Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder , Causes and Symptoms

 Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by a combination of psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations (perceiving things that are not real) and delusions (having fixed, false beliefs), as well as disturbances in thinking, emotions, and social interactions.

The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors. It typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood, although it can occur at any age.

Symptoms of schizophrenia can be classified into three main categories: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations (often auditory, but can also be visual, tactile, or olfactory) and delusions. Negative symptoms refer to a loss or decrease in normal functioning, such as reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal, and diminished motivation. Cognitive symptoms involve problems with attention, memory, and executive functioning, which can impact a person's ability to organize and plan.

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment, usually involving a combination of antipsychotic medications, psychosocial interventions (such as therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and social support), and lifestyle adjustments. With appropriate treatment and support, many individuals with schizophrenia can manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives. However, it is important to note that the course of the illness can vary widely between individuals, and some may experience more severe and persistent symptoms. Regular monitoring and ongoing care are crucial for effectively managing schizophrenia. 

What is perceived stress?/ What is stress?? Definition of stress?

 What is perceived stress?  

Perceived Stress   

Stress is a pressure and response of body to a test or demand. Stress is a feeling of emotional and physical tightness. It can come from any event that makes a person on feel nervous and frustrated. Stress is based on reality like if you have a lot of work to do, and you can’t keep up with your tasks, what you feel is a stress.

The word 'stress' was first used by the endocrinologist Hans Selye in the 1930s. Stress has been described as an illness of the 20th century. Stress is defined in psychology as a sensation of pressure and tension on emotions. A form of psychological discomfort is stress. Little degrees of stress may be advantageous since they can enhance motivation, physical performance, and environmental response. Yet excessive stress can also worsen a pre-existing ailment and raise the risk of heart attacks, ulcers, strokes, and mental problems like depression.

The source of psychological stress might be internal views that lead a person to feel pressure, discomfort, or other negative feelings as a result of a circumstance, which they then perceive as stressful. Psychological stress can also be external and connected to the environment.

 “Stress is a natural physiological mechanism that protects humans from danger. When stress occurs, the human body prepares for quick action by releasing hormones that increase alertness and focus. However, if the source of stress does not disappear, stress hormones can persist in the body” (Anbumalar et al., 2017).

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

·         Difficulty in solving problems
·         Restlessness                              
·         Memory Loss                                  
·          Headaches
·         Mood Swings                         
·         Fear, Grief Anger         
·         Fatigue
·          Gastrointestinal problems
·         Hypertension (high blood pressure)
·         Heart problems, such as palpitations
·         Inability to focus/lack of concentration
·         Sleep disturbances, whether it’s sleeping too much or an inability to sleep
·          Sweating palms/shaking hands
·         Sexual problems

·          Anxiety

Changes of behavior are signs of stress, also display:

•         Irritability

•         Disruptive eating patterns (overeating or under eating)

•         Harsh treatment of others

•         Increased smoking or alcohol consumption

•         Isolation

Stress Management 

       The term "stress management" refers to a broad range of methods and psychotherapies that are intended to reduce or eliminate chronic stress in particular, generally in order to enhance daily functioning. It entails making mental and physical adjustments in order to regulate and lessen the tension that develops in stressful situations.

Types of Wellbeing

 Types of Wellbeing

1. Psychological well-being:

Psychological well-being is optimistic relationships with others, individual mastery, independence, a sense of purpose and meaning in life, and personal growth and development.

The Psychological Well-being Six-Factor Model is a theory developed by Carol Ryff that describes six variables that contribute to the psychological well-being, contentment, and happiness of an individual. 

 Six factors are as follows of psychological well-being:

1.     Self-acceptance

2.     Personal growth

3.     Purpose in life

4.     Environmental mastery

5.     Autonomy

6.     Positive relations with others

Physical well-being:

Physical well-being is characterized by the improvement of all health-related elements of a person may accomplish. Physical Fitness that represents the cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle power, flexibility, and structure of the body of an individual. Other contributors to physical wellbeing may include proper nutrition, body weight management, abstaining from drug abuse, avoiding alcohol abuse, responsible sexual behavior (sexual health), hygiene, and getting the right amount of sleep (Doll et al., 2000).

Emotional well-being:

Emotional wellbeing is ability to understand the importance of positive and negative emotion and how these emotions can be treated. The desire to learn and develop from experiences is also included in emotional wellbeing(Doll et al., 2000).

Spiritual well-being:

Spiritual well-being, the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (1975) has suggested that:

“Spiritual well-being is the affirmation of life in a relationship with God, self, community, and environment that nurtures and celebrates wholeness”(Fisher, 2016).

Social well-being:

Social well-being is referring to the good relationships, social stability and peace with others. Social wellness applies to the interactions we have and how we communicate with others. During hard times, our relationships can offer support. Social well-being means creating safe, caring and positive relationships and promoting a genuine friendship with those around you(Bartels et al., 2019).

Economic well-being:

Economic well-being is described as having financial protection for the present and future. Present financial stability includes the ability of individuals, families, and communities to meet their basic needs reliably (including food, housing, utilities, health care, transportation, schooling, childcare, clothes, and taxes paid) and to manage their everyday finances. Future financial stability involve the ability to absorb financial shocks, meet financial goals, develop financial assets, and maintain sufficient lifetime profits.

The Benefits of Well-being

Research indicates that well-being is not only desirable because it feels good, but also because it has positive effects for the real world. Individuals with higher levels of well-being, relative to individuals with low well-being: (De Neve et al., 2013)

•                     Perform better at work
•                     Have more satisfying relationships
•                     Are more cooperative
•                     Have stronger immune systems
•                     Have better physical health
•                     Live longer
•                     Have reduced cardiovascular mortality
•                     Have fewer sleep problems
•                     Have lower levels of burnout
•                     Have greater self-control
•                     Have better self-regulation and coping abilities

•                     Are more prosocial

Happiness: 

Happiness has been described by research as one of the main contributors to well-being. In contrast to pessimism, studies show that optimism brings several advantages, including:

·         Less depression and anxiety
·         Better performance at school, sports, and work
·         Reduced risk of dropping out of school 

·     Better physical health outcomes, including fewer reported illnesses, less coronary heart disease, lower mortality risk, and faster recovery from surgery.

Well-being

What is Well-being? Different Dimensions of well-being.

Well-being

Well-being is state and experience of health, happiness, and success. It involves having good mental health, satisfaction with life, and the ability to handle stress. Well-being usually, is just feeling comfort. Wellbeing describes a state of overall mental and physical health, strength, resilience and fitness to function well at work and personally (M. E. Seligman, 2011).

          Wellbeing is neither permanent nor innate. It is a state of mind and body which is acquired over time and can be lost over time. It forms a valid part of a school curriculum because:

It has profound direct effects on learning and performance. It affects relationships with peers, family and teachers. Many aspects can be (to a valuable extent) within the control of an individual who has learnt good practices.  Not being fixed, it is vulnerable over time to external events; therefore, the individual needs to build a bank of wellbeing for resilience. Understanding about and strategies for wellbeing gained at an early age can be used at all stages of the individual’s life – wellbeing management is a genuine life skill. It explicitly affects learner attributes as students can better ‘understand themselves as learners’ when they understand some influences that directly affect their ability to learn easily. For all these reasons, it falls into the competency category of living in the world.

In short, people with good wellbeing feel generally healthy, sufficiently positive, able to focus on the task in hand and ready to deal with whatever occurs. They have reserves of physical and mental health, and resilience, to help them deal with more negative events or challenges. Crucially, people with good wellbeing can proactively manage stress, rather than suffer from it (Dodge, Daly, & Huyton).

PERMA Theory of Well-Being

According to Dr. Seligman’s PERMA theory of well-being has five building blocks that involves five elements: (M. E. Seligman, 2012)

1.          Positive emotion: Happiness and life satisfaction
2.          Engagement: Total absorption in a task
3.          Relationships: Human connection
4.          Meaning: Belonging to and serving something bigger than the self
5.        Accomplishment: Achievement often pursued for its own sake

Each of these elements contains three properties. First, the element contributes to well-being. Second, many people pursue the element for its own sake. Lastly, the element is defined and measured independently of the others (Seligman, 2012).

Different people can derive well-being to different degrees from each of these five building blocks. A good life for one person is not necessarily a good life for another. There are many different paths to a flourishing life. In other words, we don't tell people what choices to make or what to value, but research into the variables that encourage success can help people make more informed choices to live a more satisfying life that is compatible with their values and interests. (M. Seligman, 2018)

Dimensions of well-being

A balance among these dimensions of well-being leads to a fuller, more satisfying life. These dimensions involve:

·         Psychological well-being

·         Physical well-being

·         Emotional well-being 

·         Spiritual well-being 

·         Social well-being

·         Economic well-being