When most people hear about schizophrenia, they might think that it sounds like something out of a horror story. However, schizophrenia is very real and a very serious disorder. About 24 million people are inflicted with schizophrenia in the world, and while it has an incredibly high financial cost, “the emotional cost is even greater” (Comer, 2014, p. 364). This paper will focus on Type I schizophrenia and the symptoms, theories of development, and how it is treated. Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that everyone should be properly informed of, and everyone should be aware that schizophrenia is not only in story books or movies, it is a real disorder that many people have to deal with everyday.
Symptoms of schizophrenia “typically …show more content…
One of the biggest theories is the biological theory. Those who believe in this theory claim that it is “a polygenic disorder caused by a combination of gene defects” (Comer, 2014, p. 371). There is also a possibility of schizophrenia being linked to an overload of dopamine in the brain, or an abnormal brain structure (Comer, 2014, p. 371-372). Most cases of Type I schizophrenia are linked to genetic or biochemical abnormalities, while Type II schizophrenics typically suffer from brain abnormalities. The psychodynamic theory claims that schizophrenia is onset when mothers are cold and rejecting, yet overprotective, called schizophrenogenic mothers (Comer, 2014, p. 375). However, there is a lack of evidence to support this theory because majority of those who suffer from schizophrenia do not have mothers fitting this definition. Another theory is the cognitive explanation that biological sensations produce unreal sensations, and when these sensations cannot be explained by themselves or family members, the schizophrenic is confused and begins to think that the truth is being hidden from then, thus taking a “rational path to madness” (Zimbardo, 1976). Socioculturalist believe that schizophrenia can occur from a variety of different factors. They believe that multicultural factors such as racial, ethnic, and social status can onset schizophrenia, since rates of schizophrenia is higher in minorities as well as undeveloped countries (Comer, 2014, p. 367). Socioculturalists also find that social labeling could be another cause and that labeling a patient ‘schizophrenic’ can not only have an affect on how they are treated, but how they think and behave (Comer, 2014, p. 377). Another theory is that family dysfunctioning can cause schizophrenia, “since individuals who are trying to recover from schizophrenia are almost four times more likely to relapse” when they live in a
Symptoms of schizophrenia “typically …show more content…
One of the biggest theories is the biological theory. Those who believe in this theory claim that it is “a polygenic disorder caused by a combination of gene defects” (Comer, 2014, p. 371). There is also a possibility of schizophrenia being linked to an overload of dopamine in the brain, or an abnormal brain structure (Comer, 2014, p. 371-372). Most cases of Type I schizophrenia are linked to genetic or biochemical abnormalities, while Type II schizophrenics typically suffer from brain abnormalities. The psychodynamic theory claims that schizophrenia is onset when mothers are cold and rejecting, yet overprotective, called schizophrenogenic mothers (Comer, 2014, p. 375). However, there is a lack of evidence to support this theory because majority of those who suffer from schizophrenia do not have mothers fitting this definition. Another theory is the cognitive explanation that biological sensations produce unreal sensations, and when these sensations cannot be explained by themselves or family members, the schizophrenic is confused and begins to think that the truth is being hidden from then, thus taking a “rational path to madness” (Zimbardo, 1976). Socioculturalist believe that schizophrenia can occur from a variety of different factors. They believe that multicultural factors such as racial, ethnic, and social status can onset schizophrenia, since rates of schizophrenia is higher in minorities as well as undeveloped countries (Comer, 2014, p. 367). Socioculturalists also find that social labeling could be another cause and that labeling a patient ‘schizophrenic’ can not only have an affect on how they are treated, but how they think and behave (Comer, 2014, p. 377). Another theory is that family dysfunctioning can cause schizophrenia, “since individuals who are trying to recover from schizophrenia are almost four times more likely to relapse” when they live in a