|  | Mental Health | Schizophrenia

The History of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenics are often labeled as "crazy." It's easy to see why. The symptoms reflect a disturbance in the psychosis that can evolve into an acute condition. The background on this mental disorder has been studied by psychologists and psychiatrists all over the world. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the condition.

  1. About Schizophrenia

    • Schizophrenia is not partial to age, race or gender and has existed for thousands of years. Generally, it appears during the late adolescence or early adulthood. Because every person is structured differently, the effects of schizophrenia vary from person to person.

    Signs

    • A schizophrenic will typically exhibit the certain symptoms: hallucinations, where the patient smells, tastes and feeling things that are not present; delusions, such as paranoia; strange behavior, acting contrary or bizarre; and incoherent speech, where language is distorted, therefore difficult to understand.

    Early Theories

    • In the past, the reason for mental disorders were summarized as the result of evil spirits possessing the body. Various methods of exorcisms were used to "shake the demon" from the afflicted person. One method was exposing the victim to music. A more deadly method included piercing holes into the victim's skull, hoping to expel the demons.

    The Term

    • In 1911, Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Blueler, devised the name "schizophrenia," which emancipated from the Greek words "schizo" (split) and "phrene" (mind). Blueler coined this phrase to symbolize the disjointed reasoning of people with schizophrenia.

    Classification

    • German physician, Emil Kraepelin, was one of the first to categorize mental disorders. He used the phrase "dementia praecox" to classfy people with symptoms of schizophrenia. Presently, the categorization for mental illnesses is constantly updated, as researchers and specialists try to locate more sources responsible for the disease. In America, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-1V) is the most frequently used diagnostic classification system.

    Working Together

    • Both Blueler and Kraeplin categorized schizophrenia based on the symptoms and stages of the illness. Kraeplin proposed disorganized, paranoid and catatonic. Blueler proposed residual and undifferentiated. The five categories are depicted in the DSM-111. However, through research it was determined that Blueler and Kraeplin's classifications were unreliable in depicting the outcome of the illness. Hence, researchers now include systems such as "positive" vs. "negative" to determine the outcome. This scale looks at the victim's behavior when he's in the positive and negative mode.

    Treatment

    • Diagnosing schizophrenia can be difficult and so can finding the right medication. If the psychiatrist is fully aware of the highs and lows of the condition, he is better able to prescribe the correct treatment. Support groups are a critical outlet for those with schizophrenia. The state-supported National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI (see Resources) is a good place to start.

Schizophrenia - Related Articles