Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder wherein the involved individuals experience difficulty discerning the real to unreal events. It is difficult for them to think logically and they tend to have difficulty with normal behavior in social interactions. This disorder has several types. One of the types of schizophrenia is called disorganized schizophrenia

Signs of Having Disorganized Schizophrenia

Otherwise known as hebephrenic schizophrenia, this mental illness shows signs of difficulty organizing thoughts. Individuals with this mental disorder tend to speak in a manner that is difficult to understand. During a conversation, the disturbed individual may jump from one unrelated topic to another one. This disorganized mode of thinking is clearly an illustration of being really disorganized.

Additionally, a disorganized schizophrenic case may show signs of as having beliefs based on delusion. Oftentimes the person might see and hear things that don’t exist. This is a sign of hallucinations. A glance at their looks, they tend to have bad postures and the face would at times be seen grimacing. In school or at work, they find it hard to function well. They will be seen isolating themselves from others and they move around clumsily and uncoordinated.

Another sign of a person with a disorganized schizophrenia is that they don’t use body language and eye contact. Another episode that describes a sign is laughing really loud during a serious event.

Causes and Risk Factors of Disorganized Schizophrenia

Mental experts are not sure what exactly the reason behind the schizophrenia is. The brain’s neurotransmitters are said to be causing this. However, the significance of this is yet unknown.

What plays an important role in having this illness is the genetic factor. Those who are genetically predisposed to this type of illness may be triggered by certain environmental events. These environmental events can either be from viral infections, improper nutrition during pregnancy and/or birth complications, and stressful life circumstances. This signs and symptoms may develop as early as teenage years till the mid 30′s although it may begin even earlier.

Diagnosis of Disorganized Schizophrenia

To diagnose this disorder, the doctor will do physical examination; perform laboratory tests and psychological evaluation. The psychiatrist will do some interviews with the involved person including the closest relatives and friends. He will need to know of the duration of the symptoms, the change in the patient’s ability to function, developmental background, family and genetic history and the effects to medications given.

Treatment method

Patients will be given antipsychotic medications, anti-depressants and anti-anxieties drugs to help them with their anxiety and aggression. However like any other drugs used, these medications have side effects and possible risks. As always the benefits that will be derived from medication must outweigh the risks and side effects of the drugs given.

Individuals with disorganized schizophrenia may undergo individual therapy or family therapy. These type of therapies will help them cope with the distress and will help them deal with the daily challenges from having the disorder. It helps them to improve themselves and reduce conflicts with the family.

A more severe case of disorganized schizophrenia may need hospitalization. This will help ensure safety both for the patients and others around them. Some however may need electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In some cases, it proved to be the best treatment option.

As part of the recovery program, they may undergo social and vocational training to develop their ability to deal with other people as well as to be able to live independently.

Disorganized schizophrenia can be treated with different methods as described above. It must be addressed properly to prevent severe emotional distress. A person whose normal mental function is disturbed has potential to create problems not only with his own health and but with the whole community as well. It pays to be aware and knowledgeable about this condition so that problems that may arise in the future can be prevented.

Disorganized Schizophrenia – Disorganized Schizophrenia Facts and Resources

Schizophrenia is a chronic type of mental illness that is characterized by a loss of touch with reality, and Disorganized Schizophrenia is a subtype of the illness. Symptoms of Disorganized Schizophrenia (also called hebephrenic schizophrenia) include extremely fractured, nonsensical, and inappropriate behaviors, mental processes, and communication patterns.

Mental health practitioners regard this subtype of schizophrenia as very serious since patients suffering from it are often incapable of completing ordinary activities like taking baths and making food for themselves. In addition, communicating with a person afflicted with Disorganized Schizophrenia can be difficult at best and is sometimes impossible.

Because they cannot understand others or be understood, they may get frustrated and experience agitation, and become violent and aggressive in addition to their other symptoms.

There are several categories that the symptoms of Disorganized Schizophrenia fall into. One is disorganized thoughts, in which patterns without logic or sense dominate the process of thinking. Such patterns manifest themselves in habits and manners of speech, such that the patient can’t maintain a focused conversation or follow what is being said, resulting in confusion and miscommunication. The sufferer may create completely new words or grammatical structures in an attempt to communicate, and written language may be as affected as spoken language.

Another category of symptoms common to Disorganized Schizophrenia are those in the arena of visible and inferred behaviors. The impairment of the ability to perform ordinary actions necessary for daily living can be so severe that the patient can’t function normally. Unable to bathe, get dressed, feed themselves, or interact with other people in common social settings, patients become disconnected and shunned. Added to the difficulty is the eccentric behaviors that often appear such as dressing inappropritately for the weather, appearing disheveled or dirty, and acting out sexually in a public setting.

A third category of symptoms present in those patients suffering from Disorganized Schizophrenia is the lack of affect – the absence of the expression of emotion – or the inappropriate expression of feelings. Signs of this aspect of the condition include a blank expression, lack of eye contact, or body language indicating no emotion.

Even if an emotional response is apparent, the number and type of such responses may be severely limited or inappropriate to the situation. Such behaviors as laughing at the wrong times, being playful in a serioius situation, or crying for no reason are examples of this type of symptom.

All of these symptoms and others associated with Disorganized Schizophrenia such as inability to function normally at work or in school, having auditory hallucinations, making faces and bodily contortions, and exhibiting delusional thinking are cause for alarm.

If a person is suspected of having this mental illness, he or she needs attention from a professional who can recommend treatment. Sufferers from this syndrome often can be aggressive towards others or harm themselves. In that case, emergency intervention may be necessary for the short term, and involuntary commitment is a distinct possibility if no assistance is permitted by the patient or if treatments are ineffective.

Treatment of Disorganized Schizophrenia is the same as those for other subtypes of the mental illness. Psychotherapy, medications, electroconvulsive therapy, and vocational rehabilitation may be used in combinations or one by one in stages. Commonly, the patient needs to undergo consistent and effective therapies of several kinds from multi-member teams including professionals, family members, and social workers.

Only after attaining a degree of normal behavior can reintegration into normal life take place. With assistance and perseverance, a person suffering from Disorganized Schizophrenia can become a contributing member of society.