Abstract
This paper addresses childhood onset schizophrenia (COS) and the controversy surrounding the causes as well as the diagnostic distinction between childhood onset schizophrenia and the more known disorder schizophrenia, which is prevalent in adults. For the purposes of providing a differential diagnosis and a definitive clinical picture of COS, the paper examines the disorder as diagnosed prior to the age of thirteen. The paper points out that, until recently, the term childhood schizophrenia was given to a highly diverse mix of children with very little in common other than a profound and chronic disturbance during early childhood. The paper concludes that, although much work has been written about childhood onset schizophrenia, there are still many issues subject to debate.

From the Paper
"The assessment of diagnosing childhood onset schizophrenia is a very delicate matter and all areas of the child's life have to come into consideration. Because of the severity of schizophrenia and the elements it shares with other psychotic mood disorders, it is very important to perform thorough assessment prior to diagnosis. This assessment involves structured interviews, symptom scales, and diagnostic decision trees like those found in the DSM-IV-TR manual. The individuals that should be interviewed include the child, their parents, teachers, siblings and even their peers. A clear distinction is necessary to be determined so that proper action can be taken. The interview with parents and children must be thorough and include information on recent events, changes in mental state and functioning, developmental history and, as we have seen before family history. Information on family history is significant as the rate of schizophrenia is increased among first degree relatives (Gonthier, 2004)."

Tags:atypical, child, development

Abstract
This paper explains that schizophrenia is a psychological disorder from an underlying brain disorder and that individuals diagnosed with acute schizophrenia have hallucinations and delusions. The paper then relates that individuals having lesser symptoms experience withdrawal, social isolation, and unusual speech, thinking or behavior. The paper also points out that although there are many mental disorders, schizophrenia is more complex yet it affects approximately 1 percent of people globally. The paper then explores the etiology, characteristics, assessment, and treatment of schizophrenia.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Etiology
Characteristics
Assessments
Treatment and Management
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Schizophrenia, a complex mental health disorder, involves a harsh, persistent, and hindering interruption of the brain. There is no specific cause of obtaining schizophrenia. However research has suggested that it develops from a chemical imbalance in the brain from inherited factors such as genetics, behavioral, and environmental conditions. Schizophrenia affects men and women however the symptoms are more prone to men in their late teens and/or early 20s, women between 20s and 30s. Individual diagnosed with severe schizophrenia may have hallucinations or delusions. Lesser symptoms include individuals with disordered thinking. A licensed psychiatrist usually diagnoses schizophrenia. Treatment is given to individuals with schizophrenia by many factors i.e. age, health, medical history and therapy."

Tags:patients, treatment, medication, psychosis

Abstract
The research undertaken in this study used the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAS) to compare the psychological and social functioning of early onset, older non-institutionalized schizophrenic male adults to older non-psychotic male adults. The study includes a literature review and specifies all data collection and analysis procedures.

From the Paper
"Kring et al further note that people with schizophrenia typically first manifest symptoms when they are between the ages of ..."

Tags:research study, schizophrenia

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the developmental aspects of schizophrenia and the various psychological treatments given. Specifically, the paper discusses four developmental categories of schizophrenic onset: childhood onset, adolescent onset, early adult onset, and middle age/older adult onset.

From the Paper
"The National Institute of Mental Health defines schizophrenia as a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder that affects about one percent of Americans. According to Kring, Davison, Neale and Johnson, the typical symptoms of schizophrenia include; Delusions; Schizophrenics often have untrue and fantastical beliefs such as the idea that others are reading one's mind or that one has special powers or abilities, Hallucinations; These are perceptions of things, objects, people, etc. that are not there. In most cases, schizophrenic hallucinations tend to be..."

Tags:schizophrenia

Abstract
This paper examines schizophrenia in adult women. The paper begins by discussing the average age of onset. Then the paper presents the unique health care needs of schizophrenic women including pregnancy, motherhood issues and sexual abuse issues. The paper also explores gender differences and quality of life. The paper concludes with an examination of theories of causation and treatment.

From the Paper
"The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that schizophrenia is the most disabling of all of the mental disorders. According to the NIMH globally about one percent of all..."

Tags:schizophrenia, adult, women

Abstract
The paper discusses how the possible link between cannabis use and the onset of psychosis has been scrutinized by numerous psychologists and researchers over recent years. The paper looks at how Degenhardt & Hall (2006) analyzed a number of longitudinal studies of adolescents and young adults in an attempt to determine whether cannabis use leads to psychosis in predisposed persons. The paper relates that the collected data suggested that cannabis may be a trigger for schizophrenia in those who are predisposed, whether it be personally or genetically.

From the Paper
"The possible link between cannabis use and the onset of psychosis has been scrutinized by numerous psychologists and researchers over recent years. Degenhardt & Hall (2006) analyzed a number of longitudinal studies of adolescents and young adults in an attempt to determine whether cannabis use leads to psychosis in predisposed persons. The collected data suggested that cannabis may be a trigger for schizophrenia in those who are predisposed, whether it be personally or genetically."

Tags:cannabis, relationship, psychosis

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the mental illness of schizophrenia. The paper discusses the three phases of schizophrenia in adults, the symptoms, schizophrenia in children and the causes of this severe illness. The paper also looks at the diagnosis and current treatment methods for schizophrenia, which include psychosocial treatment, rehabilitation, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and individual psychotherapy. The paper particularly focuses on the contributions of Harry Stack Sullivan who was one of the earliest contributors to the psychotherapy of schizophrenia. The paper discusses how Sullivan argued that such individuals were not incurable, and that cultural forces were largely responsible for their condition. The paper concludes with an account of a patient who transcribed his feelings about his illness that he later discovered was schizophrenia.

From the Paper
"Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling brain disease which is found all over the world. It is a serious psychiatric illness that causes strange feelings and unusual behavior. The term schizophrenia comes from two Greek words that mean "split mind." It was observed around 1908, by a Swiss doctor named Eugen Bleuler, to describe the splitting apart of mental functions that he regarded as the central characteristic of schizophrenia. Although this illness affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, in comparison to women, who are affected in the twenties to early thirties."

Tags:psychotherapy, symptoms, psychotic, episodes, delusions, hallucinations

Abstract
This paper examines the psychiatric illness of schizophrenia. The author discusses possible causes, risk factors, the symptoms such as depression, hallucinations, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, delusions, etc. The author also discusses how families cope with schizophrenic members, and the various anti-psychotic drugs available.

From the Paper
"Schizophrenia can be classified as gradual-onset schizophrenia (also known as insidious schizophrenia) or acute-episode schizophrenia. Sometimes there is a slow build-up of symptoms leading up to episode schizophrenia; other times there are no warning signs. Episode schizophrenia spans a short period of time but is nevertheless intense and oftentimes includes the following symptoms: hallucinations or delusions, thought disorder, and self-disassociation. Schizophrenia can also be onset suddenly. In a matter of weeks or even days, a schizophrenic's behavior can change significantly."

Tags:mental, illness, psychotic, treatment, episode, social, hallucinate, delusion, withdraw, chronic, acute, onset, haldol, quetiapine, fumarate, risk

Abstract
The paper indicates how our culture has come to assume that adult presentations owe to adverse childhood experience. The paper explains that the broader theme of childhood experience usually refers to matters of normal or abnormal events in childhood to produce unwanted developmental aberrations that register in adult personalities. The paper provides examples from addictions-related materials and on who presents schizophrenia to show how conditions often presumed to have childhood origins but they really reflect several causative factors.

From the Paper
"In central Canada, youth gang shootings of the last years have produced much reference to youths raised in poverty or abused or otherwise damaged in childhood, as a rationale also seen when discussing to adult criminal populations or just persons presenting unhappy or difficult personalities in adulthood. A most influential article indeed referred to disturbed childhood development, subsequent interpersonal development and evolutionary theories of socialization. (Belsky et al: 1991) One sees..."

Tags:childhood exp, adult personality, theory