Article Review Example: Thought Disorders

A thought disorder is a mental condition that affects an individuals thoughts, perceptions, or beliefs. It changes the way a person brings together systematic sequence of ideas and can affect their behavior by making them experience symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Usually, thought disorders are diagnosed when an individuals manner of speaking or behavior indicates incoherent or illogical patterns of thinking. The process of thinking is made up of three parts: getting thoughts about something, figuring out what the person is thinking about, and then the flow or delivery of a thought pattern. Thought disorders disrupt one or several aspects of the thinking process. Schizophrenia is the most commonly occurring thought disorder.

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic mental health disorder that affects the way a sufferer thinks, behaves, or feels. Individuals suffering from the condition may appear as if they have lost touch with reality. Despite schizophrenia not being as common as other mental health disorders, its symptoms can be quite disabling. When active, some of its symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, lack of motivation, and problems with concentration and thinking. The good news is that once the symptoms are treated, most sufferers will significantly improve as time goes by. While schizophrenia does not have a cure, scientific research is promising some newer and safer treatments. In addition, experts are figuring out the causes of the condition by carrying out behavioral research, studying genetics, and utilizing advanced imaging to examine the brains functioning and structure. These approaches present the promise of newer and more effective therapies.

Many patients suffering from a mental health condition, particularly schizophrenia, are usually marginalized within healthcare settings. They are treated with fear, anger, disrespect, annoyance, and dehumanization. Such marginalization is mainly as a result of the unpredictable behavior by patients as well as peoples fear and lack of knowledge. When untrained people dont understand what a schizophrenia victim is going through when experiencing a hallucination, they may become afraid and either label or judge the patient. Such a situation leads to dehumanization and transforms the victim from a human being to a disease.

The complexity of this mental health condition may explain why so many misconceptions exist about it. Schizophrenia does not mean that the patient has multiple-personality or split personality. Most individuals suffering from the condition are neither violent nor dangerous. It does not also mean that they are homeless or live in mental health institutions. In fact, most patients live on their own, in group homes, or with family members. According to research, schizophrenia affects males and females about equally although it is likely to have an earlier onset in men. Rates of prevalence are about the same in all ethnic groups and races around the world. The condition is perceived as a group of disorders whereby the causes and symptoms vary significantly among individuals.

Researchers are of the opinion that a number of environmental and genetic factors contribute to schizophrenia. Life stresses can also play a major role in the conditions onset and course. However, since it is contributed by many factors, scientists have not yet been able to pinpoint the exact cause. Treatment can assist many sufferers of the condition live a highly productive and rewarding lifestyles. As is the case with other chronic illnesses, some sufferers do quite well while others struggle with the symptoms.

References

French, L (2011, October). Seeing schizophrenia from the patient's perspective. Retrieved from www.nursing2011.com

Loughland, C., Cheng, K., Harris, G., Kelly, B., Cohen, M., Sandhu, H., ... & Outram, S. (2015). Communication of a schizophrenia diagnosis: A qualitative study of patients perspectives. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61(8), 729-734.