Schizophrenia :: essays research papers

dementia praecox is a class of disorders characterized by radical disturbances in thought processes, emotion, or behavior. It is also cognise as a "split mind" the person is in a world that has nada to do with e genuinelyday experiences. One to one and a half percent of the U.S. population will be diagnosed with it sometime over the course of their lives. Schizophrenia has a pattern of unique and predictable symptoms. There atomic number 18 both main types of symptoms positive and disconfirming symptoms. The positive symptoms atomic number 18 delusions or hallucinations negative symptoms are deficits in behavior or an inability to express emotion. yet what exactly are these symptoms and are they easy to detect? The more open-and-shut types of symptoms are the positive. One characteristic that is often experienced is delusions, which are known as thoughts with meanings that are unrealistic. For example, people with this disorder tend to believe that they are someo ne else in disguise such as Elvis or Jesus. An different type of delusion is the delusion of grandeur, which is when an individual believes that they are more important than they actually are. A less common and very real type of delusion is a delusion of persecution, which is when an individual is convinced that others are plotting against him. But even more severe is perceptions known as hallucinations. Hallucinations are perceptions that can not possibly be real because there is nothing external to support them however, to the person affected, they can be heard, seen, or even felt. Some individuals may see objects change shape or size, which is not very unusual for someone with schizophrenia. On some occasions, individuals arrogate to hear voices in their heads, telling them to do or say sealed things. These voices appear to be so real, that in some instances individuals where known to bemuse committed suicide because thats what the voice told them to do. Less obvious than t he positive symptoms but equally serious are the negative symptoms. It is very common for a person to show flat affect, which means they show little or no emotional reaction. If someone shows a person with this disorder an exceedingly funny movie or a very sad picture, they are unlikely to even smile or shed a tear. tribe with schizophrenia also refuse to participate in basic occasional activities. They may refuse to eat or wash themselves. Some other symptoms that are less common are disorganized speech and catatonia.