Schizophrenia is a
chronic psychiatric disorder that, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO), affects less than 1 percent of the world’s population. Despite its low
prevalence, most people know of the disorder through many pop-culture mediums,
such as movies, TV shows, and video games. Unfortunately, it is likely one of
the least understood and highly stigmatized psychiatric disorders.
اضافة اعلان
Stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders is often
worse in conservative nations, where often times the lines between religion and
medicine become blurred. Hopefully, by spreading awareness and understanding
the condition, the stigma surrounding conditions like schizophrenia will lessen
and enable the treatment the individual needs.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic
psychiatric disorder that usually occurs in men between the late teens and
early 20s, and in women between the late 20s and early 30s. Sufferers from
schizophrenia experience distortions of reality, which typically comes in the
form of delusions or hallucinations.
Hallucinations are vivid and clear
experiences of senses that are in fact not real. This can include
hallucinations related to hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or feeling.
Auditory hallucinations, with individuals hearing voices that seem very real,
are the most common in schizophrenia.
Delusions are
beliefs that the individual holds true despite evidence or facts indicating the
contrary. In schizophrenia, persecutory or paranoid delusions are the most
common. As a whole, the presence of hallucinations and delusions impairs
thought processes, emotions, and behavior.
Schizophrenia vs psychosis
Schizophrenia and psychosis are often associated with one another, but
have distinct differences. Psychosis is a symptom, whereas schizophrenia is a
mental condition.
Psychosis is defined as an episode where an individual
experiences a detachment from reality. Psychosis is associated with other
conditions, such as sleep deprivation, certain substances and narcotics, and
mental illness. Although psychosis can occur in those with schizophrenia, due
to hallucinations and delusions, it is possible for someone to have
schizophrenia without ever experiencing psychosis.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Although
schizophrenia
typically does not present until after teen years, there may be some early
warning signs. These signs often get overlooked as they are relatively
nondescript and are common amongst those going through puberty. They can
include irritability, agitation, isolation from friends and family, sleep
difficulties, difficulties with studies, anxiety, and mild paranoia. Later in
life, as the condition begins to manifest, symptoms are categorized into three
main groups: positive, negative, and disorganized/cognitive.
Positive
symptoms are present in those with schizophrenia, but not in a typical person.
Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia. Negative
symptoms are absent in those who have schizophrenia, but are present in a
typical person. They may be reduction in speaking, abnormal emotional
responses, lack of emotions,
social isolation, difficulty initiating or
following through with plans, or difficulty completing everyday tasks. The last
category describes the difficulty an individual with schizophrenia has with cognitive
or mental tasks. Generally, this may present as disorganized thinking or
speech, as well as forgetfulness, poor utilization of information in decision
making, and difficulty learning and processing information.
Causes and risk
factors
So far, there is no known exact cause for schizophrenia. The current
belief is that its cause is multifactorial and based on
biological, genetic,
and environmental factors. Research using imaging testing seems to suggest that
there are structural abnormalities in the brain, although further research is
still needed.
Genetics is
believed to be the largest component in predisposition to schizophrenia. This
is evident in those with a family history of schizophrenia, who have a higher
risk of developing it.
There are also
risk factors that may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia or worsen
the symptoms. They include exposure to toxins, certain viruses, malnutrition
before birth or during infancy, and living in high stress situations. There is
also a link between substance use and schizophrenia, although the exact
relationship is not clear.
Stigma of
schizophrenia in Jordan
There are no estimates about the prevalence of schizophrenia in Jordan,
but it is a highly stigmatized disorder. A study conducted in 2021 focused on
assessing public stigma of mental illnesses in Jordan. The study focused on
public attitudes vis-à-vis anxiety,
depression, and schizophrenia. Three
factors were found to stigmatizing schizophrenia: preconceived stereotypes, a
sense of personal responsibility or blame for the condition, and perceptions of
the patient’s ability to recover.
One of the most
disturbing results of this study was that those who have a family member
suffering from a mental condition were more likely to express prejudice. One of
the ways stigma was assessed in this study was by providing participants with a
list of negative statements and asking them whether they agreed with the
statements. Examples of negative statements included the belief that sufferers
of schizophrenia were a danger to others, that those affected have only
themselves to blame for the condition, and that those affected could pull
themselves together if they wanted to.
The study
referenced previous studies in which those who lived in a household that carried
strong prejudices were less likely to seek treatment, thus negatively affecting
their recovery.
Treatment
Schizophrenia is a life-long condition, with no cure so far. However,
with proper treatment, symptoms of schizophrenia can be managed.
According to
WHO, 33 percent of those who receive proper treatment achieve complete
remission. Even if complete cure is not achievable due to severity or type,
treatment can help periods of remission and lessen symptomatic episodes.
With the help of
a psychiatrist or mental health professional, those who suffer from
schizophrenia can be treated with medication such as
antipsychotics and various
forms of therapy and rehabilitation.
If left
untreated, schizophrenia can result in serious complications that have the
potential to be lethal. Those with schizophrenia are also more likely to suffer
from other co-morbidity. When left untreated, sufferers are at increased risk
of suicide or self-injury, and alcohol or substance abuse, which ultimately can
reduce their lifespan.
Schizophrenia can make it difficult to focus, attend school,
and hold employment. The inability to financially support themselves puts
people with the condition at higher risk of poverty and homelessness. If a
loved one suffers from schizophrenia, the support of friends and family is
important, as it can help them in get the treatment they need.
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