Schizophrenia: Genetic Factors
Genetic Factors of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia seriously impairs ones ability to cope with daily responsibilities. someone diagnosed with schizophrenia may have impaired ability to work, enjoy relationships or care for self - leading to social withdrawal and deterioration in social and daily functioning capabilities.
Experts believe that genetic factors is a contribution of imbalance chemicals in the brain, structural by the prenatal exposure to the environment. In addition, stressful life events may trigger predisposed symptoms of the illness. This may include circumstances such as death of a loved one, marriage break-up, loss of job or sudden career change, reported/unreported sexual or physical abuse, etc, can increase trigger the chances of schizophrenia in a person biologically predisposed to the disease.
Delusions are fixed beliefs that are not amenable by argument or conviction because they are not with the person's educational, social and cultural orientation background. For example: a schizophrenic may think that people know what is on his mind. A client once told me that FBI is watching him on a daily basis and that his mails are always half open when drop off - we call this thought broadcast. The schizophrenic believes that he has no secrets anymore, he wants to say a lot of things but feels like people have stolen his thoughts away. Sometimes clients like this can get worried and even withdraw from treatment because they cannot explain how people get know about them.
People with schizophrenia may also experience hallucinations; they hear, feel, taste things that are not really there. Hallucinations may include two or more voices that continually comment on the person's life. A schizophrenic may talk to himself, walk backwards, laugh when not necessary, make funny faces or even masturbate in public. They often talks incoherently or nonsensical and suggest confused thoughts.
It is always a good idea to know your family history and seek help as needed.
Posted: Sept 24, 2010
Dr. Fenny Braide, is a psychotherapist @ The Behavioral Health Center, Philadelphia.
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