Schizophrenia - Informative Speech
Schizophrenia
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about schizophrenia and its consequences.
Central Idea: Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects millions of people and it should not be underestimated or ignored. Introduction
I. Does anyone have a friend who hears voices that nobody else hears, sees things that nobody else sees or believes that people are controlling his mind and trying to plot against him?
A. Well, I do.
B. I have a close friend, Ash, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at an age of 23 earlier this year.
C. The news was shocking and it fueled my longstanding curiosity towards this disorder.
II. I want to inform my audience of schizophrenia which according to medical experts affects approximately 2 million Americans every year, especially in our age group.
III. Over the course of the speech I will give an overview of the disorder followed by its symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatment and experiences of my schizophrenic friend.
Body
I. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder indicating a constant, often chronic, severe and disabling mental illness.
A. It is called a biological brain disease by some medical professionals.
B. It impairs straight-forward thinking, and distorts a clear perception of reality which in-turn effects behavior and emotions.
C. The confusion in speech and behavior of those suffering might seem so frightening and confusing that the patient is often left alone by others.
D. The term schizophrenia is derived from the Greek words schizo' and phrenos' that can be translated as shattered mind.' II. Now lets talk about the facts and statistics of schizophrenia.
A. The disorder is typically noticed between the ages of 15 and 25 men and women.
1. Men tend to develop symptoms earlier at an average age of 18. 2.women do so at an average age of 25. B. Schizophrenia is ranked among the top 10 causes of disability in developed
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about schizophrenia and its consequences.
Central Idea: Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects millions of people and it should not be underestimated or ignored. Introduction
I. Does anyone have a friend who hears voices that nobody else hears, sees things that nobody else sees or believes that people are controlling his mind and trying to plot against him?
A. Well, I do.
B. I have a close friend, Ash, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at an age of 23 earlier this year.
C. The news was shocking and it fueled my longstanding curiosity towards this disorder.
II. I want to inform my audience of schizophrenia which according to medical experts affects approximately 2 million Americans every year, especially in our age group.
III. Over the course of the speech I will give an overview of the disorder followed by its symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatment and experiences of my schizophrenic friend.
Body
I. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder indicating a constant, often chronic, severe and disabling mental illness.
A. It is called a biological brain disease by some medical professionals.
B. It impairs straight-forward thinking, and distorts a clear perception of reality which in-turn effects behavior and emotions.
C. The confusion in speech and behavior of those suffering might seem so frightening and confusing that the patient is often left alone by others.
D. The term schizophrenia is derived from the Greek words schizo' and phrenos' that can be translated as shattered mind.' II. Now lets talk about the facts and statistics of schizophrenia.
A. The disorder is typically noticed between the ages of 15 and 25 men and women.
1. Men tend to develop symptoms earlier at an average age of 18. 2.women do so at an average age of 25. B. Schizophrenia is ranked among the top 10 causes of disability in developed
References: Wikipedia (2005). Schizophrenia [Electronic version]. Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 18, 2005 from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia Schizophrenia (2005), Schizophrenia Information, Support & Education, Schizophrenia.com http://www.schizophrenia.com/ K, Melissa (2004)