Causes
Primary causes of Schizophrenia are as simple as Genes and environment. The risk is as High as 10% with a First-Degree relative, such as a mother or a sibling. Although no one gene is proven to cause Schizophrenia, scientists have a theory that several genes inherited from parents increase the risk. Another cause is also brain chemistry and structure, scientists are starting to believe chemical imbalance reactions play a role. The brains of people with Schizophrenia look different than those without the disorder. The ventricles are often larger in some suffering with the disorder and Schizophrenics have less gray matter in their brain. In the photo below it shows how normal brains are suppose to have as little as a 2% loss of gray matter in their brain. However, in a Schizophrenic, their brain loses up to 4% of gray matter.
Symptoms
There are many known symptoms to Schizophrenia such as positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms are psychotic behaviors that can be severe or hardly noticeable such as hallucinations. Hallucinations are hearing or seeing things no one else does. Those with the disease hear voices that can warn them of danger or order the person to do certain things. Delusions are false reality's that Schizophrenics may strongly believe are true. The delusions are often unusual, sometimes even paranoid like someone may harm them. Negative symptoms are breaks with normal emotions such as speaking little, lack of pleasure in daily life, and even have to be forced to interact. Cognitive symptoms are hard to recognize examples would be trouble paying attention and problems with the memory.
Treatment Plans
Treatments for the disorder focus simply on reducing the symptoms because the causes of Schizophrenia are still a mystery. Anti psychotic medicine such as Clozapine, also known as Clozaril. Clozapine is successful to treat symptoms such as delusions. There are also psychosocial treatments designed to help those who suffer from Schizophrenia to cope with their daily challenges. Coping and realizing your struggles is known to help many suffering with the disorder. to be able to go to school and work. Cognitive Thinking Behavior (CBT) focuses generally on your behavior and thinking. CBT helps you to not listen to the one or many different voices in your head that people struggle with.
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Life as a Schizophrenic
There is an article called Living with Schizophrenia by Patrick Cockburn, Patrick talks about how his life changed when his son, Henry Cockburn, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. I believe is very helpful for someone suffering from this Psychological Disorder. I think it would be good for someone living this life to read the article because it would let them know they are not alone. People suffering with Schizophrenia often feel that have "gone mad", feel they are crazy, and there is no one quite like them. Although, Schizophrenics are very unique there are more people like them than even we may realize. To be suffering with this Psychological Disorder it would be tough to have no one understand your exact thoughts. This article helps people with the disorder by reading someone else's own personal experiences compared to your own. Seeing the life of Schizophrenia through another persons eyes may even help you figure out ways to try to get better. Reading about Henry Cockburn's experience can help what you can do to cope, how to stop the voices and try to the most normal life anyone can. Henry talks about how the voices threatened him or told him to do odd things and he tried to avoid them. This shows Schizophrenics that they are not real like some may believe they are. Schizophrenics could look into the life of someone like them and maybe it will help them mentally and emotionally realizing they are never alone.