting him or
her in the management process can positively influence
recuperation.Without handling, some people with schizophrenia
become so psychotic and disorganized thatthey cannot care for their
basic needs, for example food, clothing, and shelter. All too
frequently,people with harsh mental ailments such as schizophrenia
end up on the streets or in jails, wherethey rarely receive the
kinds of treatment they need.
Those close to people with schizophrenia are frequently unsure
of how to respond when sufferersmake statements that appear strange
or are clearly false. For the person with schizophrenia, the
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bizarre beliefs or hallucinations look quite real - they are not
just "imaginary fantasies." Instead of"going along with" a
individual's delusions, family members or acquaintances can tell
the personthat they do not see things the same way or do not agree
with his or her conclusions, whileacknowledging that things may
appear otherwise to the patient.
It may also be useful for those who know the person with
schizophrenia well to keep a record ofwhat types of signs and
symptoms have appeared, what medicinal drugs (including dosage)
havebeen taken, and what effects various therapies have had. By
knowing what signs and symptomshave been present before, family
members may know better what to look for in the future.
Familymembers may even be able to identify some "early warning
indications" of potential relapses,such as increased withdrawal or
changes in sleep patterns, even better and earlier than
thesufferers themselves. Thus, return of psychosis may be detected
early and treatment may preventa full-blown relapse. Also, by
knowing which prescription drugs have helped and which
havetriggered troublesome unintended effects in the past, the
family can help those treating the personafflicted to find the best
handling more quickly.
In addition to involvement in seeking help, family, friends, and
peer groups can provide supportand encourage the man or woman with
schizophrenia to regain his or her abilities. It is importantthat
goals be attainable, since a sufferer who feels pressured and/or
repeatedly criticized by someothers will probably experience stress
that may result in a worsening of signs. Like anyone else,people
with schizophrenia need to know when they are doing things right. A
positive approachmay be helpful and perhaps more effectual in the
long run than criticism. This advice can beapplied to everyone who
interacts with the person.
Suicide is a serious risk in people who have schizophrenia. If
an individual tries to commit suicideor threatens to do so,
professional help should be sought immediately. People with
schizophreniahave a elevated rate of suicide than the general
population. Approximately 10% of people withschizophrenia
(especially younger adult men) commit suicide. Unluckily, the
prediction of suicidein people with schizophrenia can be
particularly difficult.
News and entertainment media tend to link mental sickness and
criminal violence; however,scientific studies indicate that except
for those persons with a record of criminal violence beforebecoming
unwell, and those with substance mistreatment or alcohol problems,
people withschizophrenia are not particularly susceptible to
physical violence. Most folks with schizophreniaare not dangerous;
more typically, they are withdrawn and prefer to be left alone.
Most violentcrimes are not committed by persons with schizophrenia,
and nearly all persons withschizophrenia do not commit violent
crimes. Substance abuse appreciably increases the rate ofphysical
violence in people with schizophrenia but also in people who do not
have any mentalailment. People with paranoid and psychotic
symptoms, which can become worse if medicationsare stopped, may
also be at elevated danger for violent behavior. When physical
violence doesoccur, it is nearly all frequently targeted at family
members and acquaintances, and more oftentakes place at home.
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The nearly all typical form of substance use illness in people
with schizophrenia is nicotinedependence due to smoking. While the
prevalence of smoking in the U.S. population is about 25to 30
percent, the prevalence among people with schizophrenia is
approximately three times ashigh. Study has shown that the
relationship between smoking and schizophrenia is complex.Although
people with schizophrenia may smoke to self medicate their
symptoms, smoking hasbeen found to interfere with the response to
antipsychotic drugs. Several scientific tests havefound that
schizophrenia sufferers who smoke need elevated doses of
antipsychotic medication.Quitting smoking may be especially
difficult for people with schizophrenia, because the signs
andsymptoms of nicotine withdrawal may cause a temporary worsening
of schizophrenia conditions.However, smoking cessation strategies
that include nicotine replacement methods may beeffectual. Doctors
should carefully monitor medicine dosage and response when patients
withschizophrenia either initiate or stop smoking.
Substance abuse is a typical concern of the family and friends
of people with schizophrenia.Since some people who abuse drugs may
show signs similar to those of schizophrenia, peoplewith
schizophrenia may be mistaken for people "high on drugs." While
most research workers donot believe that substance abuse causes
schizophrenia, people who have schizophreniafrequently abuse
alcohol and/or drugs, and may have particularly bad reactions to
certain drugs.Substance abuse can reduce the effectiveness of
handling for schizophrenia. Stimulants (forexample amphetamines or
cocaine) may cause major problems for sufferers with
schizophrenia,as may PCP or marijuana. In fact, some people
experience a worsening of their schizophrenicconditions when they
are taking such drugs. Substance abuse also reduces the likelihood
thatpatients will follow the handling plans recommended by their
doctors.
People with schizophrenia frequently show "blunted" or "flat"
impact. This refers to a severereduction in emotional
expressiveness. A person with schizophrenia may not show the signs
ofnormal emotion, perhaps may speak in a monotonous voice, have
diminished facial expressions,and appear extremely apathetic. The
man or woman may withdraw socially, avoiding contact withothers;
and when forced to interact, he or she may have nothing to say,
reflecting "impoverishedthought." Motivation can be greatly
decreased, as can interest in or enjoyment of life. In somesevere
cases, a man or woman can spend entire days doing nothing at all,
even neglecting basichygiene. These problems with emotional
expression and motivation, which may be extremelytroubling to
family members and acquaintances, are signs and symptoms of
schizophrenia - notcharacter flaws or personal weaknesses.
Schizophrenia frequently impacts a individual's ability to
"think straight." Thoughts may come andgo rapidly; the person may
not be able to concentrate on one thought for very long and may
beeasily distracted, unable to focus attention. People with
schizophrenia may not be able to sort outwhat's relevant and what
exactly is not relevant to a situation. The person may be not able
toconnect thoughts into logical sequences, with thoughts becoming
disorganized and fragmented.This lack of logical continuity of
thought, termed "thought illness," can make conversation
verydifficult and may contribute to social isolation. If people
cannot make sense of what an individualis saying, they are likely
to become uncomfortable and tend to leave that person alone.
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Delusions are false personal beliefs that are not subject to
reason or contradictory evidence andare not explained by a person's
usual cultural concepts. Delusions may take on different
themes.let's say, patients suffering from paranoid-sort conditions
- roughly one-third of people withschizophrenia - often have
delusions of persecution, or false and reasonless beliefs that they
arebeing cheated, harassed, poisoned, or conspired against. These
sufferers may believe that they,or a member of the family or
someone close to them, are the focus of this persecution. In
addition,delusions of grandeur, in which a person may believe he or
she is a famous or essential figure,may occur in schizophrenia.
Sometimes the delusions experienced by people with schizophreniaare
quite bizarre; for instance, believing that a neighbor is
controlling their behavior with magneticwaves; that people on
television are directing special messages to them; or that their
thoughts arebeing broadcast aloud to some others.
Hallucinations are disturbances of perception that are typical
in people suffering fromschizophrenia. Hallucinations are
perceptions that occur without connection to an appropriatesource.
Although hallucinations can occur in any sensory sort - auditory
(sound), visual (sight),tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), and
olfactory (smell) - hearing voices that other people do nothear is
the nearly all common type of hallucination in schizophrenia.
Voices may describe theperson afflicted's activities, carry on a
conversation, warn of impending dangers, or even issueorders to the
person. Illusions, on the other hand, occur when a sensory stimulus
is present but isincorrectly interpreted by the individual.
At times, normal folks may feel, think, or act in methods that
resemble schizophrenia. Normalpeople may sometimes be unable to
"think straight." They may become extremely anxious, let'ssay, when
speaking in front of groups and may feel confused, be not able to
pull their thoughtstogether, and forget what they had intended to
say. This is not schizophrenia. At the same time,people with
schizophrenia do not always act abnormally. Indeed, some people
with the sicknesscan appear entirely normal and be perfectly
responsible, even while they experiencehallucinations or delusions.
An individual's behavior may vary over time, becoming bizarre
ifmedication is stopped and returning closer to normal when
receiving appropriate handling.
It is essential to rule out other illnesses, as sometimes people
suffer severe mental conditions oreven psychosis due to undetected
underlying medical conditions. For this reason, a medicalhistory
should be taken and a physical examination and laboratory tests
should be done to ruleout other possible causes of the signs before
concluding that a man or woman has schizophrenia.In addition, since
usually abused drugs may cause signs and symptoms
resemblingschizophrenia, blood or urine samples from the person can
be tested at hospitals or physicians'offices for the presence of
these medicines.
At times, it is difficult to tell one mental illness from
another. For instance, some people withsymptoms of schizophrenia
exhibit prolonged extremes of elated or depressed mood, and it
isimportant to determine whether such a patient has schizophrenia
or actually has a manic-depressive (or bipolar) illness or major
depressive illness. individuals whose conditions cannot beclearly
categorized are sometimes identified as having a "schizoaffective
illness."
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Children over the age of five can develop schizophrenia, but it
is very rare before adolescence.Although some people who later
develop schizophrenia may have seemed dissimilar from otherchildren
at an early age, the psychotic signs of schizophrenia -
hallucinations and delusions - areextremely uncommon before
adolescence.
The outlook for people with schizophrenia has improved over the
last 25 years. Although nototally effectual therapy has yet been
devised, it is important to remember that many people withthe
biological disorder improve enough to lead independent, satisfying
lives. As we learn moreabout the causes and interventions of
schizophrenia, we should be able to help more patientsachieve
successful outcomes. studies that have followed people with
schizophrenia for longperiods, from the first episode to old age,
reveal that a wide range of outcomes is possible. Whenlarge groups
of patients are studied, certain factors tend to be associated with
a better outcome -as an example, a pre-ailment history of normal
social, school, and work adjustment. However, thecurrent state of
knowledge, does not allow for a sufficiently accurate prediction of
long-termoutcome. Given the complexity of schizophrenia, the major
questions about this illness - its causeor causes, prevention, and
handling - must be addressed with research. The public shouldbeware
of those offering "the cure" for (or "the cause" of) schizophrenia.
Such claims can provokeunrealistic expectations that, when
unfulfilled, result in further disappointment. Although progresshas
been made toward better understanding and handling of
schizophrenia, continuedinvestigation is urgently needed. It is
thought that a wide-ranging study effort, including basicscientific
studies on the brain, will continue to illuminate processes and
principles significant forunderstanding the causes of schizophrenia
and for developing more effective therapies.
Schizophrenia is found all over the world. The severity of the
symptoms and long-lasting, chronicpattern of schizophrenia
frequently cause a high degree of disability. drugs and other
therapies forschizophrenia, when used regularly and as prescribed,
can help reduce and control the disturbingsymptoms of the ailment.
However, some people are not greatly helped by
obtainableinterventions or may prematurely discontinue management
because of uncomfortable unintendedeffects or other reasons. Even
when management is effective, persisting consequences of theailment
- lost opportunities, stigma, residual signs and symptoms, and
medication side effects -may be very troubling. The first
indications of schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or
evenshocking, changes in behavior. Coping with the signs of
schizophrenia can be particularly difficultfor family members who
remember how involved or vivacious a man or woman was before
theybecame ill. The sudden start of harsh psychotic signs is
referred to as an "acute" phase ofschizophrenia. "Psychosis," a
typical condition in schizophrenia, is a state of mental
impairmentmarked by hallucinations, which are disturbances of
sensory perception, and/or delusions, whichare false yet strongly
held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate
real from unrealexperiences. Less obvious symptoms, such as social
isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech,thinking, or behavior,
may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic
conditions. Somepeople have only one such psychotic episode; other
folks have many episodes during a lifetime,but lead relatively
normal lives during the interim periods. However, the individual
with "chronic"
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schizophrenia, or a continuous or recurring pattern of ailment,
frequently does not fully recovernormal functioning and typically
requires long-term treatment, generally including medicine,
tocontrol the symptoms.
Natural remedies for schizophrenia vary but include such options
as dietary changes andnutritional supplements. Avoiding trigger
foods allows the body to function more optimally whilesupporting it
with supplements realigns any nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin B3
and omega-3s areparticularly essential nutrients for treating the
condition. Many of the foods individuals eatnegatively influence
their health without their realization. Gluten is one such category
of foods thatcan be detrimental to one's health. Eliminating gluten
and avoiding sugar eliminates stress on thesystem and supports the
mood, making it an effective handling option for schizophrenia and
otherpsychiatric conditions. All of the B vitamins are essential
for helping the body produce energy;however, vitamin B3 is
particularly significant as it functions in producing a number of
vitalhormones in the body. Vitamin B3 or niacin regulates
stress-related hormones as well as thelevels in the adrenal glands,
which facilitates better functioning of the brain. Reducing stress
andimproving coping mechanisms are essential factors in treating
schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acidsare important for good health in
a number of methods. In regards to schizophrenia, however,these
nutrients function to prevent depression and other
emotional-related conditions. Theomega-3 fats lubricate the
pathways to the nervous system, making for more
effectualcommunication to the brain and alleviating many of the
signs and symptoms of various psychiatricconditions. A harsh brain
ailment, schizophrenia is characterized by an individual's
inability tointerpret reality normally. An person affected by the
condition frequently exhibits hallucinations,delusions and
distorted thinking. effective nutritional supports as well as other
remedieseffectively treat the condition and facilitate more
appropriate brain pathways.
Schizophrenia is not just one big illness. It consists of
particularly five types. Each has it's ownsymptoms or absence of
conditions that set it apart from the some others.
Hebephrenicschizophrenia comprises of huge psychological
disorganization. Characteristics are impropermoods, socially
withdrawn, and strange mannerisms. Hebephrenic schizophrenia
reflects a loosestructure of sign patterns. Catatonic schizophrenia
is another form relating to waxy flexibility. Thisform is
relatively rare due to the prescription drugs obtainable today.
Individuals may stand inpositions for long durations of time like
wax statues. A more dominant set of conditions is that ofparanoid
schizophrenia. This is when individuals experience persecution.
Apart from theirthoughts of people plotting against them, they
react with a more normal behavior. Individuals thathave had at one
time a schizophrenia episode can be placed with residual
schizophrenia. Theymay currently only show small indications like
social withdrawal, but at one point were muchworse.
Undifferentiated schizophrenia is when persons show more than one
sign and can meetthe criteria for more than one type. Technically
schizophrenia is broken down into these fivetypes, but signs very
from man or woman to man or woman and can alter over time.
The actual reason behind schizophrenia still remains a mystery
to scientist, but they are possibletheories. Schizophrenia has been
attributed to high levels of dopamine activity in the brain thatare
responsible for the emotion and cognitive functions. Lowering the
amount of dopamine activity
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reduces the conditions of schizophrenia, and increasing dopamine
activity brings onschizophrenia. scientific tests have shown that
people with schizophrenia have more dopaminereceptors than in other
people.
scientific studies have repeatedly found various structural
abnormalities in people withschizophrenia. MRI scan examinations
have generally revealed 3 types of abnormalities. Anassociated
structural problem is cortical atrophy, a deterioration of the
nerve cells in the cortex.This sort of damage in the brain occurs
20% to 35% in people with schizophrenia. Ventricles tendto be
mildly to moderately enlarged by 20% to 50% for individuals with
schizophrenia. Anotherstructural problem is reversed cerebral
asymmetry that is associated with schizophrenia.Reversed cerebral
asymmetry causes the right side of the brain to tend to be larger
than the leftside. Though no single gene is known to cause
schizophrenia, genetic composition influences aman or woman's
disposition toward schizophrenia tendencies. Schizophrenia is more
prevalent inthe relatives of individuals with schizophrenia.
According to the British Columbia SchizophreniaSociety, if you have
a parent or sibling with schizophrenia, your danger factor is
augmented to10%. Both parents with schizophrenia result in a 40%
chance along with a 40% chance whenhaving an identical twin with
schizophrenia. Genetics can not be the entire cause
behindschizophrenia since 80% to 90% of the persons who have
schizophrenia do not have parents withschizophrenia. Genetic
factors are thought to establish biological predisposition for
schizophreniabut the environmental stress factors must bring out
the schizophrenia within the individual. This isknown as the
diathesis-stress hypothesis. A disturbed relationship within the
home can causestress accounting for an onset of schizophrenia. Long
term follow-up of children whose parentssuffered from schizophrenia
showed children who suffered from personal stresses were
morepossibly to develop the illness. While schizophrenia may be
triggered from structuralabnormalities, genetics, to environmental
factors no exact cause for schizophrenia exists today.
There is as yet no permanent treat for schizophrenia. A major
treatment for schizophrenia isantipsychotics. Antipsychotics work
to subdue anxiety and hyperactivity, counteracthallucinations, and
reduce aggression. The drugs are no treat but they do lessen
conditions. 80%of patients who discontinue their antipsychotic
medication suffer relapses of the disorder withintwo years. Another
dramatic sort of handling tried on the ailment is electroconvulsive
therapy.This management can produce unwanted unwanted side effects
like memory loss. A discontinuedmanagement is surgery on the
prefrontal lobe of the cerebrum called a lobotomy. A lobotomy
cancause extreme personality dysfunction. remedy and rehabilitation
are used to treat the loss ofsocial development that can occur.
therapy can help the man or woman build a normal life andinteract
with other folks. Although no management is guaranteed to work,
they can help sufferersgrab a better sense of reality. It is
estimated that as many as 25% of sufferers now recover almostfully,
and about 50% show a least partial recuperation. The remaining 25%
need long-term help.
Schizophrenia is a scary psychological dysfunction. With a
frequency rate of 1 individual in 100, itis relatively ordinary.
The causes behind schizophrenia are still a mystery whether they
aregenetic or environmental. With treatment sufferers have the
chance to live a more normal life buthave no promise to
recuperation. As a society everyone has an obligation to accept
sufferers of
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such a horrendous ailment. By educating yourself about
schizophrenia, you can help folks withinyour influence overcome
conditions and establish a more peaceful and organized
lifestyle.
A schizophrenia drug under development could benefit patients
who are at risk of developingconditions including diabetes and
cardiovascular illness, as well as weight gain, which areassociated
with some second-generation antipsychotics. Additional analyses on
Phase II data onITI-007, a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist
from Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc., werepresented at the recent
American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Toronto. The
PhaseII study, ITI-007-005, was a double-blind, placebo- and
active-controlled trial enrolling 335patients with an episode of
schizophrenia.
The FDA has accepted under Priority Review Janssen
Pharmaceuticals' New Drug Application(NDA) for the three-month
long-acting atypical antipsychotic Invega Trinza. Invega Trinza,
athree-month injection, is an atypical antipsychotic indicated to
treat schizophrenia. Before startingInvega Trinza, patients must be
adequately treated with Invega Sustenna (one-monthpaliperidone
palmitate) for at least four months. Priority Review is a
designation for drugs that, ifauthorized, would offer significant
improvement in the treatment of serious conditions.
[Famous People With Schizophrenia] Confirmed Cases: Bettie Page
- Playboy magazine MissJanuary 1955 pin-up model. John Nash - Nobel
Prize winning mathematician, portrayed by actorRussell Crowe in the
movie, A Beautiful Mind. The movie details Nash's 30 year struggle
with this,often debilitating, mental illness and its eventual,
victorious culmination, when he won the NobelPrize for economics in
1994. Eduard Einstein - Son of Albert Einstein. The world knows
Eduard'sfamous father best for conceptualizing the Theory of
Relativity (E=MC2), developing the atomicbomb, and pioneering
numerous other scientific breakthroughs. Records note Eduard's
highintelligence and natural musical talent as well as his youthful
dream of becoming a doctor ofpsychiatry. Schizophrenia struck
Eduard during his 20th year in 1930. He received psychiatriccare at
an asylum in Zurich, Switzerland. Tom Harrell - Superstar jazz
trumpet musician andcomposer, Harrell continues to produce and
compose music, releasing his 24th album earlier in2011. He speaks
openly about his struggles with the illness in hopes of helping
other folks copewith their own challenges. He claims music and
medications with helping him persevere well intohis 60s, while
remaining at the top of his craft. Elyn Saks - A law professor,
specializing in mentalhealth law, Saks authored her memoirs, The
Center Cannot hold: My Journey Through Madness,where she openly
talks of her decades-long battle with schizophrenia. Honored as a
legal scholarand peerless authority on mental health law, Saks
accepted a $500,000 genius grant from theMacArthur Foundation in
2009. Lionel Aldridge - Aldridge played as a defensive end for the
GreenBay Packers and coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s. During this
time, Aldridge played in twoSuper Bowls, but schizophrenia knows
all men as equals -- regardless of talent, fame and
fortune.Aldridge was struck with the illness soon after his
football career ended and spent two and a halfyears alone and
homeless - a celebrity athlete on the streets. Once he found help
for hisstruggles with the dysfunction, he dedicated his life to
delivering inspirational speeches about hisbattle with paranoid
schizophrenia and his ultimate victory over its ravages. He died in
1998.Many more well-known musicians, actors, authors, and artists
have openly spoken out about their
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mental ailment in efforts to reduce stigma.
[Famous People With Schizophrenia] Strongly Suspected: Mary Todd
Lincoln - wife of PresidentAbraham Lincoln has received an
historical diagnosis of schizophrenia from specialists whostudied
her and the president's writings about her behaviors and struggles.
Michaelangelo -Anthony Storr, author of The Dynamics of Creation,
writes about reasons to suspect that this, oneof history's greatest
geniuses of creative talent, legendary artist suffered from
schizophrenia.Vivien Leigh - actress who played the impetuous
Scarlett O'Hara in the film, Gone With the Wind,suffered from a
mental biological disorder resembling schizophrenia, according to
biographer AnnEdwards. Despite a massive effort to diminish the
stigma associated with mental biologicaldisorder in America, strong
negative attitudes persist in U.S. culture about schizophrenia
andother debilitating mental diseases. Perhaps sharing the stories
of celebrities and other famouspeople with schizophrenia can help
vary these damaging attitudes, so some others do not have tosuffer
in silence.
Extended periods of recurring psychosis in schizophrenia
sufferers contribute to progressive lossof brain tissue, a new
imaging reasearch shows. Furthermore, the same study shows
thatantipsychotic management is also linked to brain loss in a
dose-dependent manner. Thesefindings confirm the significance of
implementing "proactive measures that prevent relapse andperk up
adherence to management" and that clinicians should strive to use
the "lowest possible[antipsychotic] dosage to control symptoms,"
investigators, led by Nancy C. Andreasen, MD, PhD,with the
Psychiatric Neuroimaging Consortium, University of Iowa Carver
College of Medicine inIowa City, write. The reasearch is published
in the June issue of the American Journal ofPsychiatry (Am J
Psychiatry. 2013;170:571-573,609-615). The findings stem from
clinical andimaging data on 202 patients in the Iowa Longitudinal
reasearch of first-episode schizophrenia.The sufferers underwent
structural magnetic resonance imaging at regular intervals for
anaverage of 7 years. Of the 202 patients, 157 experienced at least
1 relapse, 29 had no relapse,and 16 remained at a continually
severe biological disorder level and did not perk up enough
thatthey could then relapse. Among sufferers who relapsed, the
average number of relapses was1.64, with a range of 1 to 4; the
signify duration of relapse was 1.34 years, and the maximum was7.09
years. The research workers found that the duration of relapse was
closely related to loss ofbrain tissue over time in multiple brain
regions, including generalized tissue loss (total cerebralvolume),
as well as loss in subregions, particularly the frontal lobes. On
the other hand, simplycounting the number of relapses had no
predictive value. Use of a regression analysis allowed theresearch
workers to simultaneously and independently evaluate the
consequences of relapseduration and antipsychotic treatment
intensity on brain tissue measures. They found that bothcontribute
to brain tissue loss but that the management effects are more
diffusely distributed,whereas the relapse effects are most strongly
associated with frontal lobe tissue changes. "Thesefindings suggest
that relapse prevention after initial start may convey a
significant clinical benefit.This in turn suggests the importance
of doing as much as possible to ensure managementadherence as a way
of preventing relapse, beginning aggressively at the time of
illness start," Dr.Andreasen told Medscape Medical News. Adherence,
Dr. Andreasen added, can be "maximizedin a variety of methods:
maintaining good rapport and frequent supportive contact, choice
ofprescriptions that have the lowest aversive unintended effects,
such as akathisia and
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extrapyramidal unwanted side effects, and use of long-acting
injectable medicinal drugs."
Psychosocial interventions: Education: Education for the
individual and the family aboutschizophrenia is essential.
Providing education and information enables the family as well as
theman or woman with schizophrenia to take an active role in the
recovery and rehabilitationprocess, and to do so from an empowered
position. Covering a all-natural move toward to
healingSchizophrenia. Includes psychotherapies, social skillsets
and vocational training, self-help groupsand family interventions.
Social and living skillsets education. Social and living skills
training is aneffectual means of enabling individuals with
schizophrenia to re-learn a variety of skillsetsindispensable for
living independently. Social and living skill sets training can be
used withpersons and with groups and provides opportunities for
people to obtain skillsets they have notbeen able to develop due to
particular life circumstances, re-learn skillsets which were lost
orreduced due to the crippling effects of schizophrenia or
particular life circumstances and enhanceexisting skills to enable
more effective functioning. Occupational training and
rehabilitation: Workhas the potential to be a 'normalising'
experience and to provide benefits for example enhancedpersonal
satisfaction, increased self-confidence, additional income,
monetary independence,social interaction and recreational and
companionship chances. Most importantly, it is frequentlyidentified
as a goal of people with schizophrenia. Any individual with
schizophrenia whoexpresses an interest in attaining employment, or
who may advantage from employment, shouldreceive vocational
services. talking therapies: There are several different 'chatting
therapies' tochoose from. They range in their approaches, from
aiming to ease discomfort and improve copingskillsets though to
seeking to help people appreciate their own thoughts, feelings and
patterns ofbehaviour. Some of these chatting therapies are listed
below. Counselling: Counsellors payattention without judgement and
help persons to explore issues which are essential in
therecuperation process. Counsellors do not give recommendation but
should act as a guide forindividuals in working things out for
themselves.
The holistic approach as it is applied to the handling of
schizophrenia, means "assessing howschizophrenia is affecting all
aspects of an individual's being. The emotional, psychological,
socialand physical aspects should all be considered - the focus is
not exclusively on the