MENTAL ILLNESS PAPER

Mental Illness Paper

Charlena Adams
University of Phoenix

MENTAL ILLNESS PAPER

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the

environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of function in everyday life, and by
disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as delusions), perception
(as hallucinations), and behavior (Merriam-Webster, 2012). The disease was first identified as a
discrete mental illness by Dr. Emile Kraepelin in the 1887 and the illness itself is generally
believed to have accompanied mankind through its history (Schizophrenia.com, 2010).
Schizophrenia comes from the Greek roots schizo (split) and phrene (mind). They used this
word to describe the fragmented thinking of people with the disorder. At first anyone who was
believed to be abnormal were all treated the same. However, as time progressed, there have
been treatment options for those suffering from schizophrenia.
There are about thirteen myths about schizophrenia. These myths include individuals
with schizophrenia all have the same symptoms, people with schizophrenia are dangerous,
unpredictable and out of control, it is a character flaw, cognitive decline, develops quickly, is
genetic, untreatable, sufferers need to be hospitalized, they cannot lead productive lives,
medications make those who suffer from it zombies, antipsychotic medications are worse than
the illness itself, and individuals can never regain normal functioning (John M. Grohol). Of
course these are all just myths and none of them have actually been proven to be a fact.
There are positive symptoms and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The signs and
symptoms seen in patients with schizophrenia vary with each individual and can impair personal,
social and occupational functioning (Flashman LA, 2004). The positive symptoms include
delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and catatonic or disorganized behavior. Negative
symptoms include flat affect or decreased emotional reactivity, alogia or poverty of speech, and

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avolition or lack of purposeful action. These are all symptoms you should look for in someone
and if you see these symptoms then you should go to the doctor to have it diagnosed right away.
There are many different neurotransmitters in the brain; however, two that have been
found to be involved in schizophrenia symptoms are dopamine and glutamate. Dopamine is
primarily involved in movement and thoughts. People with high levels of dopamine in certain
parts of the brain may also experience psychotic symptoms or paranoid thinking, symptoms of
schizophrenia (Veague, 2009). Glutamate is believed to have an important role in learning and
the formation and encoding of memory. It has been found that people with schizophrenia have a
lower level of glutamate and this can cause paranoia. Dr. Daniel Weinberger, and influential
researcher or schizophrenia at the National Institute of Mental Health, has suggested that an
interaction between dopamine and glutamate is at the core of schizophrenia (Veague, 2009).
Schizophrenia is diagnosed by a psychosocial and medical evaluation, psychometric
testing, and unpredictable behavior (Diseases at a glance, 15-3). In order to diagnose
schizophrenia, first they have to rule out any medical illness that may be the actual cause of the
behavioral changes. Once other medical causes have been ruled out then schizophrenia can be
considered. There are a lot of different things a mental health professional can do. The doctor
will examine someone in whom schizophrenia is suspected either in an office or in the
emergency department. The doctors role is to ensure that they patient do not have any medical
problems. The doctor takes the patients history and performs a physical exam. Laboratory and
other tests, sometimes including a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain, are
preformed. Physical findings can relate to the symptoms associated with schizophrenia or to the
medications the person may be taking (Chakraburtty, 2009). Other exams or tests preformed
may involve seeing if the patient has mild confusion or clumsiness, subtle minor physical

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features (such as arched palate or wide or narrow set eyes), and movement or motor symptoms
(such as dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, stiffness on one side of the neck or jaw,
restlessness, tremors of the hands and feet, and slurred speech). Also family members or friends
can help by giving detailed history and information about the patient including behavioral
changes, previous level of social functioning, history of mental illness in the family, past medical
and psychiatric problems, medications, and allergies, as well as the persons previous physicians
and psychiatrists (Chakraburtty, 2009).
There are two major treatment options for schizophrenia. Those include psychotherapy
and medication. Psychotherapy is not the treatment of choice for someone with schizophrenia
but is good to help maintain someone on their medication. People with schizophrenia often have
a difficult time performing ordinary life skills such as cooking and personal grooming as well as
communicating with others in the family and at work. Therapy or rehabilitation therapy can help
a person regain the confidence to take care of themselves and live a fuller life (Grohol, 2011).
Medication for schizophrenia requires a combination of different medications. Usually this is a
antipsychotic, an antidepressant, and an ant anxiety medication.
A persons environment can promote or detract from a successful treatment more than
people may think. Depending on where the person is and who they have around them can be a
huge factor. If they are living somewhere where things are not positive or around people who are
not going to help them, then someone with schizophrenia may never get better. They need to be
in a positive environment around positive people so that they have the help they need in order to
get better. Encouragement in taking the medication and going to therapy is also needed in order
to succeed.

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People in the past were diagnosed in a completely different way and treated differently
too. In the past anyone who was not normal were pretty much all treated the same. Given some
medication and if needed hospitalized. Today there are pretty much able to pin point what it is
that is wrong with the person and give them the help that is needed. If every disease is treated
the same then not everyone is going to end up getting the help that they need. Every mental
illness should be treated differently and schizophrenia is just one of those mental illnesses.
Given the right medication, the right person to talk to about it all, and the family and friends to
help you get through it then you can live with schizophrenia. It just takes time, a lot of work,
and patients in order to succeed.

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References:
Merriam-Webster (2012). Schizophrenia. An Encyclopedia Britannica Company.
Retrieved October 24, 2015 from www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schizophrenia

Schizophrenia.com (2010). Schizophrenia Information. History of Schizophrenia.

Retrieved October 24, 2015 from www.schizophrenia.com/history.htm

Dr. John Grohol. 13 Myths of Schizophrenia. World of Psychology.

Retrieved October 24, 2015 from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/01/18/13-mythsof-schizophrenia/

Flashman LA, Green MF. Review of cognition and brain structures in schizophrenia:
Profiles longitudinal course, and effects of treatment. Phych Clln N Am 27(1): March 2004.
Retrieved from In Two Minds? EMS care of the schizophrenic patient.

Heather Barnett Veague, Ph.D. (2009). Schizophrenia and Neurotransmitters.

Armenian Medical Network. Retrieved October 24, 2015 from
www.health.am/psy/more/schizophrenia-and-neurotransmitters/

Diseases at a glance. Mental Illness and Cognitive Disorders. P. 325. Table 15-3
Amal Chakraburtty, MD (2009). Schizophrenia Exams and Tests.

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Schizophrenia Health Center. Retrieved October 24, 2015 from
www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-tests

John M. Grohol, Psy.D. (2011) Psychotherapy. Schizophrenia Treatment.

Retrieved October 24, 2015 from psychcentral.com/disorders/sx315.htm