Schizophrenia Overview (Under-Funded and Under-Studied) - Maya Chahbi

 Introduction:



Schizophrenia is a neurological disorder that impacts how people feel,think,and behave.People

with schizophrenia can lose touch in reality,which makes their everyday life hard.Many people

with schizophrenia aren't even aware they have it.Schizophrenia is important because it is a

cause of worldwide disability and early mortality.Schizophrenia impacts about 24 million

people global to about 1 in 300 people.

Causes:

Currently, we do not know the exact cause of schizophrenia,but researchers believe that a mix

of genetics,environment,and brain chemistry can play a part.Changes in specific naturally

occurring in brain chemicals,like glutamate and dopamine, can play a part in

schizophrenia.While researchers have not yet apply their current finding to new

medications,these findings show that schizophrenia is a brain disease.

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms include delusions,hallucinations, and unorganized thinking and

speech.Hallucinations can happen with any of the senses,but hearing vices is common and

they seem real for them.Their delusions can make them believe in things that aren't real like

they are being harassed or harmed when they actually aren't.Disorganized speech and thinking

are something they trouble with the most because it can be hard for them to communicate

with other people.Schizophrenia involves a number of problems in how people behave,feel,and

think.


Diagnosis:

Finding a diagnosis of schizophrenia includes a physical exam and tests and screening.A

physical exam can be done to make sure that other problems could not be the cause for similar

symptoms.Tests and screening should be done to screen for drug or alcohol misuse and may

require a MRI or CT scan.Diagnosis of schizophrenia includes ruling out other mental health

problems and making sure that their symptoms aren't because of substance misuse or

medicine.


Awareness:

Learning about schizophrenia is important because it is considered one of the most

misunderstood medical conditions globally.Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia face

interrelated clinical and social challenges that disrupt everyday life.Schizophrenia is a

foundation of neuroscience and psychiatric research because it serves as a vital model for

understanding how complicated gene-environment interactions change a human brain

development and behavior.

Conclusion:

Schizophrenia is considered a brain disease that affects how a person feel and behave.A person

who has these may have symptoms like delusions and hallucination,which make them lose

touch in reality.Many people aren't aware that they have schizophrenia themselves or realize

that their hallucinations and delusions aren't real.It is important for people to learn about this

disease to be more aware of it and to stay clear from any misunderstood information.

Sources:

● Schizophrenia." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,

16 Oct. 2024,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-2035444

3

● "Schizophrenia." National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services,

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