Question

Discuss the basic nature of schizophrenia and specify its symptoms.

Answer 1

Schizophrenia is a serious psychotic condition. The name is coined after the two Greek words: ‘Schizo’ meaning ‘split’ and ‘phrenia’ meaning ‘mind’. Thus, Schizophrenia means split on Fragmentation of mind or personality. Approximately one percent of the population suffers from this disorder at some point in time in their life. Such persons typically have problems with attention, perception, thinking, social-relationship, motivation, and emotion.
E.g. they hear voices that are not there, speak a language that others don’t understand, laugh when there is nothing numerous and do not have touch with reality.

Positive Symptoms: It is disturbances that are “added” to the person’s personality.
Delusions — false ideas-individuals may believe that someone is spying on him or her, on that they are someone famous (or a religious figure, movie star or president).

Hallucinations — seeing, feeding, tasting, hearing or smelling something that really does not exist. The most common experience is hearing imaginary voices that given commands, or comments to the individual.

Disordered Thinking and Speech: Moving from one topic to another, in a nonsensical fashion. Individuals may also make up their own words or sounds, rhyme in a way that doesn’t make sense or repeat words and ideas.

Disorganized Behavior: This can range from having problems with routine behaviors. like hygiene or choosing appropriate clothing for the weather, to unprovoked outbursts, to impulsive and uninhibited actions. A person may also have movements that seem anxious, agitated, tense or constant without any apparent reason.

Negative symptoms are capabilities that are “cost” from the person's personality.

• Social withdrawal
• Extreme apathy
• Lack of drive or initiative
• Emotional platness.