Topic 8: Schizophrenia 1

"For me, schizophrenia severely ruptured the relationship I had enjoyed with myself prior to the illness. My sense of being in the world, my thought processes and indeed the very way my senses perceived the world go through involuntary changes. I was plunged at times into a confusing and frightening world ruled by my own paranoias and delusions...Prior to developing schizophrenia the workings of my mind had been unquestioned. Suddenly I was being told by a psychiatrist that I could not always trust my own thoughts and senses. I felt that my own mind had betrayed me. How could I ever trust it? Self had become a traitor and was working against my own good" (Simon, a person who has experienced schizophrenia).

Possible causes of schizophrenia
The causes of mental illness are linked to several factors which can be summarised into three main groups:
• Biological factors which arise from physiology, biochemistry, genetic make-up and physical constitution
• Psychological factors including the person's upbringing, emotional experiences and interactions with people
• Social factors that are associated with the person's present life situation and sociocultural influences

No single cause of schizophrenia has been identified to date; there are most likely to be several contributing factors. It is probable that there is an interaction between the consumer's biological vulnerability, stress or change in the environment and the consumer's ability to deal with these environmental factors in terms of their social skills and supports. If the environment is sufficiently stressful, even people with a high personal threshold for stress will develop some indicators of mental illness, including schizophrenia. Conversely, a less stressful environment may decrease the risk of onset in a person with a predisposition to schizophrenia.

We know that schizophrenia is NOT caused by:
• Domineering mothers or passive fathers
• Poverty
• Weakness of character or personality
• Bad parenting
• Sinful behaviour

Possible Contributing Factors:
• Genetics
• Environment
• Neurodevelopmental Factors
• Drug Misuse
• Biochemical Factors


1.) If the person did not suffer from stress and depression throughout their lives would they still have developed Schizophrenia?

2.) If a person had been treated for schizophrenia, would it be possible for them to be the same before; both physically and mentally?

3.) If the adopted parents of a child had schizophrenia, would this person eventually develop schizophrenia?


Bibliography:
http://www.sfnsw.org.au/questions/quest_hme.htm