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The diagnosis of Schizophrenia requires that continuous signs of the illness have been present for at least six months, which always includes an active phase with psychotic symptoms. The development of the active phase of this illness is generally preceded by a prodromal phase in which there is a clear deterioration from a previous level of functioning. This phase is characterized by social withdrawal, impairment in role functioning, peculiar behavior, neglect of personal hygiene and grooming, blunted or inappropriate affect, disturbance in communication, bizarre ideation, unusual perceptual experiences, and lack of initiative, interest, or energy (he/she is no longer "the same person"). During the active phase, psychotic symptoms - e.g., delusions, hallucinations, loosening of associations, incoherence and catatonic behavior - are prominent. These symptoms must persist for at least one week, unless they are successfully treated. Onset of the active phase, either initially or as an exacerbation of a preexisting active phase, may be associated with a psychosocial stressor. Usually a residual phase follows the active phase of the illness. The clinical picture of this phase is similar of that of the prodromal phase, except that affective blunting or flattening and impairment in role functioning tend to be more common in the residual phase. During this phase some of the psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, may persist, but may no longer be accompanied by strong affect. A return to full premorbid functioning in this disorder is not common, although full remissions do occur. The most common course is one of acute exacerbations with residual impairment between episodes. The impairment often increases between episodes during the initial years of disorder. The premorbid personalities of people who develop schizophrenia are often described as suspicious, introverted, withdrawn, eccentric, or impulsive. The following major types of Schizophrenia are most common: 1. Catatonic type: It is characterized by catatonic stupor, catatonic negativism, catatonic rigidity, catatonic excitement and catatonic posturing. Now-a-days, this type is rare. In the past this type was common. 2. Disorganized type: It is characterized by grimaces, mannerism, bizarre hypochondriacal complains, extreme social withdrawal, numerous oddities of behavior, incoherence, grossly disorganized behavior, flat or grossly inappropriate affect (Hebephrenia). 3. Paranoid type: It is characterized by preoccupation with one or more systematized delusions and/or with frequent auditory hallucinations related to a single theme; by unfocused anxiety, anger, argumentativness. Violence is possible. Often a stilted, formal quality or extreme intensity in interpersonal interactions is noted. 4. Undifferentiated Type: It is characterized by prominent psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, or grossly disorganized behavior that cannot be classified in any of the above-mentioned categories. B. DELUSIONAL (PARANOID) DISORDER: The essential feature of this disorder is the presence of a persistent, non-bizarre delusion. Apart from the delusion or its ramifications, behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre. Auditory or visual hallucination, if present, are not prominent. The following delusional themes are commonly seen in Delusional Disorder: 1. Erotomanic; 2. grandiose; 3. jealous; 4. persecutory (the most common type); 5. somatic. Cases presenting with more than one delusional theme are frequent. Course: The disorder is chronic. Remissions are possible. Impairment in daily functioning are rare. A common characteristic of people of Delusional Disorder is the apparent normality of their behavior and appearance when their delusional ideas are not being discussed or acted upon. http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/index.html Twelve things to do if your loved one has depression, manic-depression, or some other mood disorder:
Frequently the motivation of regaining self respect is more compelling for the person than resumption of family responsibilities. You may feel left out when the person turns to other people for mutual support. You wouldn't be jealous of their doctor for treating them, would you? Each person must learn for themselves what works best for them, especially in social situations. If, for example, you try to "shush" people who ask questions about the disorder, treatment, medications, etc., you will most likely stir up old feelings of resentment and inadequacy. Let the person decide for THEMSELVES whether to answer questions, or to gracefully say "I'd prefer to discuss something else, and I really hope that doesn't offend you". Get the Facts Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious, disease of the brain. It is a psychotic disorder, which involves a loss of contact with reality, making it very hard for a person to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Schizophrenia greatly alters how a person thinks and perceives the world, and consequently how they feel and behave. To learn more about who gets schizophrenia, the symptoms, causes, treatment and chances for recovery, Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious, disease of the brain. It is a psychotic disorder, which involves a loss of contact with reality, making it very hard for a person to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Schizophrenia greatly alters how a person thinks and perceives the world, and consequently how they feel and behave. To learn more about who gets schizophrenia, the symptoms, causes, treatment and chances for recovery, please visit the following links below: Who Gets Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia affects 1 in 100 people and occurs in every race, culture, and socio-economic group. It occurss equally in males and females. In Canada, approximately 300,000 people live with the disease, of which 120,000 live in Ontario. The disease usually begins when people are in their teens or early twenties, although it can occur later in life. Because it strikes young people in their formative years, it is often referred to as 'youth’s greatest disabler'. Males usually develop it at an earlier age than females. In most cases, schizophrenia begins gradually – so much so that it is often months or years before the individual or their family recognizes that something is wrong. With some people, however, the onset is very rapid. What are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia? The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into two categories – 'positive' and 'negative'. Negative symptoms usually appear earlier in the illness, in the prodromal stage. Positive symptoms appear when the illness is more acute. The negative symptoms are deficits – abilities or behaviours that the person used to have, but which have been 'taken away' by the disease - these include:
What Causes Schizophrenia? Currently, researchers do not know the exact cause or causes of schizophrenia. They do know that there are several contributing factors. It is known that genetics play a role. While we do know that someone who has a relative with schizophrenia has a greater chance of developing the disease than someone who does not, genetics do not account for all cases of schizophrenia. Researchers are also looking at viruses that may affect brain development during the second trimester of pregnancy. How is Schizophrenia Treated? Schizophrenia is treatable; however, because the disease varies in severity from one person to another, the intensity of treatment will vary accordingly. Some people will require hospitalization during the course of their illness – some for longer periods than others while others can be treated effectively in the community. The foundation of all treatment is anti-psychotic medications, also called neuroleptics which help to manage the symptoms. Once these are controlled, then different forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy, are important to help the individual understand the illness and learn to cope with its impact. For many people, treatment also involves the services of a case manager or social worker, who will help them comply with their treatment, and direct them to rehabilitative programs that will make it easier to restore their ability to function in the world. What are the Chances for Recovery? Schizophrenia is a chronic illness – most who are diagnosed will require various levels of treatment for most of their lives; 30% recover quite well, and are eventually able to resume their previous level of functioning. 30% recover to a lesser extent, but are usually able to live independently. 30% require extensive help, such as living in supportive housing or in a care facility. Sadly, the remaining 10% do not survive schizophrenia, usually due to suicide. Information for this page was taken from http://www.schizophrenia.on.ca More information can be found here: http://support4hope.com/schizophrenia/index.htm |