Articles on Schizophrenia
What is Schizophrenia?
The public misconception of a schizophrenia sufferer as having a “split
personality” has been pushed by Hollywood and novelists alike.
Sufferers of this serious mental illness do not possess dual personalities,
but the unfortunate stigma that is attached to schizophrenia and mental
illness in general often precludes the general public having a thorough
understanding of what this complex condition is all about… (Read
more)
Schizophrenia: Diagnostic
Symptoms
Schizophrenia is a very complex disorder and affects many or all of
the functions that we rely on to successfully get through each day.
The condition typically includes delusions (irrational beliefs) and
hallucinations (sensory experiences in the absence of actual events).
Schizophrenia is also one of the disorders that include psychotic episodes…
(Read more)
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is such a complex illness that diagnosis can be delayed
due to the confusing array of behaviors that characterize the condition.
However, because it is an illness that mostly strikes in the late teens
and early twenties, it is important to be informed of the symptoms of
this erratic and disturbing illness… (Read
more)
Prenatal Stress
and Schizophrenia
Researchers have now uncovered a conclusive link between extreme stress
during the early stages of pregnancy and the development of schizophrenia
in the children of those mothers in later life... (Read
More)
The minefield of schizophrenia
Having a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia is distressing enough,
but having to deal with the terminology and language of schizophrenia
can be a nightmare in its own right. Here is a short glossary of terms
that are frequently used by mental health professionals to describe
the common characteristics of this puzzling and disturbing illness…
(Read more)
Childhood schizophrenia
Any parent would be concerned if their child was experiencing voices
or seeing objects or people that weren’t really there. Where there
is disturbed social interaction, the presence of a voice or voices speaking
in negative terms to and about the child, in conjunction with evidence
of the child talking to him or herself, there could be cause for a diagnosis
of childhood schizophrenia… (Read
more)
Schizophrenia and VCFS
Never heard of VCFS? You’re not alone. VCFS (Velo-cardio-facial
syndrome) is a relatively rare illness affecting one in 5000 children
and can remain undiagnosed for years, putting strain on both sufferers
and their families. The interesting aspect of this condition for researchers
is that children with VCFS have an almost one in three chance of developing
schizophrenia… (Read
more)
Understanding
Psychosis
The phenomenon of psychosis affects a person's thoughts, perceptions,
emotions and consequently, behavior. Around 3% of the population will
experience psychosis during the course of their lifetime, so the condition
cannot be regarded as rare... (Read
more)
Helping
Your Friend or Family Member through a Psychotic Episode
Watching a loved one go through psychosis is a heart-breaking process,
especially for parents. Not knowing what to do compounds the problem
and causes more stress, both for the sufferer and the family member
alike. Knowledge is power and there are many things that family and
friends can do to help... (Read
more)