Schizophreni A Chronic, Severe, And Disabling Brain Disease

Alexandra Heck Abnormal Psychology Kristen Shirley 11 December 2016 Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. This disease can develop at any moment in a lifetime to approximately one percent of the population. Although schizophrenia is not subject to a specific gender, men typically develop this disease earlier than women. The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from person to person but generally include; hearing internal voices not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. The effect of these symptoms can lead to dangerous actions or harmful thoughts. An individual’s reaction to these symptoms may cause their speech and†¦show more content†¦The sudden severe symptoms of schizophrenia is referred to as â€Å"acute,† a more common condition is called â€Å"psychosis.† This form is paired with a state of mental impairment marked by hallucinations, which are disturbances of sensory perception, and/or delusions, which are false yet strongly held personal beliefs that result from an inability to separate rea from unreal experiences. Less apparent symptoms, social isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior, may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic symptoms. The amount of psychotic episodes, if any, vary from person to person. Those that experience one episode live relatively normal lives, however, recurring patterns of illness take a longer recovery period with extensive treatment. Children experiencing schizophrenic symptoms may start differently than those that develop it at a later time period. One specific case I studied was a young girl in first grade named Megan. Outburst of anger occurred often during school. One day around Thanksgiving, the class was completing an art project. They were coloring Turkey pictures which may be difficult for the average first grader. However, when Megan’s crayon ventured outside the line she became very angry and started throwing each crayon from the box forcefully at the wall. The teacher has seen these outbursts before and called security who escorted her to the