Homosexual adolescents come from all racial and ethnic groups, all economic backgrounds, and all religious dominations. They live in large cities, suburbs, and rural communities. They are student leaders, athletes, and active members of civic groups as well as school dropouts and runaways. With the exception of a few, most homosexual adolescents are indistinguishable from their heterosexual peers. In fact, most homosexual adolescents are invisible.
In order to understand the development of the homosexual adolescent, there must first be a definition of homosexuality. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (Morantz & Torrey, 2004), homosexuality is the persistent sexual and emotional attraction to member's of one's own gender and is part of the continuum of sexual expression. Many homosexual males and females first become aware of their sexuality during adolescence, as do most heterosexual males and females.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Alfred Kinsey developed a landmark spectrum of sexuality, also known as a continuum, in which his research identified a spectrum of sexual behavior that ranged from sexual behavior and attraction to the opposite sex to sexual behavior and attractions to the same sex. In Kinsey's research, it was noted that few people were homosexual or heterosexual. In fact, his research uncovered that a vast majority of people range somewhere in the middle of heterosexuality and homosexuality.
During adolescence, youth begin to consolidate adult identity. Identity is a complex integration of cognitive, emotional, and social factors that make up a person's sense of self. These include gender, sex roles (social and cultural expectations of masculinity and femininity), personality, and sexual orientation. According to
Adolescence is a time of exploration and experimentation; as such sexual activity does not necessarily reflect either present or future sexual orientation. Confusion about sexual identity or sexual orientation is not uncommon in adolescents. Many youth engage in same-sex behavior; attractions or behaviors do not meant that an adolescent is a homosexual. More to the point, sexual activity is a behavior, whereas sexual orientation is a component of identity. Many teens experience a broad range of sexual behaviors that are incorporated into an evolving sexual identity, consolidated over a period of time.
Overly interpreting the significance of adolescent sexual behavior in relation to sexual identity should be avoided. For example, many gay adolescents are not sexually experienced, many gay adolescents may have heterosexual experiences, many heterosexual adolescents many have homosexual experiences, and even some adolescents may identify their self as gay or lesbian without ever having had homosexual or heterosexual experiences.
Homosexual teenagers frequently describe a sense of feeling different from early childhood. As they age and develop cognitively, many gay and lesbian youth begin to understand the nature of their difference and society's negative reaction to it.
In identifying and learning to manage stigma, these adolescents face additional, highly complex challenges and tasks. Lesbian and gay adolescents must learn to manage a stigmatized identity without active support and modeling from parents and family.
Understanding the concept of lesbian/gay identity during adolescent requires an awareness of adolescent sexual behavior and knowledge of the common coping tools for managing a stigmatized identity development in homosexual adolescents. They are not only fearful of rejection and discrimination, but also may feel uncertain or may be unaware of their sexual orientation.
A large-scale study of Minnesota junior and senior high school students found that although more than 88% described themselves as predominantly heterosexual and 1% said they were either bisexual or predominantly homosexual, more than 10% were unsure of their sexual orientation. Uncertainty declined with age, from 26% of 12 year olds to 5% of 18 year olds. Older adolescents were more likely than younger peers to report homosexual identities, attractions, and behaviors.
Studies of adolescent sexual orientation show that the age of self-identification as lesbian or gay has been dropping steadily. Unlike older gay men and lesbians whose survival often depended on separating their social, professional, and emotional lives, today's generation of homosexual youth has an opportunity to live fully integrated lives. However, self-identification as lesbian or gay at younger ages also means greater stress, more negative social pressure, greater likelihood of victimization, and greater need for support, particularly from nonjudgmental and informed adults who can offer appropriate guidance and education. The need for support is particularly critical to avoid isolation when adolescents begin to question their sexual coming out. Coming out, acknowledging one's homosexual identity is a process in which lesbian and gay men recognize their own sexual orientation and integrate this awareness into their lives.
Early on during the development of their sexual identity, homosexual adolescents are confronted with conflicting values, negative homosexual stereotypes, and a lack of openly gay role models. According to Durby (1994),
Parents, family, and peers fail to validate the adolescents developing non-heterosexual orientation and regard it as a phase. Often, when a child's homosexuality becomes apparent or known to parents, they feel, anger, or disgust and repel the child, leaving such throwaway lesbian and gay youth to fend alone. The fact is that we generally assume that our children will grow up to be heterosexual.
Especially in adolescence, the gay youth learn to conceal their developing sexual orientation to avoid the humiliation of sexual taunts. They feel not liked or forced to engage in heterosexually accepted behaviors such as dating members of the opposite sex. This whole setting creates conflict and confusion and tends to prevent or postpone the normal development process of sexual identity. Savin-Williams (Savin-Williams, Ritch C., 2005) says that
Most youth are raised in heterosexual families, associate in heterosexual peer groups, and are educated in heterosexual institutions. Youth who are not heterosexual often feel they have little option except to pass as "heterosexually normal.". The fact that they must hide their sexual orientation makes it assume a global significance to them considerably beyond necessary proportions.
Researchers have proposed several models of the development of homosexual identity. Bridget Taylor discusses Cass' developmental model of homosexuality (1999, p. 521).
Cass's developmental model proposes that identity formation progresses from an initial awareness of same-sex attraction through homosexual behavior to eventual self-labeling, self-disclosure, and finally the adoption of a positive gay identity. The six discrete stages of the homosexual identity formation model are identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride and identity synthesis
During the identity confusion stage, adolescents are questioning whether he or she maybe gay, or if there were a same-sex attraction, it is usually explained away by the adolescent. In the identity comparison stage, the adolescent is thinking about the possibility that he or she is gay, may experience isolation from others because to commit to a gay or lesbian image of themselves. It is also during this stage that one may choose to pass as being straight or heterosexual. During the third stage, the identity tolerance stage, one is accepting the possibility of being gay, tolerates being gay, is partially relieved because one can acknowledge their emotional needs. It is during the identity stage that adolescents seek out role models in the gay and lesbian community. Their self-esteem and support from others also increase during this stage. The fourth stage of homosexual development, identity acceptance, occurs when one has greater contact with other gay and lesbian people and usually seek gay community activities as opposed to straight activities. Often during the identity acceptance stage, a person may even selectively disclose their sexuality, and have more of a normalizing experience of homosexuality. In the identity pride stage, homosexual adolescents tend to view their sexuality as a duel between heterosexual, or straight, and homosexual, gay. They may not associate with other heterosexual activities all together and often assume all heterosexuals are their enemy- them vs. us. They may become angry or frustrated with homophobic attitudes and generally disclose their sexuality. The final stage of homosexual identity, identity synthesis, entails letting go of the dichotomy of them vs. us, and will selectively choose heterosexuals to contact, Finally, the homosexual feels peace with oneself and is feels free to attend all other aspects of life. The fourth, fifth, and six stages generally do not occur during adolescence rather, it is more common to find a homosexual experiencing the identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis during the early adulthood period of development.
Many adolescents use various coping strategies and behaviors to try and hide their homosexual identity such as passing as heterosexual in most or all of their interactions. Other coping strategies include denying same sex feelings, avoiding situations that might confirm sexual identity, such as playing football with other boys. The adolescent may also try to change their homosexuality by dating or engaging in heterosexual activity, use alcohol or drugs to repress same sex feelings, or try to rationalize behavior as merely being temporary—a phase. As the adolescent acknowledges his or her homosexual identity, many seek accurate information and support. Adolescents are also increasingly self-identifying as lesbian or gay at younger ages. Access to the Internet, which includes include information and support for homosexual youth, is helping facilitate this early self-identification by connecting other homosexual adolescents on a larger scale. Additionally, access to a well defined community providing supportive social, recreational, and religious activities, helps to dispel negative stereotypes and provides a broader range of choices. Interaction also provides support for managing stigma, learning how to deal with discrimination, violence, and other negative experiences that routinely occur within mainstream society.
Gay and lesbian youth who lack sufficient support or who remain unaware of positive options for living open, productive lives may develop unhealthy coping behaviors that persist into adulthood, placing them at an increased risk of serious health and mental problems. These may include substance abuse, depression, suicide, and HIV/AIDS.
The decision to come out, particularly to parents, may have long-term consequences. Most adolescents are dependent on their parents for financial and emotional support. Although coming out can reduce stress and increase communication and intimacy in relationships, disclosure during adolescence may result in abandonment, rejection, or violence when parents abruptly learn or discover that their child is gay.
Adolescents who are considering coming out to their parents should be encouraged to explore their reasons carefully before doing so. Even parents who try to be supportive need time; access to accurate information, and an opportunity to process what for most will be a distressing and guilt-provoking experience.
Nevertheless, coming out or disclosure plays an important role in identity development. An understanding of common coming out patters can help in assessing available support, family dynamics, and resource needs.
When disclosure is voluntary, the adolescent will probably come out first to those they perceive as less threatening (emotionally, physically, and economically), usually close peers. Although gay friends are more likely confidants, many adolescents, particularly those who are younger, have no friends who are lesbian or gay. Unfortunately, rejection by heterosexual peers appears common (Marsiglio, April/May 2001)
In a 14-city survey, nearly three-fourths of lesbian and gay youth first disclosed their sexual identity to friends. Forty-six percent lost a friend after coming out to her or him. In a study of gay and lesbian adolescents 14 to 21 years of age, less than one in five of the surveyed gay and lesbian adolescent students could identify someone who was very supportive of them.
A study of gay-related stress among adolescents found that the most commons stressors were coming out to parents and siblings, having their sexual orientation discovered by parents or siblings, and or being discovered by friends and being ridiculed because they were gay.
The process of self-identifying as a homosexual during adolescence can take a number of years, starting before puberty when gay teenagers may begin to feel different from others and culminating in self-acceptance through integrating sexual identity into various aspects of one's life. Access to adult and peer support, accurate information and resources can help enhance coping skills, provide a greater self-esteem, and positive help-seeking behaviors.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Homosexuality Is (Not)Against The Nature
An argument that is often used when agitating against Homosexuality that is `against nature`. This argument is often stressed when it is suggested to gays to deny their nature. The easiest way to undo this argument naturally is through biological, zoological, and social facts. There are several investigations regarding Homosexuality in the realm of animals (same-sex sexual activity has been found in more 450 nonhuman, one of the famous example is gay penguin couples at New York City's Central Park's Zoo, Squawk and Milou. These male penguins, entwine their necks, kiss and have sex—and they firmly reject females. Another male pair in this zoo, Silo and Roy, seemed so desperate to incubate an egg together that they put rock in their nest and sat on it. Their human keeper was so touched that he put a fertile egg to hatch. Silo and Roy sat on it for the necessary 34 days and finally, Tango, was born, and they raised Tango beautifully)and these show, on a purely scientific level, that Homosexuality among animals seems to be something that takes place quite regularly, and it also can be noted that animals do not seem to know this specifically Human Behavior of stigmatizing this variation. In this context people might ask oneself why nature hasn’t abolished Homosexuality a long time ago if it really finds it that wrong. With all this clues and scientific findings nothing remains from this `against nature` argument. We also can reverse this nature-thing from another point of view. If one rejects something or turns something down because it is “against nature”, we can implied in this rejection the idea that nature is better than human and that the ways of nature are always right and that nature should more or less function as an example for us. If human does everything in the way nature shows, he will find the way back to the roots and will become inconspicuous part of the great whole.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Diagnosis: Giving a name to a set of symptoms
Just the word diagnosis can sound frightening and clinical. However, diagnoses
are nothing more than the names given to various physical and mental
disorders or diseases. A diagnosis is a generalization that describes what
the average person with that disorder or disease experiences, and what can
be expected in the future based on criteria that are periodically revised by
the medical community.
The value of a diagnosis is that it provides a shorthand way of communicating
important information about a medical condition, such as:
- The characteristic symptoms of the disorder
-The expected course (how it may vary over time)
-The prognosis of the disorder (the outlook for the future)
- Most important, options for treatment
are nothing more than the names given to various physical and mental
disorders or diseases. A diagnosis is a generalization that describes what
the average person with that disorder or disease experiences, and what can
be expected in the future based on criteria that are periodically revised by
the medical community.
The value of a diagnosis is that it provides a shorthand way of communicating
important information about a medical condition, such as:
- The characteristic symptoms of the disorder
-The expected course (how it may vary over time)
-The prognosis of the disorder (the outlook for the future)
- Most important, options for treatment
Friday, June 4, 2010
Dispelling the Myths Associated with Schizophrenia.
People wrongly associate the symptoms of schizophrenia with split or multiple
personalities (like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), antisocial behavior (similar to
what we see in serial killers), and developmental disabilities. Others believe
that schizophrenia is a character defect and that the individual could behave
normally if he really wanted to.
Here are a few of the most common misconceptions about schizophrenia:
- Schizophrenia is the same as a split or multiple personality.
Schizophrenia is not the same as multiple personality, which is an
exceedingly rare, totally different disorder that is now more commonly
called a dissociative identity disorder. (Under stress, people with this
disorder often assume different identities, each with different names,
voices, characteristics, and personal histories.)
- People with schizophrenia are violent.
People with schizophrenia are
more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of crimes. Many
people believe that most people with schizophrenia have a propensity
for violence, but the reality is that most people with schizophrenia
don’t commit violent crimes, and most violent criminals don’t have
schizophrenia.
For example, serial killers (people who commit three or more subsequent
murders) usually aren’t psychotic (out of touch with reality);
they’re likely to be diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder
(a disorder in which people disregard commonly accepted social rules
and norms, display impulsive behavior, and are indifferent to the rights
and feelings of others).
However, people with untreated schizophrenia, who refuse to take
medication and whose thinking is out of touch with reality are at
increased risk of aggressive behavior and self-neglect. The risk of violence
also increases if someone with schizophrenia is actively abusing
alcohol or illicit drugs. For better or worse, the aggressive behavior is
usually directed toward family or friends rather than toward strangers.
- Poor parenting causes schizophrenia.
For many years, clinicians were
taught and actually believed that schizophrenia was caused by parents
who were either too permissive or too controlling. The term schizophrenogenic
mother was once used to describe such parents — the blame
usually fell heavily on mothers because they tended to spend the most
time with their offspring. Another outdated theory is the double-bind
theory, which suggested that schizophrenia is due to inconsistent
parenting, with conflicting messages.
These ideas were not based on controlled studies, and these theories no
longer have credibility today.
Schizophrenia is a no-fault disorder of the brain.
- People with schizophrenia are mentally retarded.
Some people think
that schizophrenia is synonymous with mental retardation (now called
developmental disabilities). No. Like the general public, people with
schizophrenia have a wide range of intellectual abilities. They may
appear less intelligent because of the impaired social skills, odd behaviors,
and cognitive impairments that are characteristic of schizophrenia.
However, they’re not lacking in intelligence, and schizophrenia is
distinct from developmental disabilities (physical and mental deficits
that are chronic and severe and that generally begin in childhood).
- Schizophrenia is a defect of character.
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
give people the mistaken impression that those with the disorder
are lazy and could act “normally” if they wanted to. This idea is no
more realistic than suggesting that someone could prevent his epileptic
seizures if he really wanted to or that someone could “decide” not to
have cancer if he ate the right foods. What often appears as character
defects are symptoms of schizophrenia.
When the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are persistent and primarily
caused by schizophrenia, they’re referred to as deficit syndrome.
- There’s no hope for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Sixty years
ago when people were diagnosed with schizophrenia, they were
either kept at home behind closed doors by embarrassed and forlorn
families who saw no other alternative, or consigned to long-term stays
in distant state hospitals for care that was largely custodial (they weren’t
treated — they were just taken care of). Other than using highly sedating
drugs, doctors had few tools available to them to relieve the agitation
and torment of their patients or to help restore their functioning.
In contrast to how things were in the past, schizophrenia is now considered
highly treatable. Several generations of new medications and the
emergence of new forms of therapies have enabled doctors to treat the
symptoms of the large majority of patients with schizophrenia enabling
them to live meaningful, productive lives in their communities.
personalities (like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), antisocial behavior (similar to
what we see in serial killers), and developmental disabilities. Others believe
that schizophrenia is a character defect and that the individual could behave
normally if he really wanted to.
Here are a few of the most common misconceptions about schizophrenia:
- Schizophrenia is the same as a split or multiple personality.
Schizophrenia is not the same as multiple personality, which is an
exceedingly rare, totally different disorder that is now more commonly
called a dissociative identity disorder. (Under stress, people with this
disorder often assume different identities, each with different names,
voices, characteristics, and personal histories.)
- People with schizophrenia are violent.
People with schizophrenia are
more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of crimes. Many
people believe that most people with schizophrenia have a propensity
for violence, but the reality is that most people with schizophrenia
don’t commit violent crimes, and most violent criminals don’t have
schizophrenia.
For example, serial killers (people who commit three or more subsequent
murders) usually aren’t psychotic (out of touch with reality);
they’re likely to be diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder
(a disorder in which people disregard commonly accepted social rules
and norms, display impulsive behavior, and are indifferent to the rights
and feelings of others).
However, people with untreated schizophrenia, who refuse to take
medication and whose thinking is out of touch with reality are at
increased risk of aggressive behavior and self-neglect. The risk of violence
also increases if someone with schizophrenia is actively abusing
alcohol or illicit drugs. For better or worse, the aggressive behavior is
usually directed toward family or friends rather than toward strangers.
- Poor parenting causes schizophrenia.
For many years, clinicians were
taught and actually believed that schizophrenia was caused by parents
who were either too permissive or too controlling. The term schizophrenogenic
mother was once used to describe such parents — the blame
usually fell heavily on mothers because they tended to spend the most
time with their offspring. Another outdated theory is the double-bind
theory, which suggested that schizophrenia is due to inconsistent
parenting, with conflicting messages.
These ideas were not based on controlled studies, and these theories no
longer have credibility today.
Schizophrenia is a no-fault disorder of the brain.
- People with schizophrenia are mentally retarded.
Some people think
that schizophrenia is synonymous with mental retardation (now called
developmental disabilities). No. Like the general public, people with
schizophrenia have a wide range of intellectual abilities. They may
appear less intelligent because of the impaired social skills, odd behaviors,
and cognitive impairments that are characteristic of schizophrenia.
However, they’re not lacking in intelligence, and schizophrenia is
distinct from developmental disabilities (physical and mental deficits
that are chronic and severe and that generally begin in childhood).
- Schizophrenia is a defect of character.
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
give people the mistaken impression that those with the disorder
are lazy and could act “normally” if they wanted to. This idea is no
more realistic than suggesting that someone could prevent his epileptic
seizures if he really wanted to or that someone could “decide” not to
have cancer if he ate the right foods. What often appears as character
defects are symptoms of schizophrenia.
When the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are persistent and primarily
caused by schizophrenia, they’re referred to as deficit syndrome.
- There’s no hope for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Sixty years
ago when people were diagnosed with schizophrenia, they were
either kept at home behind closed doors by embarrassed and forlorn
families who saw no other alternative, or consigned to long-term stays
in distant state hospitals for care that was largely custodial (they weren’t
treated — they were just taken care of). Other than using highly sedating
drugs, doctors had few tools available to them to relieve the agitation
and torment of their patients or to help restore their functioning.
In contrast to how things were in the past, schizophrenia is now considered
highly treatable. Several generations of new medications and the
emergence of new forms of therapies have enabled doctors to treat the
symptoms of the large majority of patients with schizophrenia enabling
them to live meaningful, productive lives in their communities.
What are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
There are almost 300 named psychiatric disorders, and schizophrenia is one
of them. Although many mental illnesses have symptoms that overlap,
schizophrenia has a distinct pattern of symptoms. No two cases of schizophrenia
look exactly the same, but most people with schizophrenia display
three types of symptoms:
-Positive symptoms: The term positive symptoms is confusing, because
positive symptoms (as the term might suggest) aren’t “good” symptoms
at all. They’re symptoms that add to reality, and not in a good way.
People with schizophrenia hear things that don’t exist or see things that
aren’t there (in what are known as hallucinations). The voices they hear
can accuse them of terrible things and can be very jarring (for example,
causing them to think that they’ve hurt someone or have been responsible
for some cataclysmic world event).
People with schizophrenia can also have delusions (false beliefs that
defy logic or any culturally specific explanation and that cannot be
changed by logic or reason). For example, an individual may believe that
there is a conspiracy of people driving red cars that follows his every
movement. He will use the fact that there are red cars everywhere he
goes as evidence that the conspiracy is real.
-Negative symptoms: These symptoms are a lack of something that
should be present; behaviors that would be considered normal are
either absent or diminished. For example, people with schizophrenia
often lack motivation and appear lazy. They may be much slower to
respond than most other people, have little to say when they do speak,
and appear as if they have no emotions, or exhibit emotions that are
inappropriate to the situation. They may also be unable to get pleasure
from the things that most people enjoy or from activities that once
brought pleasure to them. Families often get frustrated when a relative
with schizophrenia does nothing but sleep or watch TV — they wrongly
attribute this behavior to the patient not being willing to assume
responsibility or “pull himself up by his bootstraps.”
Negative symptoms are part and parcel of the illness for at least 25
percent of people with schizophrenia.
-Cognitive symptoms: Most people with the disorder suffer from impairments
in memory, learning, concentration, and their ability to make
sound decisions. These so-called cognitive symptoms interfere with an
individual’s ability to learn new things, remember things they once
knew, and use skills they once had. Cognitive symptoms can make it
hard for a person to continue working at a job, going to school, or
participating in activities she may have enjoyed at one time.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, people with schizophrenia
may also have sleep problems, mood swings, and anxiety. They may experience
difficulties forming and maintaining social relationships with other
people. They may look different enough that other people notice that something
is very odd or strange about them and that they don’t quite look
“normal.” They may have unusual ways of doing things, have peculiar habits,
dress inappropriately (such as wearing a heavy coat or multiple layers of
clothes in the summer), and/or be poorly groomed, which can discourage
other people from getting involved with them.
of them. Although many mental illnesses have symptoms that overlap,
schizophrenia has a distinct pattern of symptoms. No two cases of schizophrenia
look exactly the same, but most people with schizophrenia display
three types of symptoms:
-Positive symptoms: The term positive symptoms is confusing, because
positive symptoms (as the term might suggest) aren’t “good” symptoms
at all. They’re symptoms that add to reality, and not in a good way.
People with schizophrenia hear things that don’t exist or see things that
aren’t there (in what are known as hallucinations). The voices they hear
can accuse them of terrible things and can be very jarring (for example,
causing them to think that they’ve hurt someone or have been responsible
for some cataclysmic world event).
People with schizophrenia can also have delusions (false beliefs that
defy logic or any culturally specific explanation and that cannot be
changed by logic or reason). For example, an individual may believe that
there is a conspiracy of people driving red cars that follows his every
movement. He will use the fact that there are red cars everywhere he
goes as evidence that the conspiracy is real.
-Negative symptoms: These symptoms are a lack of something that
should be present; behaviors that would be considered normal are
either absent or diminished. For example, people with schizophrenia
often lack motivation and appear lazy. They may be much slower to
respond than most other people, have little to say when they do speak,
and appear as if they have no emotions, or exhibit emotions that are
inappropriate to the situation. They may also be unable to get pleasure
from the things that most people enjoy or from activities that once
brought pleasure to them. Families often get frustrated when a relative
with schizophrenia does nothing but sleep or watch TV — they wrongly
attribute this behavior to the patient not being willing to assume
responsibility or “pull himself up by his bootstraps.”
Negative symptoms are part and parcel of the illness for at least 25
percent of people with schizophrenia.
-Cognitive symptoms: Most people with the disorder suffer from impairments
in memory, learning, concentration, and their ability to make
sound decisions. These so-called cognitive symptoms interfere with an
individual’s ability to learn new things, remember things they once
knew, and use skills they once had. Cognitive symptoms can make it
hard for a person to continue working at a job, going to school, or
participating in activities she may have enjoyed at one time.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, people with schizophrenia
may also have sleep problems, mood swings, and anxiety. They may experience
difficulties forming and maintaining social relationships with other
people. They may look different enough that other people notice that something
is very odd or strange about them and that they don’t quite look
“normal.” They may have unusual ways of doing things, have peculiar habits,
dress inappropriately (such as wearing a heavy coat or multiple layers of
clothes in the summer), and/or be poorly groomed, which can discourage
other people from getting involved with them.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a no-fault, equal-opportunity illness most likely caused
by a number of factors, both genetic and environmental. Most scientists now
accept a two-hit theory for the cause of schizophrenia, which suggests that
the genetic susceptibility is compounded by one or more environmental
factors:
-Genetic susceptibility: Based on family genetic history, some people are
more vulnerable to the disorder than other people are.
- Environmental factors: In someone genetically predisposed, certain
environment factors may come into play, such as:
• Physical trauma that occurs to the fetus during childbirth
• Oxygen-deprivation or some psychological or physical problem
that occurs to the mother during pregnancy and affects the developing
fetus
• Emotional stress, such as the loss of a parent or loved one during
young adulthood
Although schizophrenia is genetically influenced, more than genetics is
involved in its development. Studies of identical twins show that, if one twin
develops schizophrenia, the other twin has only a 40 percent to 50 percent
chance of also developing the illness. There’s also an increased risk among
fraternal twins when one develops schizophrenia, the other has between a 10
percent and 17 percent chance, far less than that of identical twins. Having a
parent with schizophrenia also increases a person’s risk of developing the
disease, to about 10 percent. And if you have a sibling with the disorder —
not your twin — you have a 6 percent to 9 percent chance of developing the
disorder yourself.
Scientists still don’t know the precise causes of schizophrenia for any particular
individual, yet family members and patients themselves tend to dwell on
(or even obsess about) finding a “reason” or a “cause” for the illness.
Although this instinct is a natural one, finding the precise cause or explanation
is impossible, not to mention counterproductive — finding a reason
doesn’t help treatment, and it often creates unnecessary and misplaced guilt,
with one family member blaming another
by a number of factors, both genetic and environmental. Most scientists now
accept a two-hit theory for the cause of schizophrenia, which suggests that
the genetic susceptibility is compounded by one or more environmental
factors:
-Genetic susceptibility: Based on family genetic history, some people are
more vulnerable to the disorder than other people are.
- Environmental factors: In someone genetically predisposed, certain
environment factors may come into play, such as:
• Physical trauma that occurs to the fetus during childbirth
• Oxygen-deprivation or some psychological or physical problem
that occurs to the mother during pregnancy and affects the developing
fetus
• Emotional stress, such as the loss of a parent or loved one during
young adulthood
Although schizophrenia is genetically influenced, more than genetics is
involved in its development. Studies of identical twins show that, if one twin
develops schizophrenia, the other twin has only a 40 percent to 50 percent
chance of also developing the illness. There’s also an increased risk among
fraternal twins when one develops schizophrenia, the other has between a 10
percent and 17 percent chance, far less than that of identical twins. Having a
parent with schizophrenia also increases a person’s risk of developing the
disease, to about 10 percent. And if you have a sibling with the disorder —
not your twin — you have a 6 percent to 9 percent chance of developing the
disorder yourself.
Scientists still don’t know the precise causes of schizophrenia for any particular
individual, yet family members and patients themselves tend to dwell on
(or even obsess about) finding a “reason” or a “cause” for the illness.
Although this instinct is a natural one, finding the precise cause or explanation
is impossible, not to mention counterproductive — finding a reason
doesn’t help treatment, and it often creates unnecessary and misplaced guilt,
with one family member blaming another
Who Gets Schizophrenia?
No group is risk-free when it comes to schizophrenia, but some people are
more likely than others to develop the disorder. The following statistics may
surprise you:
-Schizophrenia is more common than you might think. About 1 out of
100 people develop schizophrenia over the course of their lifetime.
Schizophrenia is twice as common as Alzheimer’s disease or HIV/AIDS,
five times as common as multiple sclerosis, and six times as common as
Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Although new cases of schizophrenia are somewhat rare, the number
of individuals with the disorder remains relatively high because
schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that often lasts for an extended
period of time.
- Schizophrenia affects both sexes equally and is found among people
of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups around the world.
- Although schizophrenia is more likely to affect people between the
ages of 17 and 35 (the onset tends to be earlier in men than in
women), it can begin in children as young as age 5 or have a late
onset in a person’s 50s, 60s, or 70s.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is extremely rare, affecting about 1 in
40,000 children. Only 1 in 100 adults now diagnosed with the disorder
had symptoms before the age of 13. Because the disorder tends to
surface more gradually in children, it often goes unnoticed.
An earlier onset is often indicative of poorer outcomes because the
disorder can interfere with education, development, and social
functioning. On the other hand, early recognition can help improve
outcomes and minimize disability.
more likely than others to develop the disorder. The following statistics may
surprise you:
-Schizophrenia is more common than you might think. About 1 out of
100 people develop schizophrenia over the course of their lifetime.
Schizophrenia is twice as common as Alzheimer’s disease or HIV/AIDS,
five times as common as multiple sclerosis, and six times as common as
Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Although new cases of schizophrenia are somewhat rare, the number
of individuals with the disorder remains relatively high because
schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that often lasts for an extended
period of time.
- Schizophrenia affects both sexes equally and is found among people
of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups around the world.
- Although schizophrenia is more likely to affect people between the
ages of 17 and 35 (the onset tends to be earlier in men than in
women), it can begin in children as young as age 5 or have a late
onset in a person’s 50s, 60s, or 70s.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is extremely rare, affecting about 1 in
40,000 children. Only 1 in 100 adults now diagnosed with the disorder
had symptoms before the age of 13. Because the disorder tends to
surface more gradually in children, it often goes unnoticed.
An earlier onset is often indicative of poorer outcomes because the
disorder can interfere with education, development, and social
functioning. On the other hand, early recognition can help improve
outcomes and minimize disability.
What Is Schizphrenia?
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder characterized by a variety of different
symptoms, many of which can dramatically affect an individual’s way of
thinking and ability to function. Most scientists think that the disorder
is due to one or more problems in the development of the brain that results
in neurochemical imbalances, although no one fully understands why
schizophrenia develops.
People with schizophrenia have trouble distinguishing what’s real from
what’s not. They are not able to fully control their emotions or think
logically, and they usually have trouble relating to other people. They often
suffer from hallucinations; much of their bizarre behavior is usually due to
individuals acting in response to something they think is real but is only in
their minds.
Unfortunately, because of the way schizophrenia has been inaccurately
portrayed in the media over many decades, the illness is one of the most
feared and misunderstood of all the physical and mental disorders.
Schizophrenia is a long-term relapsing disorder because it has symptoms
that wax and wane, worsen and get better, over time. Similar to many
physical illnesses (such as diabetes, asthma, and arthritis), schizophrenia is
highly treatable — although it isn’t yet considered curable.
symptoms, many of which can dramatically affect an individual’s way of
thinking and ability to function. Most scientists think that the disorder
is due to one or more problems in the development of the brain that results
in neurochemical imbalances, although no one fully understands why
schizophrenia develops.
People with schizophrenia have trouble distinguishing what’s real from
what’s not. They are not able to fully control their emotions or think
logically, and they usually have trouble relating to other people. They often
suffer from hallucinations; much of their bizarre behavior is usually due to
individuals acting in response to something they think is real but is only in
their minds.
Unfortunately, because of the way schizophrenia has been inaccurately
portrayed in the media over many decades, the illness is one of the most
feared and misunderstood of all the physical and mental disorders.
Schizophrenia is a long-term relapsing disorder because it has symptoms
that wax and wane, worsen and get better, over time. Similar to many
physical illnesses (such as diabetes, asthma, and arthritis), schizophrenia is
highly treatable — although it isn’t yet considered curable.
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