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Types of Schizophrenia

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What are the types of Schizophrenia, the types most likely in developing countries and differences in recovery?

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This solution describes the types of Schizophrenia, the types most likely to occur in developing countries and the differences in recovery.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), schizophrenia is:

"a severe form of mental illness affecting about 7 per thousand of the adult population, mostly in the age group 15-35 years. Though the incidence is low (3-10,000), the prevalence is high due to chronicity?(WHO, 2009).
Generally, SCHIZOPHRENIA is a form of psychosis characterized by symptoms such as disordered thoughts, hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/episode3/cultures/index.html).

Types of schizophrenia are as follows:

1. Paranoid-type schizophrenia is characterized by delusions and auditory hallucinations but relatively normal intellectual functioning and expression of affect. The delusions can often be about being persecuted unfairly or being some other person who is famous. People with paranoid-type schizophrenia can exhibit anger, aloofness, anxiety, and argumentativeness.

2. Disorganized-type schizophrenia is characterized by speech and behavior that are disorganized or difficult to understand, and flattening or inappropriate emotions. People with disorganized-type schizophrenia may laugh at the changing color of a traffic light or at something not closely related to what they are saying or doing. Their disorganized behavior may disrupt normal activities, such as showering, dressing, and preparing meals.

3. Catatonic-type schizophrenia is characterized by disturbances of movement. People with catatonic-type schizophrenia may keep themselves completely immobile or move all over the place. They may not say anything for hours, or they may repeat anything you say or do senselessly. Either way, the behavior is putting these people at high risk because it impairs their ability to take care of themselves.

4. Undifferentiated-type schizophrenia is characterized by some symptoms seen in all of the above types but not enough of any one of them to define it as another particular type of schizophrenia.

5. Residual-type schizophrenia is characterized by a past history of at least one episode of schizophrenia, but the person currently has no positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior). It may represent a transition between a full-blown episode and complete remission, or it may continue for years without any further psychotic episodes. (http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-types).

WHO (2009) lists several facts about schizophrenia on their website, including:

1. Schizophrenia affects about 24 million people wordwide.
2. Schizophrenia is a treatable disorder, treatment being more effective in its initial stages.
3. More than 50% of persons with schizophrenia are not receiving appropriate care.
4. 90% of people with untreated schizophrenia are in developing countries.
5. Care of persons with schizophrenia can be provided at community level, with ...

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