Historical Notes
In 1860 a Belgian Psychiatrist Morel
presented a case of boy (13 yrs) who was brilliant. But later showed following
symptoms: -
(i) Diminished interest in studies,
(ii) Socially withdrawn and Seclusive,
(iii) Seems to have lost memory of academics,
(iv) Had ideation of murdering his father etc.
He attributed all this to genetics and
named it dementia praecox (mental deterioration at an early age)
Swiss Psychiatrist, Bleuler (1911) introduced the term Schizophrenia (Splitting of Personality) to describe this condition.
The functional psychosis in which
individual loses connectivity with reality.
Schizophrenia is a descriptive term
for a group of psychotic disorders characterized by gross distortions of
reality; withdrawal from social interaction, and the disorganization and
fragmentation of perception, thought, and emotion
(Coleman,
1988).
Distortions
in
(i) Thinking,
(ii) Perception,
(iii) Language,
(iv) Sense of self and behaviour.
Global
Impact
Globally around 2 Crore (200 Lakh) people suffer from Schizophrenia (WHO).
Onset
Occurs during childhood
and most likely during late teenage years to early adulthood (15 to 30 years).
Clinical
Features of Process Schizophrenia
Chronic and long lasting due to
several factors such as genetics, biological or psychological.
(i) Gradual loss of interest in the social
set up.
(ii) Excessive day dreaming,
(iii) Blunting of emotional expressions,
(iv) Inappropriate response pattern to normal
stimuli,
(v) Sensitive to external and internal
stimuli,
Clinical
Features of Reactive Schizophrenia
Symptoms for brief duration in
response to stress, tension or other environmental factors.
(i) Sudden onset of emotional turmoil,
(ii) Excessive confusion,
(iii) Nightmarish expressions,
(iv) Sudden change in behavioural pattern,
(v) Speech becomes highly disorganized.
Symptoms
The schizophrenic individual manifests
vivid symptoms which are broadly classified into following two categories: -
1. Positive Symptoms
2. Negative Symptoms
1. Positive Symptoms
– The symptoms related to the abnormality that are present in the individual
such as,
Hallucinations
(Pertaining to five senses)
-
Exaggeration or distortion in the perceptual ability
-
Unreal beliefs
-
Inappropriate behaviour
-
Manifestation of improper speech
-
Illogical thinking
-
Exaggerated irrational fears
2. Negative Symptoms –
The abnormal symptoms which are absent in the individual suffering from the
schizophrenia.
-
Lack of emotional expression (Flat Affect)
-
Lack of cognitive integrity
-
Loss of feeling pain & pleasure
-
Absence of logical behavioural expression and responses
-
Indifferent to external and internal stimulation
-
Lack or minimal speech production
-
Impaired abstractness
Symptoms
Schizophrenia is a comprehensive
umbrella term which consists of a comprehensive range of symptoms. Each
individual show varied symptoms, however the common symptoms are classified
into following five categories: -
1. Breakdown of Perceptual Filtering
2. Disorganization of Thoughts &
Emotions
3. Anxiety and Panic
4. Delusions and Hallucinations
5. Withdrawal from Reality
Consequences
(i) People with schizophrenia are 2-3 times
more likely to die early than the general population.
(ii) Marked impairment in daily activities,
professional life, social and family life.
(iii) The increasing severity sometime leads to
involvement in dangerous (for self and others) activities.
(iv) Cognitive (Attention, perception, memory,
learning, information processing etc.) functioning is severely impaired.
(v) Personality gets distorted leading to loss
of self and social identity.
(vi) Individual becomes insensitive to the
immediate environment (Natural, social, academic, family).
(vii) Stigma, discrimination and violation of
human rights of people with schizophrenia is common (WHO).
सन्दर्भ:
1. Coleman, C. J. (1988). Abnormal
psychology and modern life. Bombay, India: D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co.
2. NCERT. (XII). Psychology Book.
3. DSM V Manual. Published by APA.
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