Schizophrenia is a mental disease that effects over 1 percent of the population.
It can occur at any age but most commonly happens between 16-30. It leaves the
patient confused in a chaotic state of mind with multiple debilitating mental
confusion. The first of them being delusions, the patient is convinced that
people around them can read their minds, and that they can read other peoples
(British Journal of Psychology, 625). The patient then begins to believe that
the people around them are plotting against them and are out to get them. Not
only does the disease effect the patient mentally though, but also it starts to
effect their physical sensations. The patients can`t interpret incoming
sensations and can`t control their physical emotions, this effects the patients
common sense of what to do in every day situations. For example when a person
with normal mental health receives a gift their natural reaction would be to
thank the person who gave it to them. A schizophrenic person would become
confused and be unable to react and cope with the situation. The patient begins
to get an altered sense of themselves and have an extremely hard time
functioning in every day life. They start to believe they can control other
people`s thoughts. They usually start to become violent because they get so
confused with the thoughts of plots against them they believe they are defending
themselves. A person who is diagnosed with a schizoid personality is basically
on the way to having schizophrenia. It is considered a stage to the disease. The
causes of each of the diseases are the same, and most of them are physical
abnormalities of the brain. In over hundreds of studies on schizophrenia and
similar mental conditions doctors have found some similar abnormalities in the
brains of the patients. The first being enlarged ventricles in the brain
(British Journal of Psychology, 697). The second being a reduced volume of gray
matter in the brain, mainly in the temporal and frontal lobes (British Journal
of Psychology, 110). The third is an enlarged amygdala and an increased number
of white matter hypertesites (British Journal of Psychology, 260). Finally a set
of neuropsychological abnorms such as cognitive functions, information
processing, and verbal memory (Fourth Generation of Progress, 1245). In some
other studies doctors have found a reduced prefrontal area. A doctor will not
diagnose a person with schizoid personality or schizophrenia based off physical
abnormalities though. The patient must experience a loss of reality, and that
loss must maintain for at least six months. Doctors also have to rule out drug
use, which can produce similar behavior as schizophrenia. Doctors must also rule
out depression, delusional disorders, and paranoid personality disorder. The
doctor must observe that the person is socially distant too. The doctor can look
at a number of symptoms of schizoid personality. The first being emotional
coldness, the patient will not desire nor enjoy close relationships including
being part of a family. The patient will almost always choose solitary
activities. The patient will have no desire for sexual experiences. The patient
will take place in few if any activities. The patient lacks friends other than
first-degree relatives and finally the patient will be indifferent to praise or
criticism (www.mentalhealth.com). In the treating of schizoid personality
medicine is not an option. Medications almost always don`t work. There are three
different therapies` that generally work the best. Psychosocial therapy which is
for less sever cases of the disease. This is considered sort of an outpatient
program. The physician appreciates the privacy and maintains a low-key approach
toward the patient. The doctor becomes involved in the patient`s life, but not
as far as to push comfortable limits. The patient is encouraged to go on with
everyday life and learns to adapt back to society (www.mentalhealth.com). The
next treatment most commonly used is individual therapy. This is usually a
long-term therapy in which the doctor becomes very involved with the patient`s
life. This therapy involves a long gradual development of trust. The patient is
provided with a sense of optimism, but the doctor is careful not to overwhelm
the patient. The most successful therapy involves interaction that is constant
and supportive, and yet allows the patient to set a distance of comfortability.
After a period of time the patient will begin to reveal their fears, imaginary
friends, and other attributes of the disease on the way to recovery (Harvard
Medical Letter, Oct.1997). Finally group therapy is used to help the disease.
This is generally for sever cases, people who have completely detached
themselves from society and often mentally can`t handle a simple thing such as a
conversation. The patient may not even speak in the group for over a year, but
it is important that the doctor protect the patient from criticism of the other
patients whom are willing to talk. But it is proven that the patient will
eventually talk in the group. Group therapy provides a social network in which
the patient has the opportunity to overcome their fears of closeness and
feelings of isolation (Harvard Medical Letter, Oct. 1997) In conclusion schizoid
personality is a very tough disease to deal with both for the patient and
friends and family of the patient. The disease is very serious and confusing to
both the doctors and patients. Unfortunately medications are not an option as of
today and it sometimes takes years of therapy to just have the person be able to
function normally in today`s society. Although we have come a long way with the
different therapies available we still have a long way to go. It is sad that
most schizoids are threated as lesser humans for something that they cannot
control, and even more of a tragedy is that if it goes undiagnosed the patient
will usually end it with suicide. Next year over 2.5 million people will be
diagnosed with a schizophrenic condition, hopefully science will be able to soon
help the victims of this humiliating and debilitating disease.