What is schizophrenia? Describe the phases and symptoms of schizophrenia.
Answers
Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder which refers to distorted perception of reality. The term was coined by Eugene Bleuer, schizo meaning 'split' and phrene meaning 'mind'.
It has two sets of symptoms, Positive and Negative.
To diagnose schizophrenia, the presence of at least ONE POSITIVE symptom and 2/3 negative symptoms is essential.
The positive symptoms are:
1. Delusions - false beliefs that cannot be shaken with contradictory proofs.
They include, delusion of grandeur, the person think he is rich/famous/important.
Delusion of prosecution: believing that people are out there to get them or harm them in some way. (More which you can find on the internet.)
2.Hallucinations - sensing certain stimuli which are actually absent.
They include auditory, visual, of smell, touch and taste.
auditory hallucinations are the most common.
The negative symptoms are:
Alogia - impaired speaking. They hardly talk or don't talk at all. They take time to reply and mostly it is incomprehensible.
Apathy - inability to display emotions. They never express what they are feeling. However, not displaying emotions and feeling emotions are different things. They do feel, but they only don't display.
Anhedonia - the person doesn't find pleasure in any activity, even if they used to enjoy it earlier, like any hobby. Even sexual pleasure is inhibited.
Derailment - the person barely speaks or takes time. They skip from one topic to another very fast, which aren't related.
Neologism - they make up new words which have no dictionary meaning.
For example, calling the stomach "food vessel".
Regurgitation - they repeat what is being said to them or questioned. Sometimes it can be chants, or sentences that don't make any sense.
Hope it helps!
Answer:
A disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel and behave clearly.
The exact cause of schizophrenia isn't known, but a combination of genetics, environment and altered brain chemistry and structure may play a role.