Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Main topic

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010 Main Topic: Schizophrenia

Abstract: Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness, involving major disruptions in thoughts, emotions, and behavior. There is a variety of symptoms that may be present to different degrees in different people. It occurs equally in both men and women, though onset tends to be earlier in men. Onset is typically between the ages of 16 and 35, though there is an increasing awareness of its occurrence in children. There is currently no known cure, but schizophrenia is treatable. For some people the symptoms will worsen over time, some will experience a decrease in symptoms with periodic relapses, some will experience a remission of symptoms with some residual effects, and still others will have a total recovery. Despite popular misconceptions, schizophrenia is not the same thing as multiple personality disorder, or split personality. Symptoms are generally classified as positive or negative. Positive symptoms include hallucinations (auditory, visual, somatic), delusions, disordered thoughts and/or speech, and movement disorders (agitation, repetitive movement, catatonia). Auditory hallucinations are the most common symptom; people may hear voices giving them commands or a running commentary on their actions. Delusions often involve beliefs

that thoughts are being inserted into or removed from ones head, or that ones thoughts are being broadcast to others. Negative symptoms include social withdrawal, apathy, poverty of speech, and inability to experience pleasure. Sometimes a third type of symptom is considered, cognitive, which includes trouble focusing or paying attention, decreased ability to make informed decisions, and problems with working memory. The causes of schizophrenia are unknown, though there are various models that attempt to explain it. The most commonly held model considers an interaction between vulnerabilities, such as genetic predisposition or certain thought patterns, and major life stressors, such as traumatic experiences. Schizophrenia is treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Antipsychotic medications do have physical side effects, and can have strong interactions with other drugs. While positive symptoms respond well to medication, pharmacological treatments are not as successful for the negative symptoms. Psychotherapy helps the individual cope with the effects of living with the disease, as well as teaching social skills and life skills.

Special Searching Issues for this Topic: Schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder, or split personality. It is considered a psychotic disorder as well as a thought disorder, and has some symptoms in common with some forms of bipolar disorder. There is debate as to whether schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms are actually two separate illnesses, or if they are two different points on the same spectrum. DSM-IV includes four subtypes of schizophrenia: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, and undifferentiated; however one of

the recommended revisions for DSM-V is the elimination of these subtypes. Definitions and diagnostic criteria for the disease have changed over time. The cause of schizophrenia is not known, though most experts believe it is due to a combination of biological factors (such as a genetic predisposition), environmental factors, and/or psychological factors. There is currently no known cure, but schizophrenia is treated with a combination of anti-psychotic medications and psychotherapy.

Topic Profile: Who, What, Where, When Who: Primarily adult men and women, though there is increasing awareness of occurrence in children What: A disease that affects personality and behavior. Behaviors vary from mild to severe with a variety of positive and/or negative symptoms appearing. Causes are currently unknown. Where: Brain When: Onset is usually in adolescence and young adulthood and often persists throughout the persons life.

Abbreviations Used In this Section NAMI = National Alliance on Mental Illness NARSAD = National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression NIMH=National Institute of Mental Health NMHA=National Medical Health Association

Hotlines: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) Schizophrenics Anonymous Group Listing: 1-866-800-5199 FAQs: South Carolina Department of Mental Health: G. Werber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Schizophrenia: http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/bryan/webschiz.htm WebMD Schizophrenia Health Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Schizophrenia: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/frequently-asked-questionsabout-schizophrenia Schizophrenia.com: Schizophrenia Information: Frequently Asked Questions: http://schizophrenia.com/family/FAQgen.htm MSN.com Healthwise: Mental Health: Schizophrenia Frequently Asked Questions: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/mental-health/articlepage.aspx?cpdocumentid=100248933

Medical Specialties: Neurology; Psychiatry; Psychology

Schizophrenia Publications on the Internet: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Health Topics: Publications: Schizophrenia: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/completeindex.shtml World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (WFSAD) Publications List: http://www.world-schizophrenia.org/publications/

Professional Organizations: American Psychiatric Association (APA): http://psych.org/ National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): http://nami.org/ National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml Mental Health America (MHA): http://www.nmha.org/

Patient Support Organizations/Discussion Groups: World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (WFSAD): www.worldschizophrenia.org Schizophrenia.com: Support Groups and Related Resources: http://www.schizophrenia.com/coping.html Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA): Schizophrenics Anonymous: http://www.sardaa.org/sa_main.html Schizophrenia.com: Support Forums: http://www.schizophrenia.com:8080/jiveforums/index.jspa

Best One-Stop Shops Schizophrenia.com http://schizophrenia.com/ Internet Mental Health: Schizophrenia: http://mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-ps01.html Medline Plus: Schizophrenia: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schizophrenia.html

What to ask: Because schizophrenia is a complex disorder, there is a wealth of information available. You will need to determine the specific information you are looking for: general information, specific treatments, theories on causes, statistics, support organizations, research, etc. You will also need to determine the source of the information, and how recently the information has been updated. Where to start: Once you have determined your information objective, a general search engine such as Google or Yahoo! is a good place to begin. For a general search, you can use the search term schizophrenia. A more specific search can be done in both general search engines and medical or psychological search engines, though the results from a subject-specific search engine will tend to be more in-depth and specific. To find detailed information about specific medications, your best bet is to use a medical search engine. Psychological search engines are recommended for requests on specific psychotherapies. As with any information on the internet, you will need to evaluate the information you find for authority, reliability, and accuracy. Please review the Criteria for Identifying Quality Health Information. Information on the sites of professional organizations,

government web sites, and patient support group sites will be more reliable than results found through a general search engine.

Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 129. General

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia Schizophrenic Schizoaffective disorder Schizo-affective disorder Schizophreniform disorder

Important Sites: Internet Mental Health: Schizophrenia: http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-ps01.html National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD): http://www.narsad.org

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): For the Public (Books, Fact Sheets, and Summaries): Schizophrenia: http://nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml Schizophrenia.com: http://www.schizophrenia.com PsychCentral.com: Schizophrenia and Psychosis http://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizophrenia/ MentalHelp.net: Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Online Symptoms, Treatments, Resources: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=7&cn=7 WebMD.com: Schizophrenia Center: Types, Symptoms, Medications, Causes, and Tests: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/default.htm Open Directory Project: Schizophrenia http://www.dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Disorders/Schizophrenia/

Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 130. Medications

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia medications Schizophrenia treatment Schizophrenia therapies Schizophrenia alternative therapy Schizophrenia drugs Schizophrenia psychopharmaceuticals Schizophrenia antipsychotic drugs Schizophrenia psychotherapy Schizophrenia drug therapy Schizophrenia neuroleptic drugs Schizophrenia pharmacotherapy

Important Sites: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): How is Schizophrenia Treated? Schizophrenia: http://nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/how-isschizophrenia-treated.shtml

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Schizophrenia.com: Schizophrenia Information: Schizophrenia Treatment: http://schizophrenia.com/sztreat.html WebMD.com: Drugs to Treat Schizophrenia: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/scizophrenia-medications Healthy Place: How is Schizophrenia Treated? http://www.healthyplace.com/thought-disorders/nimh/how-is-schizophreniatreated/menu-id-1154/ eMedTV: Schizophrenia and Antipsychotics http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/antipsychotics/schizophrenia-and-antipsychotics.html Harvard Medical School New Schizophrenia Treatment Guidelines http://healthgrades.mm-health.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-treatmentrecommendations-updated

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Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 131. Diagnosis

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia diagnosis Schizophrenia symptoms Schizophrenic symptoms Schizophrenic behaviors Schizophrenia classification

Important Sites: Mental Health Channel: Schizophrenia: Diagnosis: http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/schizophrenia/diagnosis.shtml Schizophrenia.com: Schizophrenia Information: Schizophrenia Symptoms and Diagnosis: http://schizophrenia.com/diag.php

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Armenian Medical Network: ICD-10 and DSM-IV Concepts of Schizophrenia and Related Disorders http://www.health.am/psy/more/icd-10-and-dsm-iv-concepts-of-schizophrenia/ World Health Organization: ICD Version 2007: Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders http://apps.who.int/classifications/apps/icd/icd10online/ American Psychiatric Association: DSM-V Development: Proposed Revisions to Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/SchizophreniaandOtherPsychoticDisorde rs.aspx

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Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 132. Clinical Trials

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia trials Schizophrenia studies Schizophrenia clinical trials Schizophrenia research Schizophrenia experiments

Important Sites: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Featured Studies: Clinical Trials: Schizophrenia: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/trials/schizophrenia.shtml

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Medpedia: Schizophrenia: Clinical Trials: http://www.medpedia.com/community/237-Schizophrenia/clinical-trials National Institutes of Health: ClinicalTrials.gov: Schizophrenia: http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/term=schizophrenia Schizophrenia.com: Schizophrenia Research and New Drug Clinical Trials: http://www.schizophrenia.com/trials/ Center Watch: Clinical Trials: Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders: http://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/studylist.aspx?CatID=135

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Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 133. Symptoms

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia symptoms Schizophrenia signs Schizophrenia positive symptoms Schizophrenia negative symptoms Schizophrenia psychotic symptoms Schizophrenia hallucinations Schizophrenia delusions Schizophrenia disorganized thinking Schizophrenia social withdrawal Schizophrenia disorganized speech Schizophrenia disorganized behavior

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Important Sites: Psych Central: Disorders: Schizophrenia: Symptoms: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx31.htm Mental Health Channel: Schizophrenia: Symptoms: http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/schizophrenia/symptoms.shtml World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (WFSAD): Publications: Pamphlet #20: Schizophrenia: First Warning Signs: http://www.world-schizophrenia.org/publications/2%20%20Warning%20Signs%20of%20Illness,%20Crisis,%20Suicide.pdf WebMD: Schizophrenia Guide: Symptoms and Types: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-symptoms-types Schizophrenia.com: Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia: http://www.schizophrenia.com/diag.php#common

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Encyclopedic Guide Submission Form -- Subtopics

Contributor: Melanie Wilson Email: wilsmela@my.dom.edu Date Submitted: December 29, 2010

Topic: Schizophrenia

Sub Topic: 134. Lifestyle and Survival

Recommended Search Terms: Schizophrenia living Schizophrenia lifestyle Schizophrenia support Schizophrenia quality life Schizophrenia recovering Schizophrenia managing Schizophrenia coping

Important Sites: Schizophrenia.com: Support Groups and Related Resources: http://www.schizophrenia.com/coping.html

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World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders: http://www.world-schizophrenia.org/ Public Health Agency of Canada: Schizophrenia: A Handbook for Families: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/mh-sm/pubs/schizophrenia-schizophrenie/index-eng.php Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA): Schizophrenics Anonymous: http://www.sardaa.org/sa_main.html World Psychiatric Organization and Eli Lilly & Company: Open the Doors: www.openthedoors.com Schizophrenia.com: Support Forums: http://www.schizophrenia.com:8080/jiveforums/index.jspa

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