Scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes schizophrenia yet, but it’s believed to be a combination of physiological and environmental factors. Research shows that family members of a schizophrenic have a ten times’ greater risk of developing the disorder, compared to the general population.
Often relatives of schizophrenics will exhibit some similar symptoms, like communication difficulties, strange behavior or paranoia. Brains of schizophrenics have certain noticeable similarities, such as smaller volume, reduced blood flow and neural activity in certain areas and enlarged ventricles at the brain’s center. Psychologists say there are five different types of schizophrenia disorder.
Many mental illness professionals view schizophrenia as a collection of associated illnesses with similar characteristics. This condition affects 1-2% of people in the US, which equates to at least 2.5 million, with 100,000 to 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. More hospital beds are occupied by schizophrenics than with individuals dealing with cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes in the US. However, 70% of those individuals can function in society with the assistance of antipsychotic drugs that suppress delusions and hallucinations.
Of all the types of schizophrenia, the most prevalent is paranoid schizophrenia, which is present in 40% of all affected people. Paranoid schizophrenia is marked by hallucinations and delusions. Oftentimes, sufferers think they’re being spied upon, sabotaged or simply observed. In other cases, schizophrenics may have delusions of grandeur and believe they are here for a special purpose, for example a rescuer who was dispatched to warn the people about imminent disaster. Some individuals might be possessed by jealousy or suddenly erupt in anger.
The other types of schizophrenia disorder include catatonic-type, disorganized-type, undifferentiated and residual. It is rare for people to become catatonic, although this type of disorder may occur following some sort of trauma and also earlier in life. Similarly, disorganized schizophrenia is diagnosed earlier in life, usually when a child or adolescent shows difficulty focusing in school, explodes with angry outbursts or exhibits jumbled speech patterns. Once the acute psychotic attack occurs, patients often develop what is called “residual schizophrenia,” which includes more subtle symptoms like social withdrawal, lack of motivation, the inability to focus and inappropriate emotions.
Most types of schizophrenia disorder are diagnosed in patients between the ages of 16 and 30. Most patients who require hospitalization do so between 28 and 34. The disorganized type of schizophrenia is commonly discovered in early adolescence, whereas paranoid schizophrenia generally surfaces after the age of 25. Patients usually experience a prodromal stage that lasts about a year, where their behavior begins to change. They may withdraw from society, have difficulty focusing, neglect their hygiene or begin having strange thoughts. Most people seek help when they have a full-blown psychotic break from reality.
The type of schizophrenia disorder a person has been diagnosed has much to do with how significantly it affects the person’s life. With the proper medication and treatment programs most people can live a normal life and learn how to cope. Click here to learn more about paranoid schizophrenia causes.
