Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a condition characterised by disturbances in a person's thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviour. It affects approximately one in every 100 people worldwide and first onset commonly occurs in adolescence or early adulthood. Schizophrenia is not a single illness. It is in fact a cluster of illnesses, which have overlapping signs and symptoms. It is therefore important to acknowledge the unique experience of each person living with schizophrenia.
"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).
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
Schizophrenia Fellowship Learning About Schizophrenia (Internet) Available from: http://www.sfnsw.org.au/schizophrenia/causes.htm (Accessed: 30/10/08)
Knowing that there are many causes of schizophrenia, do you believe that most cases would be caused by nature or nurture?
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