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Schizophrenia: Disease of the Brain

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Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder. Like many other illnesses, schizophrenia is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. All the tools of modern science are being used to search for the causes of this disorder.
The term schizophrenia is Greek in origin, and in the Greek meant "split mind." This is not an accurate medical term. In Western culture, some people have come to believe that schizophrenia refers to a split-personality disorder. These are two very different disorders, and people with schizophrenia do not have separate personalities.
Schizophrenia is a complex and puzzling illness. Even the experts in the field are not exactly sure what causes it. Some doctors think that the brain may not …show more content…

Usually with schizophrenia, the person 's inner world and behavior change notably. Changes might include the following:
 Catatonic type:
• Motor disturbances
• Stupor
• Negativism
• Rigidity
• Agitation
• Inability to take care of personal needs
• Decreased sensitivity to painful stimulus
 Paranoid type:
• Delusional thoughts of persecution or of a grandiose nature
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Violence
• Argumentativeness
 Disorganized type:
• Incoherence (not understandable)
• Regressive behavior
• Flat affect
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Inappropriate laughter
• Repetitive mannerisms
• Social withdrawal
 Undifferentiated type: Patient may have symptoms of more than one subtype of schizophrenia.
 Residual type: Prominent symptoms of the illness have abated, but some features - such as hallucinations and flat affect - may remain.
The diagnosis of schizophrenia is made based on a thorough psychiatric interview of the person and family members. As yet, there are no defining medical tests for schizophrenia. The following factors may suggest a schizophrenia diagnosis, but do not confirm it:
• Developmental background
• Genetic and family history
• Changes from level of functioning prior to illness
• Course of illness and duration of symptoms
• Response to pharmacological therapy
CT scans of the head and other imaging techniques may identify some changes associated

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