Schizophrenia

A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.
The exact cause of schizophrenia isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain chemistry and structure may play a role.
Schizophrenia is characterized by thoughts or experiences that seem out of touch with reality, disorganized speech or behavior, and decreased participation in daily activities. Difficulty with concentration and memory may also be present.
Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy, and coordinated specialty care services.

 

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW195
Diagnosis: Schizophrenia
US Patients: 1.1% of the population;Life expectancy decreased by 20 years; sedentary life leads to heart attacks;
World Patients: 20 million total cases; 16.7 Million-disabled due to schizophrenia, 75% unemployed; Violence-6X population; with alcohol-24X.
Sex Ratio: M+;F
Age Onset: M-early 20’s; F-late 20’s and post-menopausal in women. Psychosis (reality-unreality) often preceeds schizophrenia.
Brain Area: dopamine controls positive motivations; genes CRHR1 and CRHBP relate to suicidal behavior, several brain areas involved
Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, withdrawal, apathy, weak emotions, word salad; cognitively poorer generally
Progression: Usually non-violent; more likely to be victims,unless using alcohol or drugs.
Causes: 70-80% heritable; raised in city, older parents, drugs or pot used as teenager, several factors during pregnancy; childhood traumas
Medications: antipsychotics, hospitalization to stop harm to self or others, many create restlessness, muscle-jerking, weight gain
Therapies: exercise, CBTs, other talking therapies, along with medications, ½improve, some get well; the other half, life-time involvement.

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4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis 

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PubMed article’s summary-abstract.