Schizophrenia

Faith Mishler-critical friend (living with the disorder) Samantha Liddick-editor (different types) Nicole Formica-editor (statistics) Gabriella Brande-facilitator (causes) Kelsi Good-facilitator (treatments)

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=Types of Schizophrenia= There are five types of Schizophrenia. Paranoid, Catatonic, Undifferentiated, Residual and disorganized are all determined by signs and symptoms at the time of assessments to confirm a diagnosis. Paranoid Schizophrenia is when the individual is preoccupied with one or more delusions or many auditory hallucinations. The classic features of paranoid schizophrenia are having beliefs that have no basis in reality (delusions) and hearing things that aren't real (auditory hallucinations). Disorganized schizophrenia is when there are prominent symptoms of disorganized speech and behavior, as well as flat or inappropriate affect. this type of schizophrenia is characterized by illogical and incoherent thoughts and behaviors.The person does not have enough symptoms to be characterized as catatonic. Catatonic Schizophrenia is an individual who has at least two of the following symptoms such as difficulty moving, resistance to moving, excessive movement, abnormal movements, and/or repeating what others say or do. Catatonic schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness in which reality is interpreted abnormally (psychosis). Catatonic schizophrenia includes extremes of behavior. At one extreme of catatonic schizophrenia, you're unable to speak, move or respond. At the other, you have overexcited or hyperactive motion and you may involuntarily imitate sounds or movements of others. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia is characterized by two or more of the following symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior, catatonic behavior or negative symptoms, but the individual does no quality for a diagnosis of paranoid, disorganized or catatonic types. Residual Schizophrenia is the full'blown positive symptoms of schizophrenia that involve excess normal behavior, such as delusions, paranoia, or heightened sensitivity are absent. The sufferer has less severe forms of the disorder or has only negative symptoms such as symptoms characterized by a decrease in function, such as withdrawal, disinterest and not speaking. Also known as a condition manifested by individuals with symptoms of schizophrenia who, after a psychotic schizophrenic episode, are no longer psychotic.

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=Statistics = "Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 — who suffer from a serious mental illness. In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any mental disorder meet criteria for 2 or more disorders, with severity strongly related to comorbidity. "

National Institute of Mental Health. (2009, August 6). Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/statistics/index.shtml

"Although clinical providers surely do not experience the same degree of challenge in response to patients with schizophrenia as families do, they too struggle with attempts to provide relief from very serious symptoms while facilitating incremental progress toward reintegration into the community. Overall, the public health effects of schizophrenia are staggering. Although the prevalence of the illness is approximately 1% in the United States (and consistent throughout the world), patients with schizophrenia occupy 25% of all inpatient hospital beds and represent 50% of all inpatient admissions . The overall cost of schizophrenia in the U.S. in 2002 was estimated to be $62.7 billion . Schizophrenia is one of the top 10 causes of disability-adjusted life years, representing 2.3% of the total burden of disease in developed countries (the fourth leading cause among persons ages 15–44 years) and 0.8% in developing countries. In the United States (and probably to a lesser extent elsewhere in the world), patients with schizophrenia are also disproportionately found among the chronically homeless, those who undergo the "revolving door" of repeated brief hospitalizations with premature discharge and insufficient postdischarge care, and those languishing in jails and prisons, suggesting a pervasive failure in contemporary society to adequately meet the needs of these patients."

Minzenberg, M. J., Yoon, J. H., Carter, C. S. (2008). Schizophrenia. In Textbook of Psychiatry (Chapter 10). Retrieved from []

=**Causes**= Experts think schizophrenia is caused by several factors. We inherit our genes from both parents. Scientists believe several genes are associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but that no gene causes the disease by itself.16 In fact, recent research has found that people with schizophrenia tend to have higher rates of rare genetic mutations. These genetic differences involve hundreds of different genes and probably disrupt brain development.17 Other recent studies suggest that schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making important brain chemicals malfunctions. This problem may affect the part of the brain involved in developing higher functioning skills.18 Research into this gene is ongoing, so it is not yet possible to use the genetic information to predict who will develop the disease. Despite this, tests that scan a person's genes can be bought without a prescription or a health professional's advice. Ads for the tests suggest that with a saliva sample, a company can determine if a client is at risk for developing specific diseases, including schizophrenia. However, scientists don't yet know all of the gene variations that contribute to schizophrenia. Those that are known raise the risk only by very small amounts. Therefore, these "genome scans" are unlikely to provide a complete picture of a person's risk for developing a mental disorder like schizophrenia. In addition, it probably takes more than genes to cause the disorder. Scientists think interactions between genes and the environment are necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many environmental factors may be involved, such as exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other not yet known psychosocial factors. Scientists are learning more about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia. Also, in small ways the brains of people with schizophrenia look different than those of healthy people. For example, fluid-filled cavities at the center of the brain, called ventricles, are larger in some people with schizophrenia. The brains of people with the illness also tend to have less gray matter, and some areas of the brain may have less or more activity. Studies of brain tissue after death also have revealed differences in the brains of people with schizophrenia. Scientists found small changes in the distribution or characteristics of brain cells that likely occurred before birth.3 Some experts think problems during brain development before birth may lead to faulty connections. The problem may not show up in a person until puberty. The brain undergoes major changes during puberty, and these changes could trigger psychotic symptoms. Scientists have learned a lot about schizophrenia, but more research is needed to help explain how it develops.
 * Genes and environment**. Scientists have long known that schizophrenia runs in families. The illness occurs in 1 percent of the general population, but it occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. People who have second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the disease also develop schizophrenia more often than the general population. The risk is highest for an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia. He or she has a 40 to 65 percent chance of developing the disorder.15
 * Different brain chemistry and structure**. Scientists think that an imbalance in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate, and possibly others, plays a role in schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters are substances that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Scientists are learning more about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia.

National Institutes of Mental Health. (2009, September 8). //What Causes Schizoprenia.// Retrieved from []

=Treatments= media type="youtube" key="nK868fMtEPQ" width="425" height="350" []

There are many Antipsychotic medications that can help treat schizophrenia. Some of the most use are Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Perphenazine, Fluphenazine. Some medications like clozapine can have bad side effects like a reduction in white blood cell count. People that take clozapine need to go in often to be tested to make sure they their blood count is where it is suppose to be. Some other common side effects of medications are drowsiness,dizziness when changing positions, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, sensitivity to the sun, skin rashes, and menstrual problems for women. Long-term use of antipsychotic medications can lead to tardive dyskinesia. It may causes muscle movements, typically around a persons mouth that they cannot control.
 * Antipsychotic medications**

Psychosocial treatmens are used to help people be able to do everyday kinds of things like have a job, go to school, have better communicational and relationship skills. Eventhough if they are taking medication, they may struggle with with simple everyday activities. Patience with schizophrenia that recieve psychosocial treatments are more likely not to have a relapse because they remember to take their medication.
 * Psychosocial treatments**

National Institutes of Mental Health. (2009, September 8). //How is schizophrenia treated//. Retrieved from []

Many family members don't realize that their family memeber has this disease. Some just see the symptoms as them being very hard to live with. The reaction of the family results in how they percieve the symptoms. They see the symptoms as that individual having personality and character flaws not knowing that it isn't their fault. Families reported the most distressing symptoms exhibited by the relative with schizophrenia are the lack of energy, lack of purposeful activity, and a generalized unresponsiveness. Also many family members see the individual with the disease to be doing these things just to try and annoy them, but by no meants is that the case.
 * Living With Schiozphrenia: Family Point of View**

Another side to the family is that they can't take care of themselves the way the should because they are so busy with helping their sibling/ family member with the disease and the treament and financial needs of it. Also many mothers are worried about thier children for when they pass away. They know it will be hard to impossible for the person with the disease to find a spouse and get married or get the medical treatment that they need. In western cultures they mother is the one who takes car of the son or daughter but not after a certain age. For the families who's children has been daignosed with this disease the "launch" that they child does when turning into an adult never happens. Their lack of willingness to learn or lack of motivation is seen as laziness. In many cases, the relationship between that who has the disease and the people surrounding them, are not very strong.

Noreen Brady PhD, Gail C. McCain PhD. (2005, April 18). //Living With Schizophrenia: A Family Perspective.// Retrieved from []

[] -link to APA format [] -link to National Institute of Mental Health page on Schizophrenia (has symptoms, treatment) [] -link to NIMH page (has symptoms, causes, treatment, and more) [] -link for causes, treatment, symptoms, types, everything.. [] -link to Living With Schizophrenia main page
 * Sources**