Description

[Heather]

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations.

[Heather]

Brain images, Brains of Normal Control Males compared to brains of Males w/Schizophrenia

Source: Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles,

[[deleted user]]

There are lots of other cellular and gross anatomical changes too... the ventricles progressively increase through time, where, if I'm not mistaken, there's also a lot of parallel deterioration in the white matter. Just in July last year researchers "...found approximately 10,000 genetic variants, each responsible for a miniscule percentage of disease risk." Robert Sapolsky from Stanford has a very interesting take on schizophrenia. I think you can find one of his video'd lectures in youtube where he advances the idea that mild schizo actually has evolutionary advantages.

[Heather]

That is interesting! I think I will look up Dr. Robert Sapolsky on youtube and check out his view of schizophrenia. I would really like to know how he feels that it could actually have its advantages.

[A.]

I've never understood schizophrenia until I saw

A Beautiful Mind (2001)
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[Heather]

Perfect example! (and excellent movie!)

[A.]

Heather wrote: "Perfect example! (and excellent movie!)"

I wish they'd make at least one movie, as good as this one, on each condition.

That way people will understand them better and will be able to recognize and catch each case @ an early stage.

[Heather]

This looks like an interesting book:

The Split Mind: Schizophrenia from an Insider's Point of View

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The main purpose of this book is to educate other patients with schizophrenia, and their family members or friends. The author has written about his personal experiences, in addition to the scientific facts that are known about the illness. He believes that, through sharing his own experiences, he can help other patients feel less isolated and cope with their personal problems. Other mentally healthy persons will also find the book of interest, if they want to know what it is like to live with a mental illness. The subject of schizophrenia is approahced strictly through a patient’s perspective.

[A.]

Heather wrote: "This looks like an interesting book:

The Split Mind: Schizophrenia from an Insider's Point of View



The main purpose of this book is to educate other patients with schizophrenia, ..."

I love books that are based on personal experience

thank you Heather

[Heather]

Is There No Place on Earth for Me?

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33...



" A brilliantly documented chronicle of young woman's long struggle with schizophrenia."

-- Willard Gaylin, The New Republic

"Sylvia Frumkin," highly intelligent young girl, became a schizophrenic in her late teens and spent most of the next seventeen years in anti out of mental institutions. Susan Sheehan, a talented reporter followed "Sylvia" for almost a year talking with and observing her listening to her monologues, sitting in on consultations with doctors, even for a period sleeping in the bed next to her in a mental hospital.

"Susan Sheehan has committed an extraordinary act of journalism....She brings relentless intelligent attention to bear on a particular case, a journalistic practice that almost always results in new and disturbing insights into those mindless generalities and prejudice and certitudes we tend to carry around with us." -- Meg Greenfield, front page Washington Post Book World

"Sheehan is tenacious, observant and unsentimental. The history of a single patient leads us into a maze of understaffed institutions, bureaucratic fumbling, trial-and-error treatment and familial incomprehension. Though Sheehan keeps herself invisible, her sympathy is palpable."

-- Walter Clemons, Newsweek