Schizophrenia

“Schizophrenia a disorder of the brain which can effect how a person thinks, feels and acts”, according to InCrisis Home Page. It’s symptoms can be quite minimal and also quite severe.

Severe forms of the disease are considered rare, but if they do occur, they cause the person to be confused, not being able to understand if something is real or imagined. This will cause the person difficulties in school or work, as well as at home. It is a very difficult disease for someone to care for. It can be somewhat controlled with medication and therapy, but there is no known cure.

Researchers are not even sure what causes the illness. However, a few theories have been discussed. Some scientists think the disease is inherited, finding that the affliction seems to “run in families”. Others think there are problems that occur in one’s brain that cause schizophrenia, while a third group feel that it is caused by a problem that occurred during pregnancy or during birth.

According to Wikipedia, “the disorder is thought to mainly affect cognition, but it is also usually contributes to chronic problems with behavior and emotions”. InCrisis states that, “Schizophrenia is not a split personality, it is not caused by bad parenting and it is not caused by personal weakness”.

Schizophrenia is a difficult disease to understand, and to treat. It is debilitating in its severest form, leaving the person unable to cope with the normal functions of day to day living. Of severe cases, approximately 1/3 are helped with medication, and another 1/3 do not respond well, and therefore their quality of life is dramatically reduced.