Schizophrenia

By Benjamin

Definition

• Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others.

Signs & Symptoms

• You find little pleasure in life. • Have a hard time focusing. • Not taking care of yourself.• Your not interested in succeeding or making

goals.• You have hallucinations and delusions.• If you act oddly or show emotions that don’t

fit the situation.

Effects on Lifestyle

• Schizophrenia can cause you to lose interest in life.

• It can make you see, feel, hear, or smell things that aren’t there.

• It will cause you to do badly in school and not be able to hold down a job.

Treatment Options

• Schizophrenia Medication: Con-Antipsychotics do not cure the illness. Pro-They greatly reduce the symptoms and allow the patient to have a better quality of life.

• Therapy: Con-Therapy requires great attention from therapists. Pro-Patients become better able to differentiate between what is real and what is not and can acquire beneficial problem-solving skills.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy and Schizophrenia: Con-ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) has a bad history of causing more damage than helping. Pro-It’s one extra treatment option for anyone with Schizophrenia.

Works Cited

• "Schizophrenia Health Center." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. <http://www.webmd.com>.