Schizophrenia Analysis: Aetiology, Signs, Symptoms, Health Promotion

This essay examines a case study of a 23-year-old named Steve, who presents symptoms indicative of paranoid schizophrenia. The essay begins by justifying the diagnosis based on literature and the criteria outlined in ICD-10, differentiating it from other conditions like psychotic episodes and schizoaffective disorder. It delves into the aetiology of schizophrenia, exploring potential causes such as neurotransmitter defects, genetic factors, and environmental influences, including the Stress Vulnerability Model. The essay outlines the signs and symptoms observed in Steve, including hallucinations, delusions, and social withdrawal. Furthermore, it discusses health promotion and recovery strategies, emphasizing patient-centered care, family involvement, peer support, and the use of both typical and atypical medications, along with CBT sessions to manage symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.

Student name
Student No.
Unit
Title: Schizophrenia

Introduction
Steve, who is the subject in this report, is aged 23 and showed signs of paranoid
delusion and hallucination. According to differential diagnosis and since these signs and
symptoms have been manifest for over six months, he cannot be suffering from psychotic
episodes. He is also not faced with effect and speech disturbances, he is not disorganized and
does not show catatonic and negative symptoms. He therefore cannot be suffering from the
depressive type of schizoaffective personality disorder. According to the report from the
crisis resolution crew they did not record any incoherence of speech, motor function
disturbances or any abnormal change in moods from Steve.
Aetiology
The nursing and the resolution team came to a conclusion that Steve could be
suffering from Schizophrenia. But to be sure on this there was the need to look into Steve’s
family background, their history and past events as the health care professionals argued that it
was not clear what the cause of Schizophrenia could be. Among the diagnostic methods of
Schizophrenia is the ICD-10. According to this criteria, the characteristic features of Paranoid
schizophrenia include hallucinations and paranoid delusions. There is no published materials
explaining the cause of Schizophrenia in humans but there exists speculations that it could be
as a result neurotransmitter defects, genetic factors or caused by environmental factors. It is
linked with genetic factors with identical twins having a higher risk of about 40 to 65 percent.
The health care professionals did not find enough information to link Steve’s illness to his
family, though they claimed that he would be vulnerable if any of his family members
suffered from this condition. There are different theories explaining the cause of this
condition with some claiming that genetic factors alone do not cause schizophrenia but just
influences it. This theory also argues that schizophrenia does not only occur in genetically

predisposed individuals alone. The Stress Vulnerability Model links genetics with
environmental factors as a trigger to this condition.
For genetically predisposed children, some occurrences during pregnancy or in their
early childhood stages are thought to trigger schizophrenia. Parental death or separation
during early childhood, viral exposure and sexual or poor physical treatment during early
stages of development are triggers to schizophrenia and also increase the child’s vulnerability
to the disease. The team therefore saw it of great benefit to enquire of any complication that
could have risen during pregnancy or during his early stages of development. They also
enquired about any kind of sickness or abuse he could have faced or if there could have
occurred separation between his parents. Drug and substance abuse, including alcohol,
heroine and cannabis can cause schizophrenia. Though it was not stated if Steve was a drug
addict, the team suggested for a urine drug screening to determine any possibility of drug and
substance abuse. Peer pressure, stress and family issues and conflicts could be a trigger to this
condition. Steve did not have friends and also had nothing from his family to stress him.
Researches claim that schizophrenia occurs in the late stages of adolescence and early
adulthood stages. Steve being in his 20’s, this could be a factor to consider.
Signs and symptoms
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by hearing of voices, delusion,
paranoia, hallucinations and seeing things that do not exist. The victim suffers from
withdrawal from family and peers, depression and impaired emotional response. This
condition cannot be diagnosed if the individual is suffering from withdrawal, intoxicated with
drugs or has organic brain disease. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be seen for almost a
month according to ICD-10 diagnosis. According to Steve, the government scientists had
begun tests and experiments on him over a year and in the course made him different ideas

(though of insertion) about himself. Though he does not appear to be having any signs of
drug intoxication or organic brain disease, drug screening and MRI brain scan would be
essential to ascertain this. It is believed that suspicion is a prominent symptom of
schizophrenia. Steve always grew suspicious when he heard the neighbor’s dog bark in the
night. He was also experiencing third party auditory hallucination, whereby another person’s
voice was commending on his thoughts. Steve lived in isolation as he liked spending his time
alone. He could not even answer a knock on the door and also took time off work in the most
of the days. This is a symptom showing social withdrawal.
Health Promotion and Recovery
Health promotion is a way of controlling and improving one’s health so as to attain an
absolute social, mental and physical sanity. Administering medications to a schizophrenia
patient does not necessarily lead to clinical recovery. What is most important is personal
recovery which could be achieved by giving hope to the patient. This includes giving the
individual support so as to live a normal life and be able to attain his life goal regardless of
symptoms that could manifest. Patient centred care is important to help this patient gain
stability. The patient is considered an integral part in the treatment and care plan. The patient
centred care could also help in identifying the patient’s needs. Partnering with the patient’s
family is crucial in the treatment and care procedure of the patient as it could help the
caregiver identify interests, hobbies and the activities the patient participated in. the patient is
then introduced to these activities and his likes as he recovers.
To improve the patient’s recovery and social identity, attending peer support groups
could be a good option. Typical and atypical medications could promote the recovery
process. CBT sessions could help the patient know how to deal with hallucinations and
delusions. It is however important that the patient is made aware of the side effects of the

medication administered to them. It should be noticed that this condition can be treated and
managed and the individual lives a normal life.