Schizophrenia

WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that often causes abnormal social behaviors (such as  little emotion, poverty of speech, inability to experience pleasure, lack of desire to form relationships or motivation), difficulty distinguishing between reality and their imagination (due to allucinations).

Causes of this illness are not yet clear, theories range from hereditary causes, to abnormalities on the brain’s chamistry or structure, viral infections, inmune disorders or problems while in the womb.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms usually start during puberty, making them harder to recognice, since they are usually percieved by others as normal teenage behaviors. This symptoms are split into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’.

1.Positive: Changes in behaviour or thoughts, such as hallucinations or delusions.

   1.1 Hallucinations

   1.2 Delusions

   1.3 Disordered thinking and speech

   1.4 Disorganized behavior

2. Negative: Common capabilities that are missing from the person’s personality. They may start years before the first acute schizophrenic episode.

   2.1 Loosing  interest and/or motivation in life and activities.

   2.2 Lack of concentration, isolation, and changes in sleeping habits.

   2.3 Being less likely to initiate conversations and feelings of disconfort when surrounded by people, or feeling there’s nothing to say.

mentalhealthamerica, Schizophrenia – A Quick Intro, Standard Youtube License

SOURCES

[1] Mental Health America, ‘Schizophrenia’, Mental Health America. [Online]. Available: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia. [Accessed: 09-Nov-2016].

[2] Wikipedia contributors, ‘Schizophrenia’, Wikipedia. 07-Nov-2016.

[3] National Alliance on Mental Illness, ‘NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | What is Schizophrenia?’ [Online]. Available: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizophrenia. [Accessed: 09-Nov-2016].

[4] N. H. S. Choices, ‘Schizophrenia – Symptoms – NHS Choices’, 19-Oct-2016. [Online]. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Schizophrenia/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. [Accessed: 09-Nov-2016].

[5] mentalhealthamerica, ‘Schizophrenia – A Quick Intro – YouTube’. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qpl-3eR6eE. [Accessed: 26-Oct-2016].