Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a very serious and dangerous disorder. It is where people reality abnormally. There is about 20,000 people that have this disorder. Webmd wrote an article on the different types of schizophrenia. "The main disorder is schizophrenia. It includes all the previous sub-types: catatonic, disorganized, paranoid, residual, and undifferentiated." This means that there are different types of schizophrenia a person can be diagnosed with. Rethink mental illness explains the eight different types of schizophrenia. To begin, paranoid schizophrenia is a common form. The person affected may have prominent hallucinations or delusions. In some cases, they can have both. This may develop at a later age and the person's speech and emotions may be unaffected. Then, Hebephrenic schizophrenia is where thought and behavior are unorganized. People may have a hard time understanding what the person is saying. With this form, pranks, giggling, health complaints, grimacing and mannerisms are common. Hebephrenic schizophrenia usually develops between the ages 15-25. Next, there is catatonic schizophrenia which is rarer than some types but, the person may not talk at all and have unusual movements. After that, there is undifferentiated schizophrenia. This is where the illness meets the criteria for the disorder but it doesn't fully fall into one of the eight categories. Also, with residual schizophrenia the person may be diagnosed if they have a history of psychosis. Simple schizophrenia is where negative symptoms are prominent and there are rarely any positive symptoms. The final type of schizophrenia is cenesthopathic schizophrenia. This is where the person has schizophrenia that isn't covered in any other categories. For example, people experience unusual bodily sensations. "Schizophrenia is characterized by abnormal social behavior. In severe cases, patients may see or hear things that aren't real."

Schizophrenia affects more men than women and it usually occurs in a person's late teens throughout their twenties. There are different types of treatments for schizophrenia. First, there are medications someone with this disorder can take. The only problem most doctors have faced is making sure the person keeps taking their medicine. Psychcentral.com wrote an article on the treatment that is available for those affected with this disorder. "Successful treatment of schizophrenia, therefore, depends upon a lifelong regimen of both drug and psycho-social or support therapies. While the medication helps control the symptoms and psychosis associated with schizophrenia (e.g., the delusions and hallucinations), it cannot help the person find a job, learn to be effective in social relationships, increase the individual's coping skills, and help them learn to communicate and work well with others." There are different types of therapies that can help someone that is affected by this disorder. Individual psychotherapy is when a therapist or psychiatrist the affected how to deal with their thoughts and behaviors. They will also learn more about the disorder and how it affects them personally. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) shows the person how to deal with "voices" and hallucinations. With combining CBT and medications they can see what triggers their psychotic episodes and how to reduce them. Finally, cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) teaches people how to recognize social cues and improve their attention. It combines computer-based brain training and group sessions. Psycho-social therapy comes in if the patient is improving with their psychotherapy sessions. Social skills training focuses on improving communication and social interactions. Then, rehabilitation occurs when the patient is trying to get a job. This includes job counseling, problem-solving support, and education with managing money. There is also family education and self support groups. Family education helps the loved ones become aware of what the person is going through and help them be as supporting as they can. Self support groups are outreach programs, such as the National Alliance on Mental Health, that help adults learn about their condition from other people who have experienced it themselves or watched someone experience it. 

Studies have shown that people affected with schizophrenia are more likely to do better with a good support group behind them. Loved ones and family members can also go through counseling to learn how to care for and or just support the person with the disorder. Sometimes, when people have a hard obstacle in their life, it is easier to overcome it with someone holding your hand the whole way.