Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder denoting an often chronic, major mental illness primarily affecting thinking, with attendant difficulties in perception of reality, which in turn can affect behavior and emotion. The term schizophrenia comes from the Greek words σχίζω (schizo, split or divide) and φρενός (phrenos, mind) and can be translated as "shattered mind."

History

Accounts that may relate to symptoms of schizophrenia date back as far as 2000 BC in the Book of Hearts, part of the ancient Ebers papyrus. However, a recent study{{Fn|1}} into the ancient Greek and Roman literature showed that whilst the general population probably had an awareness of psychotic disorders, there was no recorded condition that would meet the modern diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in these societies.

Related Topics:
2000 BC - Ebers papyrus - Ancient Greek - Roman

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This nonspecific concept of madness has been around for many thousands of years, but schizophrenia was only classified as a distinct mental disorder by psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in 1887. He was the first to make a distinction and described schizophrenia as being what he called "a hell of the mind; inescapable and terrifying". Kraepelin wrote "schizophrenia stands alone amongst mental conditions; the madmen fall under the spell of the moon as it were. They are lunatics. Lovers of the moon."

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The term schizophrenia is derived from the Greek words 'schizo' (split) and 'phrene' (mind) and was coined by Eugene Bleuler to refer to the lack of interaction between thought processes and perception. "The patients that I have observed do not respond to situations as they should; they are frightened by what is not there, yet they remain indifferent to what is. It is as if they have a split mind." He was also the first to describe the symptoms as "positive" or "negative."{{Fn|22}}

Related Topics:
Eugene Bleuler - Perception

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Bleuler changed the name to schizophrenia as it was obvious that Kraepelin's name was misleading. The word "praecox" implied precocious or early onset, hence premature dementia, as opposed to senile dementia from old age. Bleuler realized the illness was not a dementia as it did not lead to mental deterioration. Rather, schizophrenia led to a sharpening of the senses and a greater awareness of memories and experiences.

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With the name 'schizophrenia' Bleuler intended the name to capture the separation of function between personality, thinking, memory, and perception, however it is commonly misunderstood to mean that affected persons have a 'split personality' (something akin to the character in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). Although people diagnosed with schizophrenia may 'hear voices' and may experience the voices as distinct personalities, schizophrenia does not involve a person changing among distinct multiple personalities. People with schizophrenia retain the same personality; their behaviour maybe affected by psychosis but their personalities remain steady over the years. The confusion perhaps arises in part due to the meaning of Bleuler's term 'schizophrenia' (literally 'split mind'). Interestingly, the first known misuse of this word schizophrenia to mean 'split personality' (in the Jekyll and Hyde sense) was in an article by the poet T. S. Eliot in 1933{{Fn|3}}.

Related Topics:
Personality - Thinking - Memory - Perception - Robert Louis Stevenson's - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - T. S. Eliot - 1933

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In the first half of the twentieth century schizophrenia was considered by many to be a "hereditary defect", and individuals affected by schizophrenia became subject to eugenics in many countries. Hundreds of thousands were sterilized, with or without consent, the majority in Germany, the United States, and Scandinavian countries.

Related Topics:
Twentieth century - Eugenics - Germany - United States - Scandinavian

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