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Zac Ellingson
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that effect one percent of people. This disorder can
inhibit the person greatly, and it comes with many serious conditions. Schizophrenia will last for
a person’s lifetime. The cause for schizophrenia is currently unknown, but there are some
theories on what causes it. This disorder effects the brain, and how its functionality. There is not
a cure for this disorder, but there are treatments.
A person with schizophrenia may seem normal at first, but if they express what they are
thinking or feeling it can become clear that there is something wrong. There are multiple
symptoms for schizophrenia. These include: paranoia, hearing voices that other people cannot
hear, believing people are reading their minds, thinking that people are controlling their thoughts,
thinking that people are plotting against them (NIH). These symptoms can greatly inhibit the
person socially. Other symptoms include: irritability, trouble sleeping, problems paying
attention, and lack of emotion. These symptoms are not as severe, but are still socially
inhibiting.
Although the cause of schizophrenia are unknown there are some theories on what cause
it. It is believed that multiple genes must be altered in order for schizophrenia to occur. A recent
study suggests that “…schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making
important brain chemicals malfunctions. This problem may affect the part of the brain involved
in developing higher functioning skills.”(NIH). This research is still being conducted. It has
been shown that people who have relatives with schizophrenia are more likely to be diagnosed
with this disorder. This shows that the genes that cause schizophrenia can be passed down from
parent to child.
Currently there is not a medical way to diagnose schizophrenia. Because there is not a
medical way of diagnoses a series of questions are asked, these are asked to the patient and
family members. These questions include: how long have you had the symptoms, do you have
any medical conditions, questions about genes or family history, have any forms of medicine
helped, and questions about your development (A.D.A.M.,2013). Along with these questions a
CT scan can be given. This can help to rule out other medical problems.
As with most medical problems a prescription is given for treatments. The article by
A.D.A.M. says, “Antipsychotic medicines are the most effective treatment for schizophrenia.
They change the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control symptoms”.
Unfortunately this is not a cure, and it comes with some side effects. Some of these side effects
are dizziness, restlessness, and weight gain.
Schizophrenia is a serious lifelong brain condition that has many symptoms. There is
neither a known cause nor cure for this disorder. There are some theories on why this condition
happens, but nobody knows for sure what the cause is. There is not a cure, but there are some
treatments and medicines that can help the symptoms.
Works cited
A.D.A.M. (2013, January 13). Schizophrenia . Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001925/
NIH. (n.d.). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml