Introduction
Schizophrenia, a mental disorder and/or plethora of mental disorders, characterized by a number of symptoms including but not limited to: psychotic episodes, impaired social cognitive ability and varied levels of depression and withdrawal, greatly impairs socialization (Couture, 2010; Mental health America, 2010). Therefore, it not only delimits interaction with family and friends, but also significantly impacts social interaction with peers, fellow workers, and/or people within general society. It is therefore understandable that people who experience schizophrenia often lack adaptation skills, suffer from cognitive deficits and also encounter the criminal justice system more frequently(BioMed central, 2010). However, several studies and hypotheses indicate a relationship between human development, family environment and relationships and the propensity for psychotic episodes and/or deficient levels of self-care and functionality within the social sphere of participation. Accordingly, this paper will examine schizophrenia, its definition and parameters, how child development influences its outcomes and how deficient socialization and cognitive abilities play key roles regarding outcomes.
Schizophrenia defined
(Kalapatupa and Dunn, 2010) According to the DSM-IV-TR criteria, a schizophrenia diagnosis requires the patient to have at least two of the following symptoms for at least a one month period (p. 1). Accordingly, Kalapatupa and Dunn (2010) articulate, “Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonia or disorganized behavior and/or other negative symptoms including the blunting of affect,” as diagnostic criterion (p. 1). Although the typical onset is between 12 and 25 years of age, childhood schizophrenia, though rare does exist. In fact, less than one case per 10,000 occurs within preadolescence (p. 1). In comparison, one percent of the world population suffers from schizophrenia. In the United States, about 2.5 million people have schizophrenia (Mental Health America, 2010).
While the debate regarding schizophrenia causation persists among disciplines, including but not limited to scientists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, schizophrenia does induce neurological, physiological, psychological, social and emotional effects (BiomedCentral, 2010). Since the typical onset occurs during adolescence, this, significantly impacts socialization and human development. Moreover, the propensity for schizophrenic episodes, remissions and relapses also delimit adaptation, stability and associative cognition and skills (Couture, 2010; Duke University, 2010 ). For these reasons, it severely delimits the social support necessary for patients, by extension (Duke University, 2010). This becomes clear through exploration.
Socialization, cognition, impairments and development
Mental Health America(2010) reveals that schizophrenia typically arises when the body undergoes tremendous physical and hormonal changes. Accordingly, these changes combined with genetic predisposal, chemical imbalances, traumatic experiences, viral infections and/or a host of immune responses seem to give rise to symptoms (2010). For some, onset may be slow. For others, schizophrenic episodes spontaneously appear. However, early warning signs during adolescence may include (Mental Health America, 2010 ): “[…] hearing sounds or seeing things not really present, a feeling of persistent vigilance, an odd manner of writing and/or speaking, which may be nonsensical in nature, indifference to important or traumatic situation, a change in personality and/or hygiene, frequent and/or increased withdrawal from social gatherings, decreased performance at school and/or work, seemingly irrational responses to friends and/or loved ones unnecessarily invoking anger and/or fear, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, acting strangely and/or extreme fascination and engagement with religion/occult (Mental Health America, 2010, p. 1).
Of course, many of these symptoms may seem somewhat normal for adolescents, especially regarding withdrawal, self-consciousness, difficulty sleeping or concentrating and/or differences in school or work performance (Kalapatapu and Dunn, 2010). Sometimes, changes do occur in personality, as well. After all, the body and mind are in the stages of development. Accordingly, a lapse of withdrawal lasting a month or more or difficulties in any of the aforementioned areas may be somewhat normal and/or temporary. Moreover, cognitive and social development also occurs during pre-adolescence and adolescence (Dekokal, 2010). Since Piaget claimed that (Dekokal, 2010)middle childhood, between the ages 6-12, was characterized by internalizing mental operations that either combine, separate or transform information rationally and that adolescence merely embodied the formal operational thinking development, schizophrenic episodes and/or early warnings arising during these two periods would impair cognitive, social and emotional aspects of living (p. 14). While abstract thinking and the refinement thereof occurs during adolescence, according to Piaget, the mere psychology of adolescence itself also includes (Dekokal, 2010) turmoil, adjustment; separation and connection (p. 28), schizophrenic episodes during this period of development heighten the turmoil and anxieties, delimit adjustment, promote separation and often preclude connection (Kalapatapu and Dunn, 2010, p. 1, 2).
As Biomed Central (2010) highlights, those with schizophrenia are more likely to encounter the criminal justice system during adolescence. Moreover, they are also more likely to experiment with drugs (2010). While the latter may arise from mere experimentation during adolescence, it might also meet the schizophrenic’s needs to mitigate or moderate the symptoms and/or effects they experience (2010). Since many schizophrenics often underperform in comparison with their peers and often withdraw from social relationships, recreational drug use seems more likely (Couture, 2010).
Relationships, peers and family--mediating effects?
Several researchers have explored psychotic episodes and their correlation with schizophrenic parents, traumatic experiences and/or other stress factors including immigration. In a Psychological Medicine 2005 Swedish study, researchers revealed that those with darker skin who came from a developing country and were first generation immigrants to Sweden were 5.8 times more likely to have a psychotic episode. In contrast, those who were third generation immigrants or those who looked more like native Swedes almost never had a psychotic episode (2005). Since schizophrenia’s onset occurs during adolescence, in a period marked by physical, hormonal, social and emotional turmoil, might the Swedish study reveal problems and/or stressors not previously studied regarding schizophrenia, onset and development? Might this also count as ‘social defeat?’
Undoubtedly, certain biological factors do exist and do shape personalities and traits such as shyness (Haimowitz, 2005). Certainly, hypotheses have included ones contending that the first month of prenatal development seems to coauthor the physiological predisposition for schizophrenia and a host of other neurological diseases. However, environment can also insulate and/or delimit some of the unwanted or less desirable aspects of schizophrenia including fragmented or deficient socialization and cognitive recognition (2005).
In fact, some reports reveal that the number of siblings one has, does impact negative or undesirable behaviors during adolescence. Since siblings would inevitably notice changes and/or coach other siblings, this is understandable. Moreover, this continued interaction also maintains cohesiveness during turbulent times of uncertainty. For these reasons, siblings and supportive family members might prove more beneficial for schizophrenic patients. After all, these roles are often performed by various professionals, and/or agencies within a schizophrenic patient’s life.
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