Schizophreni A Psychological Disorder - 1495 Words

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that became prominent within the 1900 s characterized by various positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Coined in 1908 by Paul Bleuler, it is a prominent entry within the DSM and is prevalent throughout the world. It affects both males and females rather equally, though there are slight variations in its mean age of development. Regardless, schizophrenia is a seriously debilitating psychological disorder that is highly heritable, produces a wide range of symptoms, affects 1.1% of the United States population, is often characterized by attacks and episodes, and is currently treated most prevalently with dopaminergic inhibitors. The wide range of symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia are†¦show more content†¦Finally, negative symptoms are those which specifically inhibit otherwise normal functioning. These generally cause a lessening of otherwise healthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Negative symptoms can include a flat affect, anhedonia (loss of joy in activities), and a regression of sustained, planned activities such as brushing ones teeth. These symptoms generally develop first within schizophrenics, and are more problematic than one may think. Personal hygiene and enjoyment of both social and recreational activities are important indicators of general wellbeing. These symptoms are not always constant within effected individuals - often times they fluctuate over periods of time. This tends to culminate, in some people, as schizophrenic attacks or episodes. These attacks are usually periods of time in which symptoms are at the most severe levels relative to the victim’s normal symptoms. Even the attacks themselves, though, do not always have a specified pattern or constant level or symptom severity. In some cases, each attack increases in symptomatic severity while the time in between attacks are characterized by higher symptom levels relative to previous non-attack intervals. It is fortunate th at the converse of such a situation can also occur. Some patients will only have a single attack and experience little distress or disruption from daily life afterwards. Others will never have attacks at all and could either have a significantly slower