Julia Eckenrode
Research Paper: Schizophrenia
PSYC 430: Abnormal Psychology
Prof. William Scott
July 30, 2020
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Schizophrenia
Introduction
Schizophrenia is one of countless illnesses and syndromes that affects all individuals
regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or any other substantial trait. Without solid statistics, it has
been extremely difficult to pinpoint the true gravity in seriousness of schizophrenia and how
much it actually impacts everyone across the world and in the United States. Schizophrenia is
defined as a disorder which consists of unreal or disorganized thoughts and perceptions that also
include verbal, cognitive, and behavior deficits (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2016, p. 211). The Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies schizophrenia as a sever
psychiatric and dysfunctional disorder that consists of “delusions, hallucinations, disorganized
speech or behavior, and/or negative symptoms, and functional decline for six months” (Nolen-
Hoeksema, 2016, p. 211). Schizophrenia is a severe disorder that requires people diagnosed with
schizophrenia to seek treatment in order to deter further disruption in daily lives, if left untreated,
people will continue to go down a dark path mentally and physically.
Historical Context
The prevalence of schizophrenia is alarming for many reasons. With a lot of aspects that
still remain unknown to why schizophrenia arises, is treated or prevented, it must be noted that
schizophrenia did not just evolve out of thin air. In distinguishing different mental disorders
and illnesses, it may be safe to say that not many resources regarding what was known about
mental disorders and especially symptoms of schizophrenia because of the lack of studies and
knowledge regarding schizophrenia. The concept of schizophrenia was originally formulated by
Swiss Psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908 who relied heavily on Emil Kraepelin’s dementia
praecox regarding psychic functions (McNally, 2016, p.3). People first began claiming they
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were burnt, believed they were sharks, or that their bowels had been torn out, masturbated openly
or that their water had been poisoned. Other patients also said they smelled corpses and heard
voices and many also experienced sexual hallucinations. In the 1960s, two boys were diagnosed
with schizophrenia and reported seeing green monsters and hallucinating (McNally, 2016). Fast
forward to 2004, the American Psychiatric Association stated that schizophrenia was exaggerated
in movies and hallucinations and delusions weren’t as dominant as portrayed in the media. The
American Psychiatric Association also stated that schizophrenia was a mental disorder that lasted
approximately six months and struck people in their early twenties with at least a month of active
phase symptoms that require at least “two or more of the following: delusions, hallucinations,
disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior” and “’negative symptoms’ such
as affective flattening, alogia, and avolition” (McNally, 2016, p.4) With many aspects involving
schizophrenia still remaining unknown and continuous studies conducted by researchers to gain a
better understanding on the mental disorder, schizophrenia is only continuing to evolve in many
different aspects.
Cause of the Illness
Although the exact cause or causes pertaining to how schizophrenia develops remains
unknown and experts continue to conduct studies to find out the true underlying cause for it.
Refraining from stressful or harmful environmental factors or stimulant or hallucinogenic drugs
may help individuals from developing schizophrenia. Studies show that certain environmental
factors may harm the brain or damage it further, therefore increasing the chances of developing
schizophrenia. Studies have also shown that schizophrenia can be triggered by stimulant or
hallucinogenic drugs which suggest that there may be a relationship between schizophrenia and
hallucinogenic drugs (Sinanidou, 2009, p. 47).
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Treatment
Schizophrenia is treatable but unfortunately it remains uncurable. No one anywhere is
immune to schizophrenia. Within the United States alone, approximately “1 to 2 percent of the
population will develop schizophrenia at some time in their lives… around the globe…between
0.5 and 2 percent of the general population will develop schizophrenia” (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2016,
p. 213). The implications of schizophrenia are extremely severe. Those with schizophrenia
require treatment in a mental health facility or general medicine facility, residential care,
rehabilitative therapy, subsidized income, and the assistance of social workers to help them with
resources that are needed, potentially for the rest of their lives since schizophrenia is a chronic
disease (Nolen=-Hoeksema, 2016, p. 213). With recent federal mandates to help treat and
overcome mental health, new psychopharmacological medications have been developed and are
being used to treat individuals for antipsychotics. However, approximately 40 percent of those
who are being treated for schizophrenia have shown to be noncompliant with their prescribed
psychiatric medications (Milana Shrode, 2014). Those with schizophrenia are also able to be
treated in a cognitive-behavioral therapy type setting which consists of being able to work
through and reflect on their goals, values, and commit to behavioral change strategies, otherwise
known as Assertive Community Treatment or ACT. The goal that ACT strives to provide for
those with schizophrenia is to allow the integration of medication management, rehabilitation,
and social services and is available at every hour of the day versus being time-limited and also
ACT strives to reduce hospitalization rates and help those with schizophrenia adapt to life in the
communities. ACT is most beneficial and targeted for those who are high risk, several
hospitalizations, and have difficulty in remaining in a traditional mental health treatment facility
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(Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for Schizophrenia, 2012). The benefits of treating
schizophrenia far outweigh the negative outcomes of the psychotic disorder.
Prevention
Many studies have shown that schizophrenia strikes individuals in their late teenage or
early adult years (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2016, p. 213). With schizophrenia being so prevalent in
many societies across the world, one begins to wonder if and how these psychotic disorders are
able to be prevented to begin with. With studies showing the drastic financial costs of
schizophrenia, for example, nations spending up to 3 percent of their health care budgets to treat
those individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2016, p. 213), changes
must be made to address the burden of the disease. There are also other physical factors that may
be treated and perhaps be an intervention to schizophrenia. For example, it studies have shown
that those with schizophrenia are one and a half to two times more likely to be overweight which
also increases the risk for diabetes and hypertension and may be the reason why those diagnosed
with schizophrenia die 10-20 years earlier than others in the population (Clemmensen et al.,
2012). According to Dr. Gabriel Alejandro de Erausquin, through research he claims that there is
a “genetic predisposition combined with environmental insult during confounding the possibility
of using dopamine lack as a marker of risk for schizophrenia prior to disease onset” and has
developed a method that he believes will correctly classify those with a vulnerability to
schizophrenia based on a gene screening, evaluation of personality traits, and the presence or
lack of presence of parkinsonism (de Erausquin, n.d., p.20). After reviewing many different
sources and studies, it can be said with certainty there is no true answer on how to prevent the
onset of schizophrenia but instead make healthy lifestyle changes and refrain from dangerous
environments in order to prevent the triggering of schizophrenia in some individuals.
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Cross-Culture
According to many studies that have been conducted regarding schizophrenia, it has been
found that there is evidence “that schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like reactions occur in all
known cultures (Lemkau & Crocetti, 1958). In a study conducted to measure the theory of mind
between individuals with schizophrenia in North America, a total of 120 participants were
selected to be examined. Thirty of the individuals in the group were Korean SZ, Korean HC,
North American SZ, and North American HC. This was done in order to ensure the variety in
languages, cultures, racial backgrounds, and the diversity. It was found that all of the patients
both have positive, negative, and emotional discomfort factors but the Korean patients scored
high in the results (Lee et al., 2018). Regardless of where an individual may be located in the
world, it is said that those who suffer from schizophrenia can be found in jails, prisons, and
homeless shelters and on the streets, on top of hospital and nursing homes and schizophrenic’s
also turn to the criminal justice system as a shelter and refuge place because of the lack of family
or a strong support system and resources (Nolen- Hoeksema, 2016). However, regardless of the
countless studies conducted on those of different backgrounds and cultures, it can be suggested
that schizophrenia attacks everyone in different ways regardless of the backgrounds that
indviduals may have or be and this in turn may also lead to incorrect diagnosis because of the
lack of information or treatment in schizophrenica amongst many cultures throughout the world
and indviduals.
Biblical Worldview
Throughout the Bible, individuals are able to see many instances which involved them to
wonder if the individuals in the Bible are demon possessed or actually have a mental disorder or
illness that is causing them to behave irrationally. This is one of the most common
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misconceptions that people conclude to when it involves a spiritual issue associated with
psychotic disorders. According to a study done on psychiatric inpatients in Minnesota, it was
found that although those individuals were facing difficult mental circumstances, they still
turned to their faith in God to cope and it was concluded that they deepen their spirituality to
help them deal with their problems that they are facing and struggling with in terms of their
mental illnesses. The study that was conducted determined that out of 11 individuals, 64 percent
said that religion was the most important aspect of their lives and also reported an increase in
their faith after their illness commenced (Hodge, 2004). Although Christians may endure a
difficult experience when it comes to experiencing, dealing, coping, and helping loved ones with
mental illnesses, God does not want anyone to suffer and wants individuals to lean onto Him
during their difficult times. For example, Psalm 56:3-4 states, “When I am afraid, I put my trust
in you. In God, whose word I praise---in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals
do to me?” (New International Version). The human flesh is only human, anything can happen to
any individual throughout the world but through God and He will lighten anyone’s burden and
allow them to find reassurance through Him and He will be merciful as He always is.
Conclusion
Schizophrenia is a complex and fleeting mental disorder that can disrupt the daily lives of
thousands throughout the world. Through its complex treatment, schizophrenia’s onset on the
lives of individuals is one of many drastic issues that individuals deal with who suffer from this
diagnosis. Regardless of the many treatment options that may be available, it is vital to note that
schizophrenia is not curable. However, there are treatment options that individuals may opt to
take such as: mental health facility or general medicine facility, residential care, rehabilitative
therapy and also the help of family members and/or social workers. Due to the gravity and
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seriousness of the symptoms of schizophrenia, individuals are not advised to live their lives
without treating their disorder. Schizophrenia has many implications on an abundance and
variety of individuals regardless of their social, racial, or gender backgrounds. With no one being
immune to the possibility of developing or triggering schizophrenia, studies have been conducted
that have advised individuals to refrain from hallucinogenic drugs, stressful environmental
factors and also remain physically active. From a biblical perspective, it is important to note that
there have been characters portrayed in the Bible that may have been delusional or suffer from
mental disorders but with that being said, God’s desire for us is not to suffer but to be saved. Just
as any other psychological disorder, there is much more to be studied and discovered regarding
schizophrenia. Better treatment options should be prioritized to ensure relief of symptoms of
those who suffer from schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a long journey ahead in solving many
questions about the illness and how to better treat it and manage it. In continuing the journey to
recognize the importance on how drastic schizophrenia affects people across the world,
schizophrenia will continue to change for the better and potentially have break throughs in better
understanding all the aspects within.
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References
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