Schizophrenia Term Paper
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a “chronic mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves” (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d). It is a psychosis characterized by delusions, hallucinations and lack of insight (Nicki, Brian, & Stuart, 2010). The prevalence is the same worldwide and accounts for about 1 percent of the population, it is more common in men, children of an affected parent has a ten percent chance of developing schizophrenia, while there is a 50 percent chance of developing the illness if an identical twin is affected (Nicki, Brian, & Stuart, 2010). The name schizophrenia was derived from an early observation of the illness as “splitting of psychic functions” which has led people to think that this illness is characterized by a split personality. The onset of disease ranges between 16 and 30 years of age.Schizophrenia Term Paper
Risk Factors
As with many other mental illnesses, it is often difficult to attribute a specific cause to them. Therefore, there are risk factors that may be suspected to contribute to their etiology. The risk factors surrounding the etiology of schizophrenia are genes and environment, some researchers have also found that brain chemistry and structure might also be a contributing factor (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d).
Genes and Environment
Genetic factors have been found to be the major contributor to developing schizophrenia, although, as stated earlier, that family members who have schizophrenia have a chance of passing on to their offsprings, genes have also been known to be associated with its development. The genes involved are disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), and Neuregulin 1(NRG1). The environmental factors include obstetric complications, premature birth or baby delivered with intrauterine infection. It is known that a susceptible gene interacting with environmental factors can be a cause of schizophrenia. Neuropathologic imaging in schizophrenia has shown enlargement of the lateral ventricles of the cerebral hemisphere, and a reduction in brain size and cortical thickness (Nicki, Brian, & Stuart, 2010). The social determinants of schizophrenia are linked to the development of psychosis which is the primary symptom defining schizophrenia, studies have shown that adult development of psychosis is as a result of environmental stressors like social isolation which might be due to poverty, migration status, and urban life (Picchioni, & Murray, 2007). The difference in brain chemistry and structure has been seen by scientist to be a cause of schizophrenia, interactions between the neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine and glutamate as well as problems during brain development might be a leading cause of psychosis in schizophrenia.Schizophrenia Term Paper
Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia can be grouped into positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms are characterized by psychotic behaviors that are not associated with healthy people, and they include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and movement disorders. Negative symptoms are associated with behavioral and emotional changes, “flat affect” which is reduced facial expression or voice tone. It is also the inability to initiate plans, and/or find pleasure. Cognitive symptoms vary, it could be subtle in some patients and severe in others, cognitive symptoms include the inability to understand information and make decisions, trouble focusing, and also inability to make use of information after learning it (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d). The pathogenesis of this illness involves the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate; it is known that that reduced glutamate level is responsible for psychosis and cognitive symptoms, furthermore, overactivity of dopamine have also been found in patients with schizophrenia (Picchioni, & Murray, 2007). Obesity has been found to be associated with schizophrenia and is known as one of the most common physical health problems among patients with schizophrenia (Citrome, & Vreeland, 2008). As a result of obesity, several other physical health problems may accompany schizophrenia, like cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and some hormonal dysfunctions.
Barriers to mental health care are diverse. First, people with mental illness do not feel the need to receive treatment; this may be due to cultural belief or an attitude towards western health care (Modjabai et al., 2011). Another barrier to seeking mental health treatment is the severity of the disease, patients with more severe mental illness are less likely to seek and obtain healthcare; they wish to handle the care on their own. The significant barriers to obtaining mental health care, however, are costs, social stigma, negative experience with health care providers, or feelings of care ineffectiveness (Modjabai et al., 2011). Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness and although the etiology is not well understood, research has shown that there are ways to prevent this illness, genetics and environmental factors are known to be triggers of psychosis. This has made researchers create some kind of prevention tactics. Avoidance of street drugs and social isolation can help prevent schizophrenia among teens, lowering stress levels in pregnant women can also prevent schizophrenia, use of vitamins, eating healthy diets during pregnancy can also help reduce the risk of schizophrenia (Scizophrenia.com n.d). Children should also be encouraged to engage in mental activities, especially ones at risk of developing this illness.Schizophrenia Term Paper
Mental health promotion is the “reduction of morbidity from mental illness and the enhancement of the coping capabilities of a member of a community” (World Health Organization, 2002). A promotion strategy that would be preferred in schizophrenia would be to create supportive environments (Kobau et al., 2011) to assist patients living with this illness cope with their symptoms; I believe this can also break the barrier of obtaining mental health care. Studies have shown the difference in the prevalence of schizophrenia in developed and developing countries, between Asia and the West. The prevalence is the same; some cultures view schizophrenia differently. In West-Africa, schizophrenia is not commonly diagnosed. In fact, hallucinations may be seen as madness or spiritual visions. In the United States and Western Europe, schizophrenia is treated using drug therapy because schizophrenia is viewed as a biological disease (Wilbanks, 2010). Hypotheses have been generated on the symptom levels among schizophrenia patients in the United States and their difference from those of other countries. The studies were also carried among the different ethnic groups in America, African-Americans are found to exhibit more hostility, disorientation, and hallucinatory behavior than the whites. However, they would exhibit less negative symptoms, and behavioral impairment than the whites (Brekke & Barrio, 1997). Furthermore, the minorities exhibit fewer symptoms than the non-minorities.
Conclusion
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, characterized by hallucinations and delusions; several risk factors can cause this illness, mainly genetics and environmental factors. The symptoms can be divided into positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms; some research scientist categorizes the symptoms as acute and chronic as it would be more comfortable regarding treating this illness. The prognosis of acute schizophrenia is good compared to chronic schizophrenia; cognitive deficits are more associated with chronic schizophrenia. This mental disorder should be considered a severe disorder as studies have shown that it is leading cause of death among patients suffering mental disorders, about 1 in 10 patients commit suicide (Nicki, Brian, & Stuart, 2010). Research is going on seek preventions of this disorder, as early interventions can reduce the prevalence of schizophrenia.
References
Brekke, J. S., & Barrio, C. (1997). Cross-ethnic symptom differences in schizophrenia: The influence of culture and minority status. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 23(2), 305-316.
Citrome, L., & Vreeland, B. (2008). Schizophrenia, obesity, and antipsychotic medications: what can we do?. Postgraduate medicine, 120(2), 18-33.Schizophrenia Term Paper
Mojtabai, R., Olfson, M., Sampson, N. A., Jin, R., Druss, B., Wang, P. S., … Kessler, R. C. (2011). Barriers to Mental Health Treatment: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Psychological Medicine, 41(8), 1751–1761. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291710002291
National Institute of Mental Health (n.d). Schizophrenia. Retrieved on October 4, 2018, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
Nicki, R. C., Brian, R. W., & Stuart, H. R. (2010). Davidson’s principles and practice of medicine. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Picchioni, M. M., & Murray, R. M. (2007). Schizophrenia. BMJ : British Medical Journal, 335(7610), 91–95. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39227.616447.BE
Schizoprenia.com (n.d). Preventing Schizophrenia – Risk Reduction Approaches. Retrieved on 4 October 2018, from Preventing Schizophrenia – Risk Reduction Approaches
Wilbanks, K. L. Schizophrenia Across Cultures: Significant Interactions of Biology and Environment.
World Health Organization (2002). Prevention and Promotion in Mental Health. Retrieved on 4 October 2018, from http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/545.pdf Schizophrenia Term Paper