Is schizophrenia a disease or a mental disorder?!
Question: Is schizophrenia a disease or a mental disorder!?
Hey, I know this may seem like a stupid question but I have heard people speak of it as both!. If you have schizophrenia are you just crazy or is there something physicly wrong with you!? Sorry if anyone has schizophrenia and is insulted, just wasn't completely sure!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
It's not a stupid question at all!
It's a serious mental disorder!.!.!.!.one of the most debilitating illnesses that exists!. There is a strong genetic link and there are prominent physical abnormalities in the brain!. They really do not fully understand the cause!.!.!.!.it seems that first there is a genetic susceptibility and then unknown environmental triggers are involved!. I've never read anything that says PTSD is a typical prelude to schizophrenia, but I admit that I have not done as much personal and academic research into this illness as I have with some other psychiatric disorders (such as bipolar)!. Still, I have done some and can not recall every seeing that particular connection!. On the other hand, a traumatic event certainly could be considered an environmental trigger!.
By definition, disease is "a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment!." (from dictionary!.com) so it would also be appropriate to call it a disease!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It's a serious mental disorder!.!.!.!.one of the most debilitating illnesses that exists!. There is a strong genetic link and there are prominent physical abnormalities in the brain!. They really do not fully understand the cause!.!.!.!.it seems that first there is a genetic susceptibility and then unknown environmental triggers are involved!. I've never read anything that says PTSD is a typical prelude to schizophrenia, but I admit that I have not done as much personal and academic research into this illness as I have with some other psychiatric disorders (such as bipolar)!. Still, I have done some and can not recall every seeing that particular connection!. On the other hand, a traumatic event certainly could be considered an environmental trigger!.
By definition, disease is "a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment!." (from dictionary!.com) so it would also be appropriate to call it a disease!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
All mental illness appears to have a biological cause; something is wrong with the chemistry of the brain!. Many mental illnesses appear to be genetic because several people in the same families often have the same or similar mental illness even though they did not grow up together or live in the same house!. For example, I have chronic depression!. My brother has bipolar disorder!. I have a cousin who has bipolar disorder; my brother and I have only met her a few times so I don't see how we could have "taught" her to have bipolar disorder!. Her grandfather had pretty strange behavior and killed himself so I guess he had mental illness too!. But my cousin was born after her grandfather died so she didn't "learn" it from him either!.
Even when mental illness is caused by life circumstances there appears to be a biological component because of the way the brain reacts to stress!.
The only possible exception would be personality disorders which are thought to be learned behavior!. But there may be a biological component to personality disorders as well!. For example, people with Schizoid Personality Disorder often have relatives with Schizophrenia!.
But a lot of ideas about mental illness cannot be proven in the same way they are with other types of illness!. But a biological cause is strongly suspected in most cases due to many years of study of people with mental illness!. Medications used to treat mental illness are known to affect certain brain chemicals!. If these medications make someone's mental illness better, it is presumed that something must have been wrong with the way the brain chemicals were working in the first place!.
For example, I have taken medications for depression for more than 20 years!. These medications are known to work with the brain chemicals norepinephrin and serotonin!.
Schizophrenia is understood to be related to a malfunction of the brain chemical dopamine!.
Many people misunderstand how the brain works and assume that it is somehow "spiritual" or not subject to physical conditions like other parts of the body!. However, I learned in anatomy and physiology class that even a simple movement like turning your head is only possible because a chemical process that is going on in the brain and nervous system, and impulses are sent to the muscles which make them move!. It just stands to reason that mental processes like mood, anxiety and perception of reality are also possible because of chemical reactions!.
Also, some people have symptoms similar to schizophrenia or other mental illness as a direct result of a head injury, drug abuse or a disease that affects the nervous system!. This is more evidence that mental illness has a biological cause!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Even when mental illness is caused by life circumstances there appears to be a biological component because of the way the brain reacts to stress!.
The only possible exception would be personality disorders which are thought to be learned behavior!. But there may be a biological component to personality disorders as well!. For example, people with Schizoid Personality Disorder often have relatives with Schizophrenia!.
But a lot of ideas about mental illness cannot be proven in the same way they are with other types of illness!. But a biological cause is strongly suspected in most cases due to many years of study of people with mental illness!. Medications used to treat mental illness are known to affect certain brain chemicals!. If these medications make someone's mental illness better, it is presumed that something must have been wrong with the way the brain chemicals were working in the first place!.
For example, I have taken medications for depression for more than 20 years!. These medications are known to work with the brain chemicals norepinephrin and serotonin!.
Schizophrenia is understood to be related to a malfunction of the brain chemical dopamine!.
Many people misunderstand how the brain works and assume that it is somehow "spiritual" or not subject to physical conditions like other parts of the body!. However, I learned in anatomy and physiology class that even a simple movement like turning your head is only possible because a chemical process that is going on in the brain and nervous system, and impulses are sent to the muscles which make them move!. It just stands to reason that mental processes like mood, anxiety and perception of reality are also possible because of chemical reactions!.
Also, some people have symptoms similar to schizophrenia or other mental illness as a direct result of a head injury, drug abuse or a disease that affects the nervous system!. This is more evidence that mental illness has a biological cause!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
it can happen to almost anyone, its mainly caused by post traumatic stress or something that truly scares them psychologically!. my bf has it, and im use to it by know, i know he may need therapy for his PTSD, but hes not hurting anyone!. hes not crazy but just needs some helpWww@Answer-Health@Com
well first of all it is not posttraumatic stress disorder!. but, it can co-exist with ptsd!. no one seems to really know the origins of it but there are lots of theories!. many docs think it is organic in nature but is often brought out by stress!. hence, the reference to ptsd!. the best advice is to get a good psychiatrist!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that may or may not have organic origins!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
definitely, a mental disorderWww@Answer-Health@Com