Schizophrenia: Psychiatric Indications
Psychiatric Conditions
Psychiatric conditions that result from imbalances in the molecular mechanisms of brain function (receptors, neurotransmitters, ion channels, etc.), cause disturbances of thought or mood and often have secondary effects on learning and memory. The two most common psychiatric disorders are schizophrenia and depression.
Disease Information
Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness and is probably the most distressing and disabling of the more severe mental disorders. It is a chronic brain disease that makes it difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and imaginary experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses to others, and to behave normally in social situations. People who suffer from schizophrenia may also have difficulty remembering, talking or behaving appropriately. All these symptoms mean that people affected with the illness become limited in their ability to interact with other people, and other withdraw from the outside world.
Causes
The medical community is uncertain as to what causes schizophrenia. Researchers believe the problem may originate with the brain not being able to process information correctly and may lie specifically with an imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine. A possible factor is heredity. Schizophrenia is somewhat more common in those with a genetic predisposition to the disease and tends to run in families.
Schizophrenia is a complex illness, which is thought to be due to a number of different factors acting together. These factors may include genetic influences, trauma (injury) to the brain occurring at or around the time of birth, and the effects of social isolation and/or stress. Other effects may also be important, but no one factor can be said to be the cause of schizophrenia. Rather, each of these factors is thought to increase the risk that a person may develop symptoms.
Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms associated with schizophrenia which, if experienced for more than two weeks - or if the behavior seems extreme or unusual - require urgent medical attention. These symptoms vary by individual and often slowly evolve over time.
Symptoms can include:
- Hearing or seeing something that isn't there
- A constant feeling of being watched
- Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing
- Strange posturing
- Feeling indifferent to very important situations
- Deterioration of academic or work performance
- A change in personality
- Increasing withdrawal from social situations
- Irrational, angry or fearful responses to loved ones
- Inability to sleep or concentrate
- Inappropriate or bizarre behavior
- Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult