se (Willwerth 65).
Schizophrenia is seen as having either a biological or genetic basis. The dysfunction of the limbic system of the brain is considered one primary cause. The limbic system receives and sorts out the messages received from the outside world. According to E. Fuller Torrey, M. D., the schizophrenicÆs thinking is more than delusional; the thoughts are disorganized. The schizophrenic mind is like a blender. It jumbles all thoughts. As a result, the schizophrenic person has difficulty holding a conversation or following instructions.
When these messages get mixed up, the schizophrenic sometimes shows either inappropriate feelings or no feelings. He or she may laugh at news of a plane crash or show no emotion at hearing of the death of a family member. These inappropriate actions produce the most dramatic aspects of the disease. According to Dr. Torrey, the emotions of schizophrenics tend to flatten out as the disease progresses. As an example, one patient set his house on fire and then sat down serenely to watch television (Hurley 57).
Schizophrenics can go from calm to rage in seconds for no apparent reason. They often have delusions (irrational ideas) and hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that other people do not). Paranoid schizophrenics believe others are plotting against them. The danger occurs when the paranoid schizophrenic acts on that belief and attacks the supposed enemies (Arbetter 23-24).
The onset of schizophrenia occurs early in life, and most patients suffer long-term adverse effects. The personal tragedy associated with schizophrenia is extreme. It takes a heavy toll on the patient, the patientÆs family and mental health resources.
In the 1960s, when the antipsychotic medications proved partially effective in relieving many symptoms for 90 percent of schizophrenics, new federal policy and civil rights laws in most states threw out all permissible reasons to ins...