Schizophrenia Symptoms and Treatment for this

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder affecting a person's ability to think clearly, to know what is real, to manage his or her emotions, to make decisions, and to relate to others (Schizophrenia defined, 1998). The disease is not to be confused with multiple personality disorder, a condition in which patients manifest two or more personalities. Somewhere between one to two million Americans are affected every year with schizophrenia, and one out of one hundred people will be afflicted with the disorder at some point in life. The first symptoms usually appear sometime between the ages of sixteen and thirty. For men, it is often earlier, between sixteen and twenty-five. For women, it may occur later, typically between the ages of twenty and thirty. It is rare for those over thirty or still in childhood to exhibit symptoms, but it is has occurred (Discussion of schizophrenia, 1998).

It is uncertain at this point what causes the disorder. In some cases, there has been a genetic history, but in others, there has been no evidence of schizophrenia in the family. It has been noted that there seems to be a predispensation to "decompensate" during stressful situations in schizophrenics, but this has not been linked to genes, environment or upbringing (First, 1998). Researchers have found that symptoms occur as a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Thus far, abnormal dopamine and serotonin leve

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response and decision-making become slowed and difficult. Thoughts may come slowly, too quickly, or not at all (Discussion of schizophrenia, 1998). Other symptoms include: depression; excessive sleep, insomnia, or both; hyperactivity and/or inactivity; an inability to concentrate or cope; extreme religiousness or an obsession with the occult; unexpected hostility; an increased frequency of involvement in car accidents; substance abuse; frequent loss of possessions; rapid weight loss; extreme reactions to criticism; escape attempts manifested in frequent moves or hitchhiking; excessive meaningless writing; inability to cry or excessive crying; early signs of migraines; an unusual sensitivity to stimuli; fainting; an inability to express joy or inappropriate laughter; bizarre behavior; a refusal to touch people or objects, glove wearing, and the like; a decision to shave one's head or body hair; self-mutilation; excessive blinking or staring without blinking; and/or rigid stubbornness (Schizophrenia defined, 1998). These symptoms may be classified within the above categories but are not as frequently noted. They may also result from the chemical imbalances occurring in the brain or from the patient's reaction to the trauma of
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