Disorganized schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia that produces disjointed and incoherent thought processes, language and behavior. People with disorganized schizophrenia symptoms have difficulty carrying out everyday activities. The condition is sometimes called "hepephrenic schizophrenia."
An inability to form coherent thoughts is one of the defining disorganized schizophrenia symptoms. Language is severely impaired, since a person suffering from disorganized schizophrenia has disjointed speech patterns. Words are jumbled, mixed up or garbled. The individual may speak gibberish, or jump rapidly from one topic of conversation to another without regard to the flow of conversation.
Disorganized thoughts are not confined to verbal communication. Written communication is often just as confused and incompressible. Severe symptoms make communication almost impossible without proper disorganized schizophrenia treatment.
The incoherence in the language of disorganized schizophrenics can also be seen in their behavior. Even an act as simple as hand washing can be disrupted by disorganized thinking.
Some persons with disorganized schizophrenia behavior hurt themselves or others. They might neglect their personal hygiene and clothing. Their behavior tends to be bizarre and inappropriate.
Disorganized schizophrenia interferes with appropriate emotional responses. People with the disorder may display emotional responses inappropriate to the situation, such as laughing during a funeral. Disorganized thinking can cause anger, agitation or aggression.
Disorganized schizophrenia symptoms include a flat affect, or an apparent lack of emotions, characterized by a tendency to avoid eye contact and an expressionless face. The person's emotions can be severely impaired, with very little or no ability to feel any pleasure.
In addition to disorganized thought processes, a person with disorganized schizophrenia may display broader symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions, paranoia or auditory hallucinations. Such symptoms can worsen mental disorganization.
Disorganized schizophrenia treatment tends to be effective, but diagnosing the disease can be difficult. Persons with disorganized schizophrenia are very unlikely to seek treatment. The symptoms themselves may mask the problem. Often the task of initiating disorganized schizophrenia treatment falls to family or friends.
Disorganized schizophrenia treatment typically includes antipsychotic medication taken under the supervision of a psychiatrist. The therapist may employ psychotherapy and vocational skills training to supplement the medication. People with severe symptoms may be hospitalized so they can be treated in a safe environment.
Disorganized schizophrenia symptoms are an obstacle to effective treatment. Because of disruptions in thinking, individuals with disorganized schizophrenia may be unable to take responsibility for their medication in the early stages of treatment.
Disorganized schizophrenia patients often discontinue medication because of the side effects of antipsychotic drugs or when they start feeling better. When the effects of the medication wear off, symptoms recur.
While a strong support system of family, friends and medical professionals is essential for successful disorganized schizophrenia treatment, people with disorganized schizophrenia often lack such support.
Health Central. (n.d.). Disorganized schizophrenia. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/h/disorganized-schizophrenia.html
Mayo Clinic. (2008). Disorganized schizophrenia. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/disorganized-schizophrenia/DS00864/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
University of Maryland Medical Center. (2008). Schizophrenia, disorganized type: Overview. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000937.htm
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