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Schizophrenia


This mental illness is the most common of the psychoses and affects approximately one percent of the population in all countries where statistics have been gathered. (Byck, M.D., 1986) Experts today estimate that about 1.8 million people in the United States have schizophrenia. .
             The prevalence of schizophrenia is the same regardless of gender, race, and culture. Although women are just as likely as men to develop schizophrenia, women tend to experience the illness less severely, with fewer hospitalizations and better social functioning in the community. Schizophrenia usually occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood between the ages of 15 and 30.
             There are two apparent distinct forms. In one form, the patient grows up normally until there is a fairly rapid degeneration of thought and behavior. In the other form, the patient is considered odd and asocial (withdrawn) from early childhood and acute psychotic symptoms are superimposed on a long-standing withdrawn behavior pattern. (Byck, M.D., 1986) Schizophrenics do not have " split" personalities and are not "dumb." Most of them are very intelligent, but because of their mental illness, they cannot function successfully in their work situation. In the past, schizophrenics have been repeatedly hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. Today, for medical, humanitarian and economic reasons, doctors and other psychiatric health care workers are trying to decrease the number and duration of hospital stays. Reducing both the number of patients in mental hospitals and the average length of their stay has made a major improvement.
             Mental health professionals diagnose schizophrenia based on an interview with the patient in which they determine whether the person has experienced specific symptoms of the illness. A variety of symptoms characterize schizophrenia. (A) Delusions- a false belief or idea that logic and reason show to be "crazy." Here a person may feel that he is god, when he is not.


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