Psychotic Disorder: Schizophrenia Essay

In essence, Schizophrenia is basically a psychotic illness which is characterized by confused and disconnected thoughts, perceptions as well as emotions. Apparently, schizophrenia is a brain disorder and is associated or rather identified by concrete symptoms. Notably, this illness is not a sort of split personality or multi-personality as many people misunderstand it. Recent research suggests that this kind of illness is not triggered by childhood trauma, poverty, or poor parenting, neither is it a result of any particular act or an individual botch especially by people who are afflicted with this kind of terrible mental disorder. Schizophrenia is often marked by extreme thoughts ailment where it is frequently treated with a prescription. Given a proper support, persons with this kind of disorder can know how to deal with their symptoms and therefore lead a more reasonably comfortable as well as productive lifestyle.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Schizophrenia has become a common illness in recent times and affects 10 out of 100 people across the globe that can be of any age set. However, it often strikes younger people between the age of 16 and 25. Apparently, this illness can as well occur later in the maturity, however, its onset is not common when one attains the age of 30, while it is rare at the age of 40 (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016). Although this disease is rare, there is a set of age limit where it can be found in children who are about 5 years and therefore it does not favor age factor. It affects both men and women with equal regularity and the only difference comes in at the onslaught where the disease begins. Primarily, for men, the onset of this illness is at about 16 to 20years, while for women the beginning is at about 20 to 30 years (Severance, Yolken, & Eaton, 2016).

While many researchers do not understand exactly the real cause of Schizophrenia, various pieces related to this disorder is now becoming clearer than ever. People affected by this disease mostly appear to have neurochemical imbalances in their body and therefore modern antipsychotic has been in the haste targeting three different neurotransmitter systems, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. With the innovation of a modern brain such as the positron emission tomography (PET), scan researchers can now identify areas that are activated in case a person's brain is engaged in the activity of processing information (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016). Notably, this is necessary as people with Schizophrenia appear to have some difficulty in coordinating activities that are from different parts of their brain. For instance, when one is engaged in thinking or rather speaking, most people have shown an escalation in movement in their frontal sections, and a decreased motion around the area of the brain especially the one designed for listening.

While there has been a continued genetic research, hereditary genes for schizophrenia have not been identified yet. However, this illness tends to appear regularly in some families. In case one had a grandfather who had Schizophrenia, then an individual's chances of being in the risk increases by 3 percent (Severance, Yolken, & Eaton, 2016). Additionally, the risk of getting this disease increases in case an individual has one of the parents with such disease and even become more serious when both the parents have Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia has signs and symptoms just like other illnesses. However, they vary with every individual. While some people may have a single cycle of Schizophrenia, others tend to show severe symptoms for their entire life. This disease always comprises a variation in ability and character of a particular person. An individual suffering from the disease often shows a decline in academic activities, relationships, personal care, and overall hygiene. To have an effective diagnosis and treatment of such disease, psychiatrists are tasked with classifying the illness into various categories (Severance, Yolken, & Eaton, 2016). These categorizations are usually centered on the knowledge and other various symptoms as defined by patients and perceived by their families and medics. Symptoms related to Schizophrenia can, indeed, be as a result of other complications and therefore it is very critical to always seek medical attention as early as possible.

To diagnose this type of illness, practitioners are forced to collect broad medical, family, and mental information regarding a suspected patient. Some of the important information that is gathered during this process include gender, age, cultural, religious, and economic well-being or rather the financial status of an individual. Physical examination and laboratory tests may be carried to determine the parent's health status (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016).

The magnitude of psychotic symptoms can be reduced using various medications antipsychotics being one of them. Apparently, this type of medications is widely recommended as a combination with other psychiatric medicines or used solely. Some examples of the antipsychotics which are allowed by medics include chlorpromazine, olanzapine, risperidone, and aripiprazole (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016). Notably, these medicines are the latest form of antipsychotics which are often referred to as the second generation antipsychotics that are known to be working quickly as compared to other medications for curing such illness. It is therefore important to note that all the medicines that are used for treating this kind of diseases especially in the adult are as well advised to be administered to children.

The side effect of these medicines includes dizziness, sleepiness, increased appetite, weight gain as a result of high blood sugar, and an increase in lipids level in the blood. Primarily, the older generation of the antipsychotics for instance perphenazine may lead to muscles stiffness as well as tremors. Such side effects can be serious thus interfering with the patient's daily activities. Take an example in the film "A Beautiful Mind" Nash experiences some side effects such as the impaired emotional functions leading to strains inside his marriage life (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016). Additionally, he is faced with decreased intellectual capacity and his work is frustrated in the long run.

Another medication that can be used for this ailment is the mood-stabilizers for instance lithium, carbamazepine, and the lamotrigine (Usdin, Bunney, & Kline, 2016). Essentially, they are used in treating mood changes, although they may take longer as compared to the antipsychotics. According to research done by the national institute of health (2009), this treatment needs a closer monitoring especially for the blood levels and is prone to birth defects in case they are administered to a pregnant woman. Besides medication, psychological interventions have been considered as a favorable method of treating schizophrenia (Garvey, Avenevoli, & Anderson, 2016). Some of the interventional processes involved in this method include family-psycho-education, assertive community treatment, treatment of a substance abuse, supported employment, therapy of a cognitive behavioral change, and assisting an individual to manage weight. Such interventions have proven to be critical in avoiding risks, especially of patient defaulting medications by fearing its side effects.

References

Garvey, M., Avenevoli, S., & Anderson, K. (2016). The national institute of mental health research domain criteria and clinical research in child and adolescent psychiatry. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(2), 93-98.

Severance, E. G., Yolken, R. H., & Eaton, W. W. (2016). Autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and the microbiome in schizophrenia: more than a gut feeling. Schizophrenia Research, 176(1), 23-35.

Usdin, E., Bunney, W. E., & Kline, N. S. (Eds.). (2016). Endorphins in mental health research. Springer.