Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by persistent defects in the perception or the expression of reality. A person experiencing untreated schizophrenia typically demonstrates disorganized thinking, and may also experience delusions or auditory hallucinations. Although the disorder mainly affects cognition, it can also contribute to chronic problems affecting behavior and emotions (White, Harvey, Opler & Lindenmayer 1997). Due to the several possible combinations of symptoms, it is difficult to say whether it is in fact a single psychiatric disorder; psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler deliberately called the disease "The Schizophrenias" when he coined the present name. Psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin was the first to note a difference between what he had termed dementia praecox ("premature dementia") and other psychotic illnesses (Silverstein, Kovбcs, Corry & Valone 2000). In 1911, "dementia praecox" was renamed "Schizophrenia" by Bleuler, who found Kraepelin's term to be misleading, as the disorder is not exact form of dementia (White, Harvey, Opler & Lindenmayer 1997).

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease found world-wide. The severity of the symptoms and the long-lasting, chronic pattern of Schizophrenia often results in disability, and many individuals need ongoing assistance to manage the most basic functions of independent living (Bellgrove, Vance, & Bradshaw 2003). Schizophrenics’ behavior may seem odd, unusual or even bizarre at times. They sometimes hear voices, talk to themselves, or respond to imaginary fears (Bellgrove, Vance, & Bradshaw 2003). At times, normal individuals may feel, think, or act in ways that resemble schizophrenia. Undiagnosed, healthy people may sometimes be unable to think straight. They may become extremely anxious, for example, when speaking in front of groups and may feel confused, be unable to pull their thoughts together, and forget what they intended to say. This would not be classified as Schizophrenia. At the same time, people with Schizophrenia do not constantly act abnormally. Of course, some people with the illness can appear completely normal and at the same