M4-A1

People with schizophrenia are potentially dangers. The violence that results from schizophrenia is less frequent than people may believe, but that idea should not suggest that medication is not needed. Violence does occur, none the less. “The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms” (National Institute of Mental Health. 2009) The negative symptoms includes the flat effect, lack of pleasure, speaking little, and lack of pleasure in everyday life. The cognitive symptoms include problems focusing, problem with memory, and poor executive functioning. The positive symptoms are the symptoms that make a person with schizophrenia potentially dangerous. These symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and thought and movement disorders. Hallucinations can result in a person hearing voices that tell them to do dangerous and violent things. Delusions can result in a person believing someone is out to do them harm and as a result the person suffering from schizophrenia will commit violence with the belief of defending themselves. Because of the possibility of violence, I would recommend that a person be forced to take medication especially if that person has a history of violent behavior. Patients who show signs of delusions and hallucinations also suffer from suspiciousness as part of the positive symptoms. These positive symptoms do show potential dangerous possibilities. A recent study showed, “at the end of 4 weeks, the persistently violent patients had evidence of more severe neurological impairment, hostility, suspiciousness, and irritability than the other two groups” (Chou, Krakowski, &, Pal. 1999). Many may disagree with forcing people to take medication. This act can seem to be a violation of the human rights. However, in my opinion, it is a human right to protect one another. People with schizophrenia can be potentially dangerous, therefore; making them take medication is