Question

in 2000 words write about schizophrenia including introduction, prevalence, causes, treatments and reference page using MLA format

Answer 1

Schizophrenia is a persistent, chronic psychological disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Schizophrenia is characterised by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganised speech or behaviour and decreased participation in daily activities. Difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present. ¹

^Prevalence:The prevalence rates of schizophrenia depend upon a whole range of factors, such as the availability of and response to treatment. The prevalence of schizophrenia, as with other mental disorders, can be calculated from a number of sources—from case registers to field surveys^2..However, a study shows the prevalence according to age group as:³

Toddlers	3-5 years	very rare
Children	6-13 years	rare
Teenagers	14-18 years	common
young adults	19-40 years	common
Adults	41-60 years	common
seniors	60 + years	common

70 N 53 N 62 Schizophrenia Schizoaffective disorder Schizophreniform disorder Brief psychotic disorder Delusional disorder Psychotic disorder not otherwise specified 60 32% 2% 16% 50 N-76 38% 40 N-35 396 30 1% 4% 40% N-9 37% 11% 020 11% 3% 89% 10 0 6-12 13-17 18-25 26-35 236 Age Range (years)

Causes 4:

It's not known what causes schizophrenia, but researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environment contributes to development of the disorder.

Problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may contribute to schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies show differences in the brain structure and central nervous system of people with schizophrenia. While researchers aren't certain about the significance of these changes, they indicate that schizophrenia is a brain disease.

Risk factors:

Although the precise cause of schizophrenia isn't known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including:

• Having a family history of schizophrenia
• Increased immune system activation, such as from inflammation or autoimmune diseases
• Older age of the father
• Some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain development
• Taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood

Symptoms:

Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. In rare cases, children have schizophrenia too.

The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive.

Positive symptoms: “Positive” symptoms are psychotic behaviors not generally seen in healthy people. People with positive symptoms may “lose touch” with some aspects of reality. Symptoms include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking)
• Movement disorders (agitated body movements)

Negative symptoms: “Negative” symptoms are associated with disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors. Symptoms include:

• “Flat affect” (reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone)
• Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life
• Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities
• Reduced speaking

Cognitive symptoms: For some patients, the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia are subtle, but for others, they are more severe and patients may notice changes in their memory or other aspects of thinking. Symptoms include:

• Poor “executive functioning” (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions)
• Trouble focusing or paying attention
• Problems with “working memory” (the ability to use information immediately after learning it¹.

Treatments:

Because the causes of schizophrenia are still unknown, treatments focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease which include

Antipsychotic medications are usually taken daily in pill or liquid form. Some antipsychotics are injections that are given once or twice a month. Some people have side effects when they start taking medications, but most side effects go away after a few days. Doctors and patients can work together to find the best medication or medication combination, and the right dose. Check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website: (http://www.fda.gov/), for the latest information on warnings, patient medication guides, or newly approved medications.

Psychosocial Treatments

These treatments are helpful after patients and their doctor find a medication that works. Learning and using coping skills to address the everyday challenges of schizophrenia helps people to pursue their life goals, such as attending school or work. Individuals who participate in regular psychosocial treatment are less likely to have relapses or be hospitalized. For more information on psychosocial treatments, see the Psychotherapies webpage on the NIMH website.

Coordinated specialty care (CSC)

This treatment model integrates medication, psychosocial therapies, case management, family involvement, and supported education and employment services, all aimed at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. The NIMH Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) research project seeks to fundamentally change the trajectory and prognosis of schizophrenia through coordinated specialty care treatment in the earliest stages of the disorder. RAISE is designed to reduce the likelihood of long-term disability that people with schizophrenia often experience and help them lead productive, independent lives.

References;

1.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml#part_145426

2 Bhugra D.The Global Prevalence of Schizophrenia.2005 PLoS Med 2(5).

3.Schneider et al, (2014). Psychiatric Disorders From Childhood to Adulthood in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Results From the International Consortium on Brain and Behavior in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. The American journal of psychiatry. 171. 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070864.

4.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443