Unit 08: Understand Schizophrenia
1 Understand the term ‘schizophrenia’
1.1 Define the term Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health illness that affects how an individual thinks feels and behaves,
suffers may seem out of touch with reality, it can cause hallucinations and delusions.
Rethink.org defines the term schizophrenia as ‘a mental illness which affects the way you think, the
symptoms may affect how you cope with day to day life.’
2 Understand how the media representation of schizophrenia can create confusion about the
illness
2.1 Describe how media coverage may cause fear and misunderstanding with regard to
schizophrenia
How the media portrays and reports schizophrenia can influence the public in a negative way. The
stigma attached to the illness can be made worse when the media reports on crimes and adds a
description of the individual as suffering from the condition and labelling them as a ‘maniac’ or
‘dangerous’ , this promotes fear to the public that those who have the illness are unpredictable and
unstable and not to be approached. Negative representation such as a TV programme showing a
character behaving in ways that are violent, can make people afraid of those with schizophrenia. An
individual who has schizophrenia is more likely to be a victim rather than a perpetrator of violence
and crime but the stigma portrays them as a disruptive and destructive group of individuals that
must be avoided and isolated. The media focuses on the individual with schizophrenia rather than
seeing schizophrenia as the problem for the individual’s behaviour. It can also be reported
incorrectly for instance an individual with schizophrenia is often know as seeing things that are not
there and hearing voices in their head, however only between 60% and 80% of those with
schizophrenia experience auditory hallucination and an even smaller amount experience visual
hallucinations. Attaching nicknames to the disorder such as Jekyll and Hyde in reference to someone
who is showing signs of a split personality is also an incorrect interpretation of the condition and
only prolongs the negative stigma. Everyone with schizophrenia is expected to display the same
characteristics or symptoms when in reality they don’t experience things the same but live with the
stereotype portrayed by the media.
3 Understand the causes of schizophrenia
3.1 Describe possible causes of schizophrenia
There are many possible causes for an individual to develop Schizophrenia, both men and women
can develop the condition, though men are more likely to have symptoms earlier in life than women.
Schizophrenia can be hereditary, however just because one of an individual’s parents has it doesn’t
necessarily mean the child will develop it, the likelihood of not developing it is much higher than the
likelihood that you will. Certain biochemical substances in the brain are believed to be associated
with schizophrenia, particularly a neurotransmitter called dopamine. One probably reason for this
chemical imbalance is the individual's hereditary inclination to the condition. Complications during
pregnancy or birth that cause damage to the brain of the baby may also be a cause for Schizophrenia
to develop. Childhood abuse and severe trauma can cause a child to be sensitive to any tension if
they are continuously having memories from the incidents it can cause them severe stress which can
1
, be the onset to having Schizophrenia. Alcohol and drugs, especially cannabis and amphetamine use,
may trigger psychosis in individuals who are deemed vulnerable to developing the condition.
Although alcohol isn’t linked to the onset of Schizophrenia is can certainly be the onset for stress
especially if the individual was the victim of childhood abuse which can worsen negative feelings and
contribute as a factor.
4 Understand how schizophrenia can affect the individual and others
4.1 Describe the feelings an individual with schizophrenia may experience
An individual who suffers from Schizophrenia may experience hallucinations and delusional thoughts
which can leave the individual feeling paranoid and creating false scenarios in their head, for
example they may have convinced themselves that they are being followed which will cause them a
great deal of fear. It can be difficult for the individual to recognise the difference between delusional
thoughts and regular thoughts which can often leave them feeling confused. It can be very
distressing for the one suffering from the condition, the intense beliefs can leave sufferers feeling
extremely fearful and anxious which can isolate the individual from family and friends, especially if
those delusional thoughts are related to family and friends trying to harm or plotting against the
individual. They may feel that they have nobody who they can trust and maybe aware of their
condition enough to become angry, irritated and upset that they cannot control it, for example I
have a sibling who suffers from Schizophrenia, his mum had him admitted to the hospital when he
was having a manic episode, my sibling now has paranoid thoughts that family who visit him will
have him sectioned if they view his behaviour as abnormal, he feels he can’t be himself around
others and feels that others are reading his mind, so he avoids having contacting with most of the
family. Schizophrenia can take over a person’s life; they may have trouble retaining information from
others which can lead to avoiding others which can leave them feeling depressed.
4.2 Describe the ways schizophrenia affects the individual and their life
Schizophrenia can affect an individual’s ability to live a normal life, the paranoia they may
experience coupled with hallucinations or delusional thoughts can restrict them in carrying out the
basics for example, an individual may avoid going to the supermarket due to social anxieties and
they may be having thoughts that they are been followed and that they could be harmed or targeted
in a public place, instead of venturing out, they order their shopping online, which will increase their
social withdrawal and feelings of isolation, which can make the symptoms worse. For example if the
individual suffers from auditory hallucinations, the voices may be negative taunts and teasing for not
being able to leave the house. Another example could be the individual walking through a busy
street and seeing people laughing, delusions may manifest into the individual believing that those
individuals are laughing at them personally; the auditory hallucinations will start to set in with voices
of ridicule. The tendency to withdraw from others and have mood swings can make relationships
difficult. If the individual has children, they may be deemed as incapable of looking after the children
or they maybe paranoid that they are constantly being judged by others on their parenting abilities
which can put a strain on relationships. They may have troubling holding down a full time job due to
their paranoia and delusional thought, however some may hold down well paid jobs for example my
sibling excelled well in school and gained a good career however he did view himself with inflated
value and worth, this can have a negative impact on others who may view him as arrogant and can
result in others having a bad opinion on him as a person not realising it is part on his condition. It can
disrupt sleep and the individual may have to rely on medication to help them gain enough sleep for
instance my sibling had symptoms of insomnia and was deprived sleep due to hallucination of
2
1 Understand the term ‘schizophrenia’
1.1 Define the term Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health illness that affects how an individual thinks feels and behaves,
suffers may seem out of touch with reality, it can cause hallucinations and delusions.
Rethink.org defines the term schizophrenia as ‘a mental illness which affects the way you think, the
symptoms may affect how you cope with day to day life.’
2 Understand how the media representation of schizophrenia can create confusion about the
illness
2.1 Describe how media coverage may cause fear and misunderstanding with regard to
schizophrenia
How the media portrays and reports schizophrenia can influence the public in a negative way. The
stigma attached to the illness can be made worse when the media reports on crimes and adds a
description of the individual as suffering from the condition and labelling them as a ‘maniac’ or
‘dangerous’ , this promotes fear to the public that those who have the illness are unpredictable and
unstable and not to be approached. Negative representation such as a TV programme showing a
character behaving in ways that are violent, can make people afraid of those with schizophrenia. An
individual who has schizophrenia is more likely to be a victim rather than a perpetrator of violence
and crime but the stigma portrays them as a disruptive and destructive group of individuals that
must be avoided and isolated. The media focuses on the individual with schizophrenia rather than
seeing schizophrenia as the problem for the individual’s behaviour. It can also be reported
incorrectly for instance an individual with schizophrenia is often know as seeing things that are not
there and hearing voices in their head, however only between 60% and 80% of those with
schizophrenia experience auditory hallucination and an even smaller amount experience visual
hallucinations. Attaching nicknames to the disorder such as Jekyll and Hyde in reference to someone
who is showing signs of a split personality is also an incorrect interpretation of the condition and
only prolongs the negative stigma. Everyone with schizophrenia is expected to display the same
characteristics or symptoms when in reality they don’t experience things the same but live with the
stereotype portrayed by the media.
3 Understand the causes of schizophrenia
3.1 Describe possible causes of schizophrenia
There are many possible causes for an individual to develop Schizophrenia, both men and women
can develop the condition, though men are more likely to have symptoms earlier in life than women.
Schizophrenia can be hereditary, however just because one of an individual’s parents has it doesn’t
necessarily mean the child will develop it, the likelihood of not developing it is much higher than the
likelihood that you will. Certain biochemical substances in the brain are believed to be associated
with schizophrenia, particularly a neurotransmitter called dopamine. One probably reason for this
chemical imbalance is the individual's hereditary inclination to the condition. Complications during
pregnancy or birth that cause damage to the brain of the baby may also be a cause for Schizophrenia
to develop. Childhood abuse and severe trauma can cause a child to be sensitive to any tension if
they are continuously having memories from the incidents it can cause them severe stress which can
1
, be the onset to having Schizophrenia. Alcohol and drugs, especially cannabis and amphetamine use,
may trigger psychosis in individuals who are deemed vulnerable to developing the condition.
Although alcohol isn’t linked to the onset of Schizophrenia is can certainly be the onset for stress
especially if the individual was the victim of childhood abuse which can worsen negative feelings and
contribute as a factor.
4 Understand how schizophrenia can affect the individual and others
4.1 Describe the feelings an individual with schizophrenia may experience
An individual who suffers from Schizophrenia may experience hallucinations and delusional thoughts
which can leave the individual feeling paranoid and creating false scenarios in their head, for
example they may have convinced themselves that they are being followed which will cause them a
great deal of fear. It can be difficult for the individual to recognise the difference between delusional
thoughts and regular thoughts which can often leave them feeling confused. It can be very
distressing for the one suffering from the condition, the intense beliefs can leave sufferers feeling
extremely fearful and anxious which can isolate the individual from family and friends, especially if
those delusional thoughts are related to family and friends trying to harm or plotting against the
individual. They may feel that they have nobody who they can trust and maybe aware of their
condition enough to become angry, irritated and upset that they cannot control it, for example I
have a sibling who suffers from Schizophrenia, his mum had him admitted to the hospital when he
was having a manic episode, my sibling now has paranoid thoughts that family who visit him will
have him sectioned if they view his behaviour as abnormal, he feels he can’t be himself around
others and feels that others are reading his mind, so he avoids having contacting with most of the
family. Schizophrenia can take over a person’s life; they may have trouble retaining information from
others which can lead to avoiding others which can leave them feeling depressed.
4.2 Describe the ways schizophrenia affects the individual and their life
Schizophrenia can affect an individual’s ability to live a normal life, the paranoia they may
experience coupled with hallucinations or delusional thoughts can restrict them in carrying out the
basics for example, an individual may avoid going to the supermarket due to social anxieties and
they may be having thoughts that they are been followed and that they could be harmed or targeted
in a public place, instead of venturing out, they order their shopping online, which will increase their
social withdrawal and feelings of isolation, which can make the symptoms worse. For example if the
individual suffers from auditory hallucinations, the voices may be negative taunts and teasing for not
being able to leave the house. Another example could be the individual walking through a busy
street and seeing people laughing, delusions may manifest into the individual believing that those
individuals are laughing at them personally; the auditory hallucinations will start to set in with voices
of ridicule. The tendency to withdraw from others and have mood swings can make relationships
difficult. If the individual has children, they may be deemed as incapable of looking after the children
or they maybe paranoid that they are constantly being judged by others on their parenting abilities
which can put a strain on relationships. They may have troubling holding down a full time job due to
their paranoia and delusional thought, however some may hold down well paid jobs for example my
sibling excelled well in school and gained a good career however he did view himself with inflated
value and worth, this can have a negative impact on others who may view him as arrogant and can
result in others having a bad opinion on him as a person not realising it is part on his condition. It can
disrupt sleep and the individual may have to rely on medication to help them gain enough sleep for
instance my sibling had symptoms of insomnia and was deprived sleep due to hallucination of
2
