Diagnosing Schizophrenia

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Nov 212010
 

Diagnosing schizophrenia is quite a complicated procedure involving a lot of spent time observing the person’s actions and way of thinking. That person may start developing different symptoms like anxiety, confusion and starting to be suspicious on other people, mostly those that don’t agree with their view of things around; they may even refuse to admit the fact that they need help. Doctors have to put a correct diagnose so they will look for both positive and negative symptoms; strange thinking, hallucinations and delusions are positive signs and apathy, emotional flatness, inability to concentrate, wanting to avoid people or to be protected are negative symptoms.

Strange thinking is also a major symptom in schizophrenic people. Their ideas might seem a bit strange to other people making little sense to them. Logical thinking may also present a problem to them. Loneliness and isolation may install because of the inability of the patient to properly talk.

Hallucinations are another problem in schizophrenia patients. According to a research, up to 4% of people hear voices but that doesn’t pose a problem for them. In the case of sick persons this is an entirely different thing: they may hear voices or sounds that other people don’t, this voices being sometimes familiar, friendly or critical. In the case of people diagnosed with schizophrenia the most common hallucinations are critical or unfriendly voices. This voices may have been in their mind all their life, but they have been triggered to be more aggressive by a particular event.

The delusions are the experiences or beliefs that the patient has regarding facts that don’t exist.

The negative symptoms are named so because they are not noticed as easily as other signs of the illness. They might be such signs as being withdrawn, apathetic, and unable to concentrate. It is all so often that patient shows either a very chaotic behavior, much depending on people’s response towards them, or a very mellow way of being sitting in a certain spot and not moving for hours. Because of this kind of actions people tend to discriminate and ignore other persons with mental problems, making them fell depressed and isolated.

As much as one in every hundred people is diagnosed with suffering of schizophrenia usually between the ages of 20 and 30. The number of men and women found with the illness is roughly the same, but the age of men tends to be smaller at the time when they are diagnosed.

Diagnosing schizophrenia is quite tricky sometimes, and that is why a second opinion should always be looked after to be shore no mistakes have been made.

For more resources about history of schizophrenia or even about schizophrenia cause please follow this link http://www.schizophrenia-info-center.com/

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

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Nov 192010
 

Bipolar disorder is an illness that is illustrated by extreme mood changes, from being manically euphoric to the very depressed and vice versa. This disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. Changes in the mood to the extremes are constantly occurring, this can happen within hours, days, or months. Bipolar disorder typically appears in the late teenage years and continues until death. There are also cases wherein the illness starts as early as childhood or as delayed as late adult years.

Although a lot of people experience mood swings every now and then, only a small group really experience radical changes in their moods which are highly characteristic of bipolar disorder. This illness can heavily affect everyday living of the sufferer. It can have a huge impact on their relationships with significant others, occupation, academics, and their day to day interaction with other people.

Are you quite curious if you’re afflicted with this unlucky pestilence of a disease? Here are some of the signs and symptoms that you can check yourself with:

Signs and symptoms of depressive phase
?    pessimistic, have long moments of crying
?    a feeling of hopelessness
?    low self-esteem
?    diminished libido
?    progressive decrease in energy and activities of daily living
?    apathetic
?    antisocial
?    cognitive difficulties
?    always anxious and irritable
?    changes in weight (weight loss or gain)
?    either insomnia or oversleeping
?    abuse of drugs or alcoholic substances
?    suicidal ideations

Signs and symptoms of manic phase
?    extremely euphoric
?    aggressive
?    impulsive, irresponsibly wild
?    excessively adventurous and involved in activities that are life threatening (sex, drugs, violence, excessive spending)
?    insomniac
?    flight of ideas, exceedingly talkative
?    very outgoing
?    self-centered; sometimes with hallucinations or delusions
?    easily distracted, restless
?    no idea that the their behavior is causing problems

If you have any of these symptoms and these odd behaviors are causing disruptions in your normal life, it is best for you to seek professional help.

There may be numerous tests out there that are used to differentiate a bipolar sufferer from the run-of-the-mill sad and/or energetic individuals, but there is no exact specific test. This is because the signs and symptoms of this illness are very similar to other mental aberrations like ADHD, borderline personally disorder, schizophrenia, or substance abuse disorders.

To diagnose the disorder, physicians provide a battery of tests to potential patients. The following are the basic tests that these professionals use:

?    Medical examinations. This is used to assess the patient for other probable grounds of the mood swings he or she experiences.
?    Oral and written psychiatric questionnaire or evaluations
?    Family history. Bipolar disorder have a tendency to run in families
?    Medical history. There may be medications that the patient is using or has used that could have triggered the mood swings.
?    Interview family members and significant others regarding the patient’s behavior. These people are usually the first witnesses of the disorder unfolding in the patient.

Although the doctor may be armed with these tests to help him diagnose a patient, it is quite difficult for the doctor if the patient him or herself doesn’t recognize the problem. It is therefore imperative for the doctor to have an absolute and careful history of the patient’s mood swing episodes. Compared to normal happiness, a person suffering the mania stage is extremely happy for four consecutive days at the very least. These patients are also easily distracted, very talkative, and has a flight of ideas.

The disorder is suspected to individuals who have previously suffered from a depression and had a quick and excellent response to the treatment, but had frequent relapses which are followed by a disintegration to respond to antidepressant treatment.

But with early diagnosis, the disorder can be easily controlled. A combination of psychopharmacologic medications and psychotherapy may just do the trick. A strong emotional support from family and friends is also imperative for the patient who’s suffering from this disorder. Just make sure you choose the right medical professional to help you or a friend in need. You may find the best help even from only searching through the net as some institutions have websites of their own.

Just remember, anybody who is suspect to any mental disorder is innocent until examined and diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.

How To Be Independent With Schizophrenia

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Nov 162010
 

When people suffer from schizophrenia mean the condition where a person may find it difficult to differentiate what is real and what is not. It is a mental disorder that causes the patient to suffer from auditory hallucinations (i.e. hearing voices), paranoid or bizarre delusions, and disorganized speech and thinking. Most of the time, a person who suffer from schizophrenia is likely to suffer from clinical depression and anxiety disorders as well, that can result in social withdrawal.


However, schizophrenia can be cured. There are cases where people recover from their illnesses and got back to living a normal life. As long as there is self-motivation, support from family and friends, and help from professionals, then curing schizophrenia is not impossible. During the first stages of schizophrenia where the patient is not aware of his problems or does not have the capacity to help himself, support from his loved ones is perhaps the most important thing to help him get back on his feet. However, after a while, he should try and seek independence so that he can recover and return to his normal life. After all, although it is their responsibility to take care of an ill family member, his relatives do have their own lives.


There are a few things that people who suffer from schizophrenia can do to be independent. Below is a list of things that should be kept in mind if one desires to help himself cope with the disorder.


1. Self-education

If one wishes to cope with schizophrenia, first he has to learn about the disorder. He should know what the disorder is, what causes it, what its symptoms are and how to cope with it. The more he knows about schizophrenia, the better his chances are to deal with it as he could make better decisions should he be faced with problems.


2. Self-awareness

Once he has learnt all there is to know about schizophrenia, then the next thing he should do is to be aware. He should recognize early signs such as:

* Not bothering to look after himself (i.e. not eating, not cleaning or cooking, not changing clothes)

* Feeling anxious and not sleeping

* Feeling fearful and a bit suspicious, worrying of other people’s motives

* Having difficulties concentrating

* Hearing voices quietly or occasionally


Recognizing the signs early mean that there is more time do something about them, thus lessening the chance for schizophrenia to strike again.


3. Self-control

Aside from self-awareness, one should always be able to control himself. He should avoid things that could make his illness worse –things like drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, and getting into stressful situations such as spending too much time with people. He should also always look after his body; he should eat well, sleep well, exercise regularly, and take his medications so that he stays at the top of his game.


Finding things to busy himself with is also a good idea to control voices. He should find the things he loves to do or spend some time with friends and family. Drowning out voices can be done by watching TV or listening to the radio. Joining a self-help group of people with similar experiences is also a good option as it can help reduce stress and overcome the difficulties and symptoms of schizophrenia.


Getting help from friends and family members is also important as sometimes one may not always be at his best to help himself. One should tell them about the signs of schizophrenia and ask them to remind him if he starts to display them.

Possible Causes That Can Lead to Schizophrenia, and Symptoms That Appear

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Nov 162010
 

History tells us that for very long periods that took centuries, people have argued about the causes of mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Those who had mental illnesses were categorized as being insane or mad, but there were cases when it was thought even that they were possessed by evil spirits. It is known that in many situations, these persons suffering from mental illnesses were beaten, tortured, or locked up in special facilities.

Some time ago, scientists believed that mental disorders could appear because of stressful or traumatic conditions in a person’s life, and psychiatrists said that a neglected or abused child for example can have a higher risk of developing some mental disorders.

Nowadays, scientists generally agree that the disease is biological and not caused by life experiences, but there are several theories about what does cause the illness.

It was seen that if someone has schizophrenic relatives, it has a ten time bigger chance to develop schizophrenia too, compared to a person who has no history of the disease in the family; the condition tends to run in families.

A cause of the schizophrenia was suspected to be a viral infection. Some researchers said that a virus attacks the brain, more precisely the part of the brain that interprets messages from the senses. This can be the reason why delusions and hallucinations appear.

It is also suspected that schizophrenia can be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry electrical messages between nerve cells and if there is too much or too little of a neurotransmitter, this may lead to various mental disorders, including schizophrenia.

However, scientists did not reach to an agreement if these theories are correct, or if schizophrenia is caused by a combination of factors.

It is known that most schizophrenic patients have symptoms, even if there are a few which haven’t. Very often there can appear delusions and hallucinations, and these can also include hearing imaginary voices.

Insertion, also known as withdrawal of thought is another common symptom; the patients often believe that someone or something can put thoughts in their head, or take them out. They can also have other strange beliefs, like the aliens talk to them and tell them how to behave.

A schizophrenic patient may also show no emotions, or be unable to speak, or may avoid taking any action at all. Characteristic to schizophrenia is also disorganized thinking and behavior: the patient may have trouble answering a question clearly, completing a sentence or thinking through an idea.

For more information about schizophrenia or even about history of schizophrenia please review this page http://www.schizophrenia-info-center.com/history-of-schizophrenia.htm

Occupation For People Who Suffer From Schizophrenia

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Nov 162010
 

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, in which the sufferer experiences a grossly distorted reality, paranoid or bizarre delusions, and disorganized speech and thinking. A person diagnosed with schizophrenia is likely to also suffer from clinical depression and anxiety disorders that cause them to face social problems. Their outrageous behavior, which may include talking quickly and incoherently, hearing voices, developing paranoid thoughts, and dressing inappropriately, may cause people to fear and isolate people who suffer from schizophrenias. Social problems are common among people who suffer from schizophrenia, and their average life expectancy is 10 to 12 years less than the average people due to high suicide rate and increased physical health problems.


However, it should be noted that schizophrenia is by no means an untreatable disease. People do recover from this disorder and return to their normal lives. Unfortunately, some are not as lucky. It is quite understandable, as it can be difficult to cope with a normal life after an active phase of schizophrenia. However, there are a few options for people who suffer from schizophrenias who are willing to recover from their social dysfunction. Programs such as vocational rehabilitation, for example, can help rebuild work skills and self confidence. Finding the right occupation is also important, as it may motivate the person who suffers from schizophrenia disorder to have a meaningful life.


There are, of course, a few things that should be considered when finding the right occupation for people who suffer from schizophrenia.


1. Asses the severity of the disorder

First and foremost, the severity of the disorder should be assessed to know what types of occupation the person is able to do. It would be best if the person with the disorder takes on an occupation that he has done before or is familiar with to minimize troubles, but if he has never worked before then all hope is not lost.


An occupation that does not cause stress should be selected. If the person still has trouble socializing or controlling his emotions, then maybe a work-at-home job can be considered. If possible, the vocational rehabilitation center should be contacted to find job coaches or listing of jobs.


2. Explore his skills and interests

It would be better if the person who suffers from schizophrenia disorder does something that he likes or wants to do, as like any other person he would be more motivated. Hopefully by doing something he likes, he will recover more quickly.


If the person has special skills that enable him to create his own business, than this too can be an option. However, it does not mean that a person who suffers from schizophrenia has to do a paid job; unpaid voluntary work, as long as it helps give the person with a sense of identity and purpose, can also be an option.


3. Asses how his job can increase his life quality

As the main goal of finding an occupation for people who suffer from schizophrenia is to increase his life quality, it should be considered. Find out if the job could help the person with the disorder improve his social skills yet accommodate him with little to no stress.


4. Make sure the workplace has accommodation for people who suffer from schizophrenias

Once the right occupation is found, it is also important to assess the workplace. It needs to accommodate the demands a person who suffers from schizophrenia disorders, so that he does not have troubles in the workplace.


Finding the right occupation for people who suffer from schizophrenia may be difficult. But it is an important step as employment can reintegrate people back into community. It may also help lessen financial burden. However, should problems occur when looking for the right occupation, Disability Employment Support agencies can be contacted to find suitable one.

The Specter of Schizophrenia

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Nov 162010
 

What do mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. and legendary rock star Syd Barrett of the band Pink Floyd have in common?

Both suffered from schizophrenia, a mental disorder that begins between the ages of 15 and 25 and affects about one percent of the population or 51 million people worldwide. Schizophrenia is found in 12 million people in China, 8 million people in India, and over 2 million people in the United States.

Schizophrenia, which is a form of psychosis, is characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality. It leads to hallucinations, delusions or disorganization in speech and thinking process. It usually occurs in young adulthood with approximately 1 percent of the population. Schizophrenia occurs equally in males and females although it typically appears earlier in men with the peak ages of onset being 15–25 years for males and 25–35 years for females.

“People with the condition have a 50 times higher risk of attempting suicide than the general population; the risk of suicide is very serious in people with schizophrenia. Suicide is the No. 1 cause of premature death among people with schizophrenia, with an estimated 10 percent to 13 percent killing themselves and approximately 40 percent attempting suicide at least once (and as much as 60 percent of males attempting suicide),” according to Schizophrenia.Com, a non-profit web community that provides information, support, and education to people with schizophrenia.

The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories: positive, negative or cognitive. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and disorders of movement. Patients may see, hear, smell or feel something that normal people don’t. They often hear voices that comment on their behavior, order them to do things, or warn them of impending danger. They see people or objects that aren’t there, and smell odors that no one else detects. Delusions take the form of false beliefs where patients think that they are famous or people are plotting against them or spying on them.

One famous victim of schizophrenia was the Nobel Laureate mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. who was portrayed by Russell Crowe in the critically-acclaimed film, “A Beautiful Mind.” The story tells of Nash’s early days at Princeton University where he meets his roommate Charles and his niece Marcee. Nash is later approached by Department of Defense agent William Parcher to help the Pentagon decipher secret messages to thwart a Soviet plot. At the end of the movie, we learn that all three people never existed and are products of Nash’s troubled mind.

Syd Barrett, a founding member of the rock band Pink Floyd was a brilliant musician whose musical career was cut short by schizophrenia. His first album influenced generations of musicians and made him a superstar. As the disease progressed, however, Barrett suffered from weird thoughts, odd behavior, bizarre actions, disorganized thinking, and catatonia. He withdrew from public view at the age of 28 and stayed home until his death at age 60.

Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, effective treatments have been developed to help patients live normal and productive lives. If you have any of the above symptoms, seek medical help. To enhance your memory and support healthy brain function, take Neurovar. For more information on this powerful supplement, go to http://www.neurovar.com/.

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