Schizophrenia is a type psychotic disorder that starts in the
early teens and it is one of the most devastating mental disorders. Some of the
theories that explain causes for schizophrenia are, genetics,
neurotransmitters, and brain abnormalities.
Genetics certainly play a primarily rile in the development of
schizophrenia. Studies have shown the relation between genes and the chance to
develop the disease; generic similarity increase the chance to suffer from
schizophrenia. According to American Psychiatric Association (2000), “The
first-degree biological relatives of individuals with Schizophrenia have a risk
for Schizophrenia that is about 10 times greater than that of the general
population. Concordance rates for Schizophrenia are higher in monozygotic twins
than in dizygotic twins” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
Although unclear, neurotransmitters
also contribute to schizophrenia because, researchers believe dopamine
imbalance is related to some forms of schizophrenia. This hypothesis is based
on the use of amphetamines, that increase the amount of dopamine in the brain.
The third cause for schizophrenia is brain abnormalities.
Researchers have found certain characteristics in the brain of patients with
schizophrenia. According to American Psychiatric Association (2000), “the most
widely studied and most consistently replicated finding continues to be
enlargement of the lateral ventricles. Many studies have also demonstrated
decreased brain tissue as evidenced by widened cortical sulci and decreased volumes
of gray and white matter” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). However,
brain abnormality might not be the cause, but the result of the disease itself.
After learning about different causes for schizophrenia, I thought
about a number of treatments for patients. If a patient has somebody in their
family suffering from any type of psychotic disorder, a genetic test could show
the genetic predisposition for schizophrenia for an individual.
Drugs to block and reduce dopamine activity in the brain, such as
Haldol and Thorazine, can help reducing hallucinations and delusions. These
drugs are very effective since they almost eliminate these two symptoms.
Unfortunately, Haldol and Thorazine cannot eliminate the rest of
the disturbances in perception, emotion and language. I would suggest therapy
to help the patient with perception and to concentrate on one stimuli at the
time. In addition, therapy could help the patient to differentiate between
imaginary voices and people, from real ones.
Treatment for schizophrenia can be rather difficult to apply,
because there are different subtypes of this disease. Additionally, some of the
symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, can also be applied to several
psychotic disorders.
Resources
·
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic
statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington: American
Psychiatric Association.
http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/book.aspx?bookid=22
http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/book.aspx?bookid=22
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