Schizophrenia

            Schizophrenia is a group of mental disorders that involve disturbances in thought, perception, affect, behavior, and communication, which usually lasts for longer than six monthes. Schizophrenia is a disease that takes place in the brain. The exact causes for it have not been identified. It does appear however that Schizophrenia is somewhat genetic. It has also been provent that problems with intrauterine development and birth may increase the risk for developing schizophrenia at a later time in ones life. (A.D.A.M "Schizophrenia" 2002).
             There are five different types of Schizophrenia. They include catatonic, paranoid, disorganized, undifferentiated, and residual. In Catatonic Schizophrenia there is a period of inactivity and striking motor skills. In the Paranoid case there is usually illogical thinking, or dillusions of persecution. The disorganized type, also known as hebephrenic usually includes delusions and false perceptions. Then There is Undifferentiated Schizophrenia, which is shown by a gradual reduction in the external relations and interests. Most of the efects of the residual type have ceased, but it may cause hallucinations, and flat affect. (Ryan Irvan, "Schizophrenia" 2001).
             The diagnosis of Schizophrenia is very difficult. There are many factors that suggest Schizophrenia, they include: Genetic and family history of it, changing of level of functioning, response to pharmalogical therapy. Hostpitilazation is almost always required for safety of the persons self, and other people. They are also given antipsychotic or neuroleptic medicines in order to reduce the symptoms. The treatments are known to be very helpful to the patients.
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             Approximately 1 percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime, which means more than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year. Although schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, than in women, who are generally affected in the twenties to early thirties.