In modern society, those with a mental illness are often referred to with terms like “crazy” and “lunatic.” However, the aberrant behaviors they display are symptoms of a serious illness, schizophrenia, and they should be regarded as such.
Bring knowledgeable about schizophrenia can help the public to be more understanding of those whose behavior seems deviant, thereby raising awareness about the realities of serious psychological disorders. The following is a profile of schizophrenia, a mental illness which affects approximately one percent of the population.
The Symptoms of Schizophrenia
In general, schizophrenia involves a disconnection from reality, inflicting sufferers with abnormal thoughts and beliefs, sometimes to the point that they may have delusions and hear nonexistent voices. According to Thomas F. Oltmanns and Robert E. Emery, authors of the 2007 text Abnormal Psychology, schizophrenia symptoms “stem from a fundamental breakdown in basic cognitive functions.” They include both negative symptoms — the absence of normal emotions, behaviors and abilities — and positive symptoms, which are the presence of unusual behaviors.