Brain Abnormalities

According to Fusar-Poli (2009), schizophrenia is delineated by prefrontal activity and elevated striatal dopaminergic functions. There are primary neurological brain abnormalities in individuals with schizophrenia. For example; robust abnormalities elevated in striatal dopamine activity and prefrontal cortical dysfunctions (Fusar-Poli, 2009). Other abnormalities include white matter in the right superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, adjacent to the right caudate head, right thalamus, left insula, left the lentiform nucleus, left fusiform gyrus, and bilateral claustrum (Antonius, 2011). These brain abnormalities are astonishing and nevertheless, need to be acknowledged and understood for the purpose …show more content…
Schizophrenia disorder is characterized by abnormalities in one or more of the following domains: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, grossly abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to the DSM-5', delusions are solidified beliefs not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence. These include ideas of persecutory, referential, grandiose, erotomanic, nihilistic, and somatic. Contrary to hallucinations, which are perceived experiences that occur without an external stimulus. They occur in any sensory modality, although the most frequent form is auditory (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Disorganized thinking is another characteristic, which involves a formal thought disorder where speech is derailment or characterized by loose associations or word salad (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Abnormal motor behavior is another characteristic where behavior is marked by a decrease in reactivity to the environment these range from negativism, rigid inappropriate posture, and mutism (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Lastly, negative symptoms are characterized by a diminished emotional response or expression usually visible through an individual's facial eyes, speech, hand movements, avoliation meaning no motivation, alogia suggesting a diminished sense of speech, and asociality a …show more content…
For example; sleeping difficulties, fatigue, appetite or eating problems, and overall physical health issues are very common for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia disorder. Individuals exhibit impairmentin social functioning, negative emotion mood regulation, hyperactivity or agitation, reality or intellectual functioning, and display a general lack of insight. Researchers suggest that schizophrenia disorder contains a genetic and physiological risk. The disorder is hereditary, and can be passed down to generations. The environment also plays a crucial role in the development of this disorder. The individual exposed to a certain amount of stressors in the environment play a critical role in the onset of that particular gene (Goldstein,