A Guide to Mental Illness - Delusional Disorder

DESCRIPTION

Schizophrenia is where a patient cannot tell their own ideas, thoughts and perceptions from those held by people in their culture. Most commonly a sufferer will hear voices and may believe that some people can read their thoughts or that they can control them. ^[1] The patient can also behave strangely because of the other effects they are suffering from. Many people believe people with schizophrenia have many personalities but this is not the case. ^[3]

CAUSES

There are many believed causes of schizophrenia. One is genetic, some scientists say it is possible that the disorder can be inherited. There is also prenatal, schizophrenia could be developed when the brain is being formed. There is a social cause as research shows people that have a social disadvantage are more likely to develop schizophrenia. There is also research to suggest that drug use can lead to the development of the disorder. For example, amphetamines release the chemical dopamine. Research shows that an excess of this can least to hallucinations. ^[2] The causes of schizophrenia are not fully understood but could be related to an abnormal brain structure or a shortage of chemicals in the brain. ^[3]

SYMPTOMS

People that are diagnosed with schizophrenia generally suffer from a strange train of thought that nobody else can understand. This can make conversation with someone with schizophrenia difficult and because of this it can make them feel isolated. They may also see hallucinations and hear voices. These voices can be familiar or critical of the person. Sometimes the voices will order the person to do something. Another symptom is paranoia. People may believe that they are being watched by spies or that their mind is being read. The sufferer will also get some negative symptoms including being withdrawn, depressed and not being able to concentrate properly. ^[1]

PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

One in every 100 people are diagnosed with a case of schizophrenia and the people diagnosed are normally young adults about twenty to thirty years old. The statistics between cases of schizophrenia in men and women are about the same but men that are diagnosed are slightly younger. If a member of the sufferer's family has schizophrenia the diagnosis age could be lower. ^[1]

TREATMENT

Medication is a main form of treatment but this can have bad side effects and is only temporary. There are talking treatments which let a sufferer discuss their problems and help them over come the symptoms of schizophrenia. A new treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation which uses magnetic impulses to stimulate low performing areas in the front of the brain. ^[1]

SOURCES