When people think of “crazy people” and people in mental institutions, they are often thinking of people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is the primary example that psychologists and psychiatrists often use to name a psychosis. The general characteristic of people with a psychosis is that they seem to be out of touch with reality.
Many mood disorders, especially mania, are also considered a psychosis. Someone with a neurosis appears to be more emotionally preoccupied, perhaps even overly sensitive to reality rather than out of touch with it. Anxiety disorders are the main examples. Next, in Psychology-online, we will talk about what is schizophrenia.
Our understanding of schizophrenia has developed since its symptoms were first cataloged by the German psychiatrist Emilio Kraepelin in the late 19th century. Although the cause of this disorder remains elusive, its frightening symptoms and biological correlates have been absolutely well defined. Despite this, there are many misconceptions about symptoms: Schizophrenia is neither “split personality” nor “multiple personality.” Furthermore, people with schizophrenia are not perpetually incoherent or psychotic.
Schizophrenia is characterized by profound disruption in cognition and emotion, affecting the most fundamental human qualities: language, thought, opinion, affection, and the sense of self. The arsenal of symptoms, at the same time powerful, frequently includes psychopathic manifestations, such as hearing inner voices or experiencing other sensations not connected with an obvious source (hallucinations) and the assignment of unusual meaning or meaning to normal events or maintaining fixed false beliefs (delusions). There is no definitive symptom for the diagnosis ; rather, the diagnosis encompasses a pattern of signs and symptoms, along with impairment in occupational or social functioning.
Symptoms
Next, we clear your doubts about some false myths about the symptoms of schizophrenia, which, as far as possible, are not destructive or dangerous for those who suffer from it or those around them:
delusional ideas They are erroneous beliefs firmly held due to distortions or exaggerations of reasoning and/or interpretations of opinions or experiences. Delusions of being followed or watched are common, as is the belief that radio or TV programs, etc., are directing special messages directly to him/her.
The hallucinations They are distortions or exaggerations of perception in any of the senses, although auditory hallucinations (“hearing voices” inside your mind, other than your own thoughts) are the most common, followed by visual hallucinations.
Disorganized speech/thought, also described as “thought disorder” or “loss of associations,” is a key aspect of schizophrenia. Disorganized thinking is usually assessed based primarily on the person’s speech. Therefore, tangential, loosely associated, or incoherent speech that is severe enough to substantially impair effective communication is used as an indicator of thought disorder.
Behavior seriously disorganized includes difficulty in goal-directed behavior (leading to difficulties in activities of daily living), unpredictable agitation or clumsiness, social disinhibition, or behaviors that are strange to onlookers. Their nonsense distinguishes them from unusual behavior incited by delusional beliefs.
Catatonic behaviors They are characterized by a marked decrease in reaction to the immediate surrounding environment, sometimes taking the form of immobility or overt lack of awareness, rigid or awkward postures, or excessive aimless motor activity.
Symptoms
On the other hand, here we show you some symptoms that are perhaps a little more alarming for those around the patient:
The emotional flattening is the reduction in the range and intensity of emotional expression, including facial expression, tone of voice, eye contact, and body language.
Alogia or poverty of speech, is the decrease in the fluency and productivity of speech, thinking is delayed or blocked, and often manifesting as laconic, answers to questions are empty.
Abulia is the reduction, difficulty, or inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behaviors; It is often confused with obvious disinterest.
Course of the disorder
Onset usually occurs during young adulthood (mid-20s in men, late 20s in women), although onset may be earlier or later. Could be abrupt or gradual, but most people experience some early symptoms, such as increased social isolation, loss of interests, unusual behavior, or decreases in functioning before the onset of active positive symptoms. These are often the first behaviors that worry family members and friends.
Most individuals experience periods of symptom exacerbation and remission, while others maintain a constant level of symptoms and disability that can range from moderate to severe. A small percentage (10% or so) of patients are seriously ill for long periods of time. Most do not return to their previous state of mental functioning. Still, several long-term studies reveal that about one-half to two-thirds of people with schizophrenia noticeably improves or recovers some totally.
Cultural variation
On first consideration, symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior appear to be easily defined and clearly pathological. However, increasing attention to cultural variation has made it abundantly clear that what is considered delusional in a culture can be accepted as normal in other. For example, among members of some cultural groups, “visions” or “voices” of religious figures are part of a normal religious experience.
In many communities, “seeing” or “being visited” by a recently deceased person is not unusual among family members. Therefore, labeling an experience as pathological or psychiatric symptom can be a subtle process for the clinician with a cultural background or ethnic origin different from the patient; In fact, cultural variations and nuances can occur within diverse subpopulations of a single racial, ethnic, or cultural group.
Often, however, clinicians’ training, skills, and views tend to reflect their own social and cultural influences. Schizophrenia is more common in egocentric cultures, compared to sociocentric cultures. In egocentric societies, each person is seen as more or less responsible for him or herself, and others may withdraw from the victim and allow him or her to fall into isolation. Families may feel free to express criticism and even hostility when a member does not live up to expectations. Cociocentric societies even have other very negative qualities, however they provide help and support in the form of extended families. And, since individual success is not as important as the well-being of the family, they do not judge individuals as harshly.
What type of culture is better
Cultural psychologist Richard Castillo suggests that city life, wage-earning work, and capitalist society place many demands on people, some of which they are not up to. Independence is expected, so the person who is not able to become independent is seen as inadequate. You are expected to be productive, unless you are incapacitated. So, If you cannot work, you must therefore be disabled and again it will be inappropriate.
Here’s another interesting observation about less developed countries and some non-Western societies: recovery from schizophrenia is common. In some of these societies, the voices are interpreted as the voices of the ancestors. Sometimes the voices are positive, giving the listener and their family necessary advice. When the advice is followed, the ancestor retires. Even if the voices and impulses are negative, they are considered to be the effects of demons or witchcraft, and appropriate rituals will bring that person back to himself or herself. In Western society, on the other hand, schizophrenia is defined as an “incurable brain disease.” No wonder people don’t usually get better!
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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