Schizophrenia: n. a psychiatric disorder characterized by positive and negative symptoms, including hallucinations, withdrawal from society, lack of emotion, and cognitive impairment
Studies have shown that the disorder is linked to malfunctioning genes, environmental factors before or during birth, and differing brain chemistry and structure. People with schizophrenia are usually non-violent. The most common treatment for schizophrenia is the prescription of anti psychotic medication.
There are currently no medical tests to confirm a diagnosis of schizophrenia; however, recent research has revealed that differences in magnetic brain activity between schizophrenics and healthy people may help diagnose the disorder in the future.
Further Reading:
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001925/
- http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml
- http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/03/magnetic-brain-activity-may-reveal-schizophrenia/51119.html
References:
- Freudenreich O, Weiss AP, Goff DC. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 28.
- Lyness JM. Psychiatric disorders in medical practice. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 404.
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Schizophrenia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Pedersen, T. (2013, February 3). Magnetic Brain Activity May Reveal Schizophrenia. Retrieved from PsychCentral: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/03/magnetic-brain-activity-may-reveal-schizophrenia/51119.html
Photo Credit:
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