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Mental Illness Paper

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Mental Illness
Dallas Wilkerson
University of Phoenix
HCA/240
Brandi Sillerud
June 27, 2010

Mental Illness Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. People with schizophrenia often have problems functioning in society, at work at school, and in relationships. It is a life-long disease that cannot be cured, but usually can be controlled with proper treatment. Schizophrenia is not a split personality, which was a popular belief. A person with schizophrenia cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. A sudden change in personality and behavior, which occurs when people lose touch with reality, is called a psychotic episode. Schizophrenia varies from person to person. Some people have only one psychotic episode while others have many episodes during a life time, but live a relatively normal life between episodes. Schizophrenia symptoms worsen and improve in cycles known as relapse and remissions.
Schizophrenia
There are several types of schizophrenia and some may have the same symptoms. The different types of schizophrenia are named based on symptoms. The different types include: 1. Paranoid Schizophrenia 2. Disorganized Schizophrenia 3. Catatonic Schizophrenia 4. Undifferentiated Schizophrenia 5. Residual Schizophrenia The most common type is paranoid schizophrenia, which causes a person to have fearful thoughts and hear threatening voices. It interferes with normal brain and metal function. It can trigger hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and significant lack of motivation. Being told you or a family member has schizophrenia can be very frightening. When a person is diagnosis with schizophrenia a psychiatrist evaluates symptom, blood tests, and medical history. They are prescribed medication and may have psychotherapy

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