OPPapers.com

Schizophrenia

Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia: A Basic Overview
Janat Jingo, Payal Brahmbhatt, Miran Patel, Xavier Windom
Georgia Perimeter College

Abstract
Schizophrenia is a very common disorder that affects every 11 out of 100,000 people. Its treatment is costly and hits economically challenged groups. All age groups are affected. Schizophrenia is divided into five types: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, residual, and undifferentiated). Schizophrenia is diagnosed by observing the presence of positive and/or negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions while negative symptoms may include a lack of expected functions. To add on the damage of the disorder, people with schizophrenia are more likely to smoke. Visual processes are constantly disrupted in patients with schizophrenia. The longer it takes to diagnose and treat the disorder, the less successful the treatment. Psychologically, family support is the determining factor in the success of treatment.

A Little about Schizophrenia
According to Jibson (2008), schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that starts from early adulthood and lasts for lifetime. He noted that it is on the top ten of the Global Burden of Disease because it causes economic struggles for patients and their families, and a lack of social acceptability. He said that the disorder is best treated at specialty clinics but primary care clinicians can also encounter and treat the disorder. He said that they tend to help patients cope with its symptoms and the side effects of the drugs, and to encourage a lot of family involvement. He also explained that patients with schizophrenia usually have problems with completing tasks that are expected of their level. He said that such tasks may include: school, work, self-care, and recreation. He explained that schizophrenia, along with mania and bipolar disorder, is placed under the “psychosis”. He defined psychosis to be a psychiatric disorder in which patients...