When thinking of psychological disorders, do you really know just how many different disorders there are? How well do you know the definitions of the most heard of disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia? Most people think of split personalities when they hear the word schizophrenia, but schizophrenia does not mean multiple personalities at all. Dealing with schizophrenia may be one of the hardest psychological disorders to live and deal with everyday. There are many different causes, types, symptoms, complications, and coping skills involved with schizophrenia.
The word “schizophrenia” does mean “split mind,” but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking (http://www.mayoclinc.com). The American Psychiatric Association defines schizophrenia as a disorder with active symptoms for at least one month, consisting of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized/bizarre behavior, and/or lack of organized speech, activity, or emotions (DeLisi, 2006). It is also known that the ability of people to function normally and care for themselves does tend to deteriorate over time (http://www.mayoclinc.com) to the point that someone needs to care for them. The early onset of this disease generally occurs between the ages of 15 to 30 years old and its chronic course makes this a particularly disabling disorder for patients and their families (Mueser, Jeste, 2008). Many people do not realize there are six different subtypes of schizophrenia. These subtypes include catatonic, paranoid, disorganized, residual, and undifferentiated.
Catatonic schizophrenics have a marked decrease in reactivity to the environment, sometimes reaching an extreme degree of complete unawareness known as a catatonic stupor (Mueser, Jeste, 2008). They maintain a rigid posture and resisting efforts to be moved known as catatonic rigidity (Mueser, Jeste, 2008). They experience active resistance to instructions or attempts to be moved...