Given what is known about schizophrenia, the disorder has probably been around since the beginning of civilization. It is a disorder which affects roughly 1% of the population (Delayed Posttraumatic Stress Disorders from Infancy: The Two Trauma Mechanism, pg. 8). Schizophrenia is a disease which primarily affects the brain, though some of the secondary symptoms indeed affect other parts of the physiology of the schizophrenic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain of paranoid schizophrenic patients indicate marked over activity in certain parts of the brain and hypo-activity in others, namely the basal ganglia and temporal regions respectively (Delayed Posttraumatic Stress Disorders from Infancy: The Two Trauma Mechanism, pg. 7). One interesting piece of scientific research by Clancy Mckenzie suggests that the mechanisms at work in paranoid schizophrenia are very much similar or possible identical to the ones at work when a PTSD victim experiences flashbacks. The main difference is that in paranoid schizophrenia, the original trauma occurs much earlier, usually before 20 months during infancy (McKenzie, pg.32). The precipitating second episode can occur at any time and in the case of PTSD, as is widely known usually involves the patient coming into contact with something closely resembling what was contained in the environment at the time of the initial trauma. For example, a soldier with PTSD may be thrown into an episode by something as simple as popcorn popping which can resemble the sound of gunshot fire in the distance. What is happening according to Mr. McKenzie is that an initial trauma leaves an imprint so to speak on the human brain. Certain neural pathways are activated and strong emotions etched into the brain so to speak. An episode can be triggered by the slightest reminder and once this takes place the brain is back in the reality of the initial trauma. In paranoid schizophrenia the patient may at that point require hospitalization....