SchizophreniaBy Zain Jafari & Avi Singh

“Now the candle burns at both endsTwisting under schizophreniaFalling deep into dementia”

-Metallica’s “The Frayed Ends of Sanity”

Why is it a disorder? People with schizophrenia often hallucinate, hear

voices in their heads, and can feel suicidal thoughts. (Maladaptivity)

Schizophrenic people can always be very disorganized, most of the time they don’t know what they’re talking about.(Unjustifiable Behavior)

Schizophrenics can really devastate their families because they have completely changed.(Disturbing Behavior)

They are definitely not normal because they always look nervous and have really peculiar behavior. (Typicality)

How can you tell? (Symptoms) Schizophrenics can

experience positive hallucinations, delusions, and racing thoughts.

They can experience cognitive disorganized thoughts, difficult concentration, memory problems, unfinished tasks, and unable to understand what people say.

What makes it what it is? (Causes) It is usually caused by

inherited genes through pregnancy and what kind of environment the person is exposed to.

There is usually damage done to the brain development around childhood and adolescence.

How can it be treated?

Psychotherapy

Medication

Psychotherapy

Pros:

Helps social skills Supports weekly

goals/activities Helps in regaining

confidence Can decrease

relapse rates

Cons:

Usually is not treatment of choice

Usually should be done alongside the use of medication

Usually requires the help and encouragement of family members/friends

Medication

Pros:

Can effectively control hallucinations, delusions, and confusion

Reduce the likelihood of relapse

Cons:

Many people discontinue the use of medication when they want (3/4 people), this is a side effect of antipsychotics

Several side effects ranging from dry mouth to muscle spasms and facial ticks

Personal Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LB2t

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Website for Advice/Help

http://www.schizophrenia.com/index.php

Famous People Who Have/Had Schizophrenia John Nash (mathematician

and Nobel Prize winner)

Eduard Einstein (Albert Einstein’s son)

Mary Todd Lincoln(wife of Abraham Lincoln)

Meera Popkin (Broadway Star – specifically Cats)

Bibliography http://www.schizophrenia.com

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31t.htm