Paranoid Schizophrenia by Annika Godston

Paranoid Schizophrenia

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:08:17 UTC

Paranoid Schizophrenia is a now obsolete subtype of schizophrenia, as paranoia is a common symptom of schizophrenia. The most notable behavioral symptom of this paranoia is delusions, which are a belief that an individual holds that have no logical bearing. Another prominent symptom is hallucinations, which are false sensory experiences in which the individual often cannot determine if it is real or fake. This topic is worth studying because Schizophrenia affects roughly 1% of adults in the US and, of those affected, only ~60% get treated in any given year (Anon). The more we learn and understand about this disorder, the more we will be able to help those who suffer from it.

ABCs Of Deviance - Condition

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:18:33 UTC

The paranoia that results from schizophrenia is a condition, as it is a mental disorder that the individual is born with and cannot control. The symptoms of schizophrenia typically do not appear until late adolescence or early adulthood, but this is simply because this is when the first episode of psychosis tends to occur (Treatment Advisory Center).

Three S's - Sickness

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:38:39 UTC

Some may argue that schizophrenia is selective for individuals who are diagnosed and opt to take their medication or partake in treatment options. However, this is inaccurate, as Schizophrenia and the paranoia that accompanies it would be classified as a sickness because it is a medical disorder that affects the individual for the rest of their life.

How do these deviants view their own behavior?

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:49:28 UTC

Individuals suffering from paranoia as a result of schizophrenia do not typically see their paranoid thoughts as irrational. It can be challenging for a schizophrenic to recognize that their beliefs are inaccurate and revise them, depending on how severe their disorder is and how convinced they are of their delusion (Kaliuzhna).

What impacts do these behaviors have on society? How has society reacted to this deviance?

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:50:37 UTC

Despite millions of people around the world having schizophrenia, in many ways, the most significant way they have impacted society is the stigma that they are assigned. Instead of helping those who are schizophrenic, society tends to write them off as crazy and turn the other way. An excellent example of this is the homeless population. When the majority of people see a homeless person rambling on the streets, they avoid eye contact, keep their heads down, and cross the street. Why do we do this instead of trying to help someone who is mentally ill? Typically, it is because we assume that they are unstable and a risk to our safety. Schizophrenia is very prevalent in the homeless population, but because of the stigma that surrounds it, we don't reach out and attempt to help those who are in desperate need of it (Ayano).

Works Cited

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 16:51:00 UTC

Anon. 2024. “Paranoid Schizophrenia: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23348-paranoid-schizophrenia).

Ayano, Getinet, Getachew Tesfaw, and Shegaye Shumet. 2019. “The Prevalence of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders among Homeless People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” BMC Psychiatry. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6880407/).

Center, Treatment Advocacy. 2024. “Schizophrenia Fact Sheet - Treatment Advocacy Center.” Treatment Advocacy Center -. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.tac.org/reports_publications/schizophrenia-fact-sheet/#:~:text=Schizophrenia%20is%20a%20chronic%20and,untreated%20in%20any%20given%20year.).

Goffman. Erving, Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York: Touchstone
(Reissue edition). 1986. 2 ISBN: 978-06716224422

Kaliuzhna, Mariia, Valérian Chambon, Nicolas Franck, Bérangère Testud, and Jean-Baptiste Van der Henst. 2012. “Belief Revision and Delusions: How Do Patients with Schizophrenia Take Advice?” PloS One. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3335042/).

Katschnig, Heinz. 2018. “Psychiatry’s Contribution to the Public Stereotype of Schizophrenia: Historical Considerations.” Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6174929/).

Pedersen, Traci. 2023. “Are People with Schizophrenia Violent?” Healthline. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/are-schizophrenics-violent).

Seladi-Schulman, Jill. 2022. “Psychosis vs. Schizophrenia: Understanding the Difference.” Healthline. Retrieved October 4, 2024 (https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/psychosis-vs-schizophrenia).

Goffman and Schizophrenia

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 17:23:17 UTC

Schizophrenia falls under the stigma of blemishes of individual character, as it is a medical disorder. It is a discredited stigma as the stereotypes that accompany it are directed specifically at those who have this disorder. Schizophrenia is often portrayed in media in a dramatized fashion and, as a result of this, individuals who suffer from it are subject to a substantial amount of infamy, also known as ill fame. Many people in the general public think they understand schizophrenia and its symptoms, such as paranoia, due to their consumption of media. In reality, they are only aware of the stereotypes that are perpetuated by the media. The virtual social identity associated with schizophrenics includes violence, unpredictability, constant delusions and hallucinations, and multiple personalities(Katschnig). The actual social identity, however, shows that schizophrenics are far more likely to be victims of violence as opposed to perpetrators (Pedersen). In addition to this, hallucinations and delusions are symptoms of psychosis, which are not constant (Seladi-Schulman). Finally, the assumption that schizophrenics have multiple personalities is simply a result of grouping mental disorders that are popularized in the media together.

Conceptualization of Schizophrenia

annikag5 — 2024-10-04 17:23:41 UTC

Schizophrenia fits into the positivist/normative perspective of conceptualization. This is because the majority of people don't experience delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia. As a result, we generalize this to reflect upon the global population and therefore determined that anyone who experiences these symptoms are deviant.