Schizophrenia Case Studies

Introduction Mental illness continues to be a growing problem throughout the world. It can take a toll on one’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being, leaving one feeling lost and alone. During this paper, I will focus on one mental illness that adversely affects one’s life, schizophrenia. I will begin by discussing the history, symptoms, subtypes, causes, and treatments of the disease. Finally, I will be utilizing literature review and comparing schizophrenia case studies, discussing the many triggers associated with the onsets and how it affects individual’s health and well-being.

The term schizophrenia dates back 1910 and given its name by Paul Eugen Bleuler, a Swiss psychiatrist. Deriving from the Greek words, schizophrenia, “schizo”

• Disorganized speech refers to the inability to effectively communicate, lacking the ability to use complete and related subject content when conversing with others.

• Strange movements or abnormal motor behavior are often common among suffering persons living with schizophrenia, they may be assert useless or extensive movement. Jerky or continued actions for extended periods may be observed, along with bizarre posture. One can completely freeze for hours, also known as being catatonic.

• Decreased cognitive abilities which affect one’s ability to organize thoughts, make appropriate decisions, finish an ongoing project. Their working memory may also suffer, leaving them unable to focus on more them one thought or fact at a given time.

• Abnormal behavior is observed by unpredictable agitations, erotic childhood silliness, and reluctance.

• Isolation leaves one unsociable, reserved, and withdrawn from

Lack of emotional response and poor personal hygiene are also present in this sub-type and shows early onset between ages fifteen and twenty-five. Unfortunately, prognosis disorganized schizophrenia is quite weak compared to the other subtypes.

• Catatonic Schizophrenia shows symptoms of movement and motor disturbances, as well as catatonia. When diagnosing this type, it is important it is not confused with disorganize-type and rule out other conditions that may mimic, such as tardive dyskinesia neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

• Undifferentiated schizophrenia is diagnosed when one only shows general symptoms of the illness but does not meet diagnostic benchmarks of other subtypes. Often time individuals may experience fluctuations of the symptoms associated with the many different subtypes, many times called, “mixed clinical syndrome.”

• Residual schizophrenia diagnosis is given when a person with the illness has gone for a prolonged period without noticeable symptoms. Though a person may feel completely healed from mental illness, it is crucial to continue treatments to assure relapse doesn’t occur in the future. During the remission period, individuals can be productive members of