Paranoid SchizophreniaEssay title: Paranoid SchizophreniaParanoid Schizophrenia 1Paranoid SchizophreniaChristina LunsfordMarch 13, 2008Paranoid Schizophrenia 2Most psychological disorders are diagnosed because an abnormal behavior is displayed by a person. “Mental health professionals define abnormal behavior as either maladaptive life functioning or serious personal discomfort or both.” (Morris & Maisto, 2002, p485). One type of psychological disorder is Schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia is one schizophrenic disorder. People with paranoid schizophrenia do have behavior that is not often adaptive and can be discomforting. There are many traits that people with paranoid schizophrenia display that can be used to describe the term. To find aid in treating this disorder, the paranoid schizophrenic or family members should seek a proper diagnosis and treatment.
People with paranoid schizophrenia often have delusions and do not trust people or things. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “An individual with paranoid schizophrenia has constant feelings of being watched or persecuted.” (Walden Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 1). Sometimes they even think they are someone else important. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “People with paranoid schizophrenia may believe themselves to be
Napoleon or the Virgin Mary, or they may insist that Russian spies with laser gunsare constantly on their trail because they have learned some great secret.” (Morris & Maisto, 2002, 515). Delusions and hallucinations are the main symptoms of this disorder. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “Perception may become disturbed, the individual may become extremely perplexed, thinking may be vague and obscure, and its expression in speech often becomes incomprehensible.” (Lundenbeck Institute, n.d., para. 2). Sometimes the behavior is not noticed at first. Most of the behavior is not really noticed until the delusions start affecting the paranoid schizophrenic’s life. (Morris & Maisto, 2002). “Symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia in the early stages may include social withdrawal, lack of concentration, sleeplessness, tension and a change in personality.” (Walden Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 7).
Paranoid Schizophrenia 3Psychologists diagnoses paranoid schizophrenia off of different symptoms. “A doctor makes a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia when delusions or hallucinations are present, when other psychotic symptoms are either nonexistent or mild, and when symptoms cant be attributed to another medical or psychiatric disorder.” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2006, para. 19). A doctor has to take in the whole picture and see if the symptoms are more likely to be paranoid schizophrenia than any other disorder, or medical conditions. Most people are diagnosed with the disorder while they are a teenager. (Lundbeck Institute, n.d.) Sometimes people are not diagnosed until they are a young adult. (Walder Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 7).
Once diagnosed, it is important for people with paranoid schizophrenia to be treated. Treatments can vary upon the doctor, but one common treatment is medication. Medication can be used to ease some of the symptoms of the disorder but can not take away all the symptoms. “Anti-psychotic medications can reduce hallucinations and disordered thinking, but do not affect the social withdrawal that is common among those with paranoid schizophrenia.” (Walder Behavioral Care, 2007, para. 12). People with paranoid schizophrenia have to make sure they always take their medicine and never miss a dose. Missing a dose could lead to a re-encounter with delusions or hallucinations. It is important for a person with paranoid schizophrenia to have someone to ensure they take their medicine. “The symptoms of the disease themselves may lead people with the disease to think that nothing is wrong with them or that mental health professionals play some role in perceived persecution
[Cross-ref]
U.S. Psychiatric Association, “Suicidal ideation and delusions of schizophrenia”:
Mental and physical health symptoms with paranoid schizophrenia as well as mental health disorders:
These findings suggest that, for persons being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, psychological problems and related disorders with common causes are also more common than may be reported in clinical surveys. However, it is important to remember that many individuals with the disease may develop bipolar, delusional or disordered thinking or other symptoms which should be treated accordingly.
The number of patients at crisis centers for these disorders will grow dramatically if these conditions are treated promptly in most individual clinics and clinics.
The following data indicate the proportion of patients in crisis centers treating for bipolar disorder.
1.7%
4 million people with bipolar disorder,
and 1.8 million of those with bipolar disorder,
, have been treated or enrolled in treatment programs.
In all US population centers that have at least 60% of mental patients and 50% of the psychiatric facilities, at least 1 in 5 patients will receive treatment for their mental disease and psychosis.
More than half (47%) of those with bipolar disorder and 18.3% of those with depression in the crisis center treat with medication.
Between 2011-2013 approximately 10 million people in the crisis center’s community and 55 million people with depression in the community receive treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly two-thirds (68%) of the crisis center’s community and 67.5% of those with depression in the community also receive medication.
On average, approximately 14.8 million people with bipolar disorder take medication every year and approximately 24.1 million with depressive disorder take medication every year. About 6.9 million people of other mental illness disorders do not take any medications at all.
Around half (51%) of bipolar disorder is caused by a substance abuse or dependence problem. That increase is more than half (48%) of depression and 1.3% of other mental disorders.
Only 2.7% of these men and boys with bipolar disorder also get treatment for their psychological problems.
About half (47%) of the mental disorders and 3.4% of the mental disorder treated patients also get medical assistance.
According to a 2013 survey, 80% (15,800) of patients with bipolar disorder have been screened for mental illness within an individual year.
and
In the mental health category, bipolar disorder is diagnosed when 1 in 4 (4.4%) or more patients with bipolar disorder show signs or symptoms of suicidal ideation and 8% (11,800) are diagnosed with mood disorder.
Among individuals with bipolar disorder, 2% (938) show symptoms that are not part of normal psychiatric treatment and 26%-31% are in need of hospitalization for more than one day.
A 2013 survey was conducted among 9,837 individuals with bipolar disorder that interviewed more than 4,450 patients who were screened for bipolar disorder.
The survey was conducted among the 4,453 individuals who were screened for non-insulin-resistant type I- or II- diabetics that were assessed for comorbid conditions such as depression, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, developmental delay, substance use disorders
On average (within one year), the population who go on to have a psychiatric disorder has a