A schizophrenic is a person who suffers from the mental disease schizophrenia. Though it has been around for centuries, schizophrenia is still a commonly misunderstood disease. For many years, schizophrenia was almost synonymous with "split personality" and was one of the most feared and dreaded diagnoses possible. Though schizophrenics may share many of the same symptoms, all types of schizophrenia are not the same. There are several different ways to classify it and, depending on type, different methods of treating it.
History
Though schizophrenia has only been known as such since Eugen Bleuler named it in 1911, accounts of schizophrenia date back to ancient Egypt. Schizophrenics were often thought to be possessed by demons and treatment revolved around removing the demons through various rites of exorcism. For many years, all mentally ill people were classified and treated the same way. Dr. Emile Kraepelin was the first to recognize schizophrenia as a distinct condition of its own in 1887.
Types
There are three major types of schizophrenia: disorganized schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia and catatonic schizophrenia. Distinguishing features of disorganized schizophrenia are a gradual, rather than sudden, onset and include disorganized speech and behavior, inappropriate emotional reactions and loss of ability to take physical care of yourself.
Paranoid schizophrenia centers around beliefs that you are being persecuted by others. Paranoid schizophrenics frequently tell stories about how others are watching, harassing and otherwise causing them trouble. They also often have delusions of grandeur, an inflated and unrealistic sense of their own importance.
Catatonic schizophrenia is marked by a decrease in motor activity. Catatonic schizophrenics can lapse into a stuporous state in which they refuse to perform any voluntary movement at all, although this can be alternated with states of extreme excitement.
Identification
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia is "a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder" which results in "hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, movement disorders, flat affect, social withdrawal, and cognitive deficits." In some cases, schizophrenia manifests itself without warning, but in most people, the onset of the disease is gradual. Family and friends can often tell that something is wrong with the schizophrenic, but they cannot put their finger on it. Early warning signs of schizophrenia are frequently common things like insomnia, depression, oversleeping and forgetfulness. But schizophrenia will continue on past these to more alarming symptoms such as delusions of persecution, unpredictable emotional responses, hallucinations and incoherent, illogical speech.
Causes
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. There appears to be no one cause of it, but is instead a combination of genetics and environment. Conditions while in the womb, such as viral infections and low oxygen levels, seem to have some effect on the development of schizophrenia. Brain chemical imbalances may also cause schizophrenia, and can abnormal brain structure.
Misconceptions
The word schizophrenia comes from the Greek words for split (schizo) and mind (phrene). This was meant to apply to the fragmented thinking of those suffering the condition, not to imply that schizophrenics suffer from multiple personality disorder. But the idea that schizophrenics have multiple or split personalities is a misconception which continues into the modern day.
Another misconception about schizophrenia is that all schizophrenics are inherently violent and dangerous. Though the hallucinations and delusions of a schizophrenics can be frightening to others and may cause them to act in unusual and sometimes violent ways, schizophrenics are not inherently prone to violence nor to being a danger to themselves and others.
Treatment
Schizophrenics are usually treated with antipsychotic medications. The condition is lifelong. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed.
Tags: that schizophrenics, cause schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, hallucinations delusions, many years, schizophrenics inherently