Mental Illnesses - Schizophrenia

A chronic, severe, disabling brain disease.

“Oh, and I certainly don't suffer from schizophrenia. I quite enjoy it. And so do I."

― Emilie Autumn

• Distorted Perceptions of Reality

confusion, anxiety, paranoia

• Hallucinations and Illusions

while auditory hallucinations are the most common, hallucinations can occur in any form (olfactory, gustatory, visual, and tactile)

• Delusions

false beliefs conjured by one's disorder; paranoid- type delusions (approx. one third of schizophrenic sufferers have this type of delusion) and delusions of grandeur

• Disordered Thinking

rapid thoughts and concentration issues

• Emotional Expression

often show a "lack: of emotion, socially withdrawn

• Normal Versus Abnormal

some sufferers may be able to appear "normal" through medication and often therapy, though some may be able to through personal practice

   "Worldwide about 1 percent of the population is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and approximately 1.2% of Americans (3.2 million) have the disorder. About 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with schizophrenia this year around the world. In the United States, this means about 100,000 people will be diagnosed, which translates to 7.2 people per 1,000 or about 21,000 people within a city of 3 million who are likely to be suffering from schizophrenia." 

-- Rashmi Nemade, Ph.D

Subtypes

• Paranoid

prominently auditory hallucinations and delusional thoughts (this is the most common form)

• Disorganized

impaired emotions and thought processes; hallucinations and delusions are less prominent

• Catatonic

impaired movement; often immobile or resistant to change appearance

• Undifferentiated 

symptoms not formed significantly enough to fit into a particular subtype

• Residual

one no longer displays prominent symptoms of the illness

Famous Schizophrenics

Eduard Einstein - wanted to be a psychiatrist but developed schizophrenia at age 20 and moved into a psychiatric ward where he stayed until his death.

 

John Nash - mathematician and Nobel prize winner.

Peter Green - guitarist of Fleetwood Mac.

Mary Todd Lincoln - Abraham Lincoln's wife.