Psy Paper Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia – A Biopsychosocial Model
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a wide variety of symptoms. The term schizophrenia has been subjected to many misinterpretations since first introduced. The disorder is so common and the symptoms so peculiar the term schizophrenia has become part of society’s standard vocabulary. Schizophrenia is chronic, progressive, and considered one of the most severe and frequent forms of mental disorders afflicting one percent of the population (National Institute, n.d.). Schizophrenia develops as a result of biological predisposition and environmental factors characterized by profound disruptions in the most fundamental elements of the mind including thoughts, perception, emotion, language, and a sense of self. Lines of research are converging with connections between biological predisposition and environmental factors enabling a better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment plan for schizophrenia.
The disruption of brain development resulting from a genetic predisposition and environmental stressors during prenatal development such as exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other psychosocial factors are contributors to schizophrenia (National Institute, n.d.). During early childhood and adolescence, environmental factors can further damage the brain and increase the risk of schizophrenia, or lessen the manifestation of genetic or neurodevelopmental defects reducing the risk of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component corroborating studies of relatives with a history of this or other psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder, etc. have a significantly high risk for developing schizophrenia. However, simple genetic transmission cannot be held liable as the only cause (National Institute, n.d.).
Twin studies have shown between 30-50% of monozygotic twins develop schizophrenia Dizygotic twins tendency to develop
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a wide variety of symptoms. The term schizophrenia has been subjected to many misinterpretations since first introduced. The disorder is so common and the symptoms so peculiar the term schizophrenia has become part of society’s standard vocabulary. Schizophrenia is chronic, progressive, and considered one of the most severe and frequent forms of mental disorders afflicting one percent of the population (National Institute, n.d.). Schizophrenia develops as a result of biological predisposition and environmental factors characterized by profound disruptions in the most fundamental elements of the mind including thoughts, perception, emotion, language, and a sense of self. Lines of research are converging with connections between biological predisposition and environmental factors enabling a better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment plan for schizophrenia.
The disruption of brain development resulting from a genetic predisposition and environmental stressors during prenatal development such as exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other psychosocial factors are contributors to schizophrenia (National Institute, n.d.). During early childhood and adolescence, environmental factors can further damage the brain and increase the risk of schizophrenia, or lessen the manifestation of genetic or neurodevelopmental defects reducing the risk of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component corroborating studies of relatives with a history of this or other psychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder, etc. have a significantly high risk for developing schizophrenia. However, simple genetic transmission cannot be held liable as the only cause (National Institute, n.d.).
Twin studies have shown between 30-50% of monozygotic twins develop schizophrenia Dizygotic twins tendency to develop
References: Galderisi, S. & Maj, M. (2009). Deficit schizophrenia: An overview of clinical, biological and treatment aspects. European Psychiatry, 24(8), 493-500. Gogtay, N. & Rapoport J. (2008). Clozapine use in children and adolescents. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2008;9(3) 459-465. Harrison, P. & Weinberger, Dr. (2005). Schizophrenia genes, gene expression, and neuropathology: On the matter of their convergence. Molecular Psychiatry. 2005;10(1) 40-68. Louter, M.(2010). Schizophrenia: What 's in a name? Mental Health Practice, 13(7), 28-30. Retrieved from ProQuest Health and Medical Complete. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.) Schizophrenia. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/ schizophrenia/schizophrenia-booket-2009.pdf Schizophrenia Research Institute (2010). The key facts. Retrieved from: http://www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au/index.php?r=3&menu=About