Schizophrenia
Aunjay Williams
Columbia College
Abstract
Affecting 1.2 of the United States population, Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that manipulates the mind making it difficult to separate reality from illusion. This paper will discuss current literature on Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia
Chromosome 22 contains over 800 genes and is associated with 20 diseases. One of those diseases is Schizophrenia, phenotype MIM number 181500. “Multiple gene loci are involved in the causation of this complex trait” (“Schizophrenia; SCZD”). The disorder manipulates the mind as well as feelings and actions which in turn make it difficult for a patient to know what is real and what is not. There are multiple types of Schizophrenia which include: Disorganized Schizophrenia, Residual Schizophrenia, Catatonic Schizophrenia, Differential Schizophrenia, and Paranoid Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is known to be somewhat of a split personality, however, that view is argued because patients are typically not violent.
Apparent siting’s of Schizophrenia date back to 1550 B.C. in Egypt. The Bible also mentions Gerasene Demoniac who showed signs. Episodes of madness start to appear in literature from the 17th century. The disorder was first described in the 19th century by Dr. Emil Kraepelin as Dementia Praecox, or premature dementia.
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While obvious symptoms are shown in men during early 20s and late 20s or early 30s in women, faint signs such as poor school performance, troubled relationships, and reduced motivation may appear earlier, but children or adolescents will rarely be diagnosed. Because Schizophrenia is a group of disorders, the symptoms and causes are specific to each individual. The specific cause of schizophrenia is unclear; however theories suggest that abnormalities in the brain’s chemistry or structure such as developmental problems in connections and pathways in the brain while a baby is still