Introducing...Schizo

Schizophrenia is a chronic, complex, and disabling brain disorder that effects people throughout the world. Those with schizophrenia tend to have difficulty acting normal in social situations, experiencing normal emotional responses, thinking clearly, and being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is not real.

 

 

People with Schizophrenia find it hard to determine what is real and what is not


 

Over 2.1 million people in America have been diagnosed with schizophrenia not counting undocumented immigrants. The number of people with this complex illness is increasing at an alarming rate with an estimated 100,000 - 200,000 diagnosed each year.

 

 

 

Schizophrenia effects those diagnosed as well as those surrounding the person(s) diagnosed. Self - harm and harm to others is a factor when determining the functionality of one with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia are diagnosed with one of five subtypes at a time. While no case is typical, a person may experience signs of multiple subtypes of schizophrenia and be diagnosed with several of these subtypes throughout the course of their life. These five subtypes are; Paranoid, Disorganized, Catatonic, Undifferentiated, & Residual.

 

 

 

 

Schizophrenia used to be thought of only as a psychological issue and did not have very many treatment options until the 1950s with the development of the first dopamine antagonist used as an antipsychotic, Chlorpromazine. Since the development of this drug, there have been leaps in the advancement regarding treatments and knowledge of schizophrenia.

Synthesis Structure of the antipsychotic dopamine antagonist Chlorpromazine (right)

One of these advancements is the fact that researchers are getting closerand closer to finding the cause of schizophrenia by looking more into the difference of their brian function compared to those without schizophrenia. There have also been studies done determining the genetic differentiation of the disorder showing that it may be hereditary. Although it may increase the chances of person(s) to develope schizophrenia if there are blood- related relatives diagnosed with the disorder, it is not purely genetic.

Many treatments for schizophrenia are available but there has yet to be a cure.