A psychotic disorder in which personal, social and occupational functioning deteriorate as a result of strange perceptions, disturbed thought processes,

unusual emotions and motor abnormalities. Affects men about one and a half times more commonly than women. It is one of the psychotic mental disorders and is characterized by symptoms of thought behaviour and social problems. The thought problems associated with schizophrenia are described as psychosis in that the persons thinking is completely out of touch with reality at times. The individual with this disorder may also have disorganized speech disorganized behaviour physically rigid or lax behaviour. Significantly decreased behaviours or feelings as well as delusions which are ideas about themselves or others that have no basis in reality. According to most scientist, psychiatric problems arise when multiple factors combine the most common ones being psychological, physical, social and environmental factors. The causes of schizophrenia that ae physical and psychological are: Genetics schizophrenia runs through the family making one more prone to the illness in which research tyring to find the responsible gene. This has been established y conducting a study of identical twins and unidentical twins grown separately. The neurotransmitter system system i.e a chemically defined bodys messenger system, which is altered by schizophrenia medications, establishes that they have a role to play. Studies suggest that excessive or deficit levels of serotonin or dopamine or a change in the nerve-cell receptor sensitivity could be troublesome. Infection is also seen as a cause in which various types of viral infections such as flu, polio virus and encephalitis lethargica. Schizophrenia can also arise due to complications in preganancy and or in delivery. Severe head injuries could be a cause of schizophrenia though how it really affects brain stays unknown. Psychological factors such as excessive stress, like job loss death etc. Social factors are important considerations too even those not having it in their genes. These include conditions like individual or institutional racism poor housing etc. Syptoms of schizophrenia can be clustered to understand it better. Positive symptoms include suspiciousness, hearing voices and delusions Negative symptoms difficulties in speaking, social withdrawal, inability to feel pleasure Cognitive symptoms difficulties in remembering understanding or analyzing simple things Mood or affective symptoms mostly relating to depression often causing suicide There are 5 types of schizophrenia Paranoid type schizophrenia is marked by thoughts of conspiracy or prosecution which are prominent but delusional in mind or auditory hallucinations. The paitients however are more capable of working and are better at relationships than those having the other 4 types of schizophrenia. The life lead is much more normal especially if they can manage the disease. Though the reason is unknown it could probably be leading from the fact that those suffering from this schizophrenic type begin to show their symptoms during the later part of life and have thus already managed to grasp better function before the illness could settle. However as the features are barely visible, it becomes important for the patient to discuss their thoughts reflections openly. This could be difficult where paranoia or suspiscions are high. As evident from its name, this type of schizophrenia is marked by disorganized thought patterns (otherwise called Hebephrenic) with less of delusion and hallucination difficulties. The ability to normal functioning of regular living might get seriously impaired abd might include trouble in performing routine activities such as brushing bathing etc. it is also one type of schizophrenia where emotional impairment may be observed. For instance, the patients emotions may fluctuate greatly or might be unjustified in a given circumstance with unordinary responses of emotions (flat or blunted effect). The patient is unusually giddy or jocular, like one who chuckles at a solemn occasion like funeral. The communication ability might get impaired with a practically incomprehensible speech owing to disorganized thought patterns. Here the schizophrenia type symptoms are predominantly movement imbalances. It may be catatonis excitement , hyperactivity or catatonic stupor. Other movement imbalances could include what is termed as stereotypic behaviour i.e doing the same task repetively. Immobility or resistance to change is appearance may be noticed. The paitent may stay immovable. Often if they appear to be in an uncomfortable position they might show extreme resistance to repositioning Undifferentiated subtype is a sub types this is one that does not fall into the category of either and is diagnosed when a schizophrenic patient does not exhibit symptoms resembling any of the other types of schizophrenia. In this type the patients symptoms may fluctuate or might stay excessively stable causing a doubt in placing it under any other subtype otherwise known as mixed clinical condition. Residual subtype is where the symptom seems to be in recession or become less severe and though idiosyncratic behaviours, delusions or hallucinations, maybe still present, they appear less prominent as they were in the worst days of illness. Antipsychotics are usually in pill or liquid form. Some anti-psychotics are shots that are given once or twice a month. However people respond in different ways to antipsychotic medications and no one can tell beforehand how a person will respond. Sometimes a person needs several medications before finding the right one. Some people may have a relapse their symptoms come back or get worse. Usually relapses happen when people stop taking their medication or when they only take it sometimes.