No one safe from schizophrenia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Could not sleep last night? It happens almost
\nevery week day? Or suddenly feeling hypersensitive or
\nhyperactive? It may be an early sign of mental or behavioral
\ndisorder.<\/p>\n
Schizophrenia has several symptoms, mainly the incapacity to
\nintegrate thinking, feelings and behavior. Sufferers are
\nincapable of differentiating between their fantasies and real
\nlife.<\/p>\n
Specific definitions are still formulated. But the World
\nHealth Organization defines schizophrenic disorders as being
\ncharacterized in general by fundamental and characteristic
\ndistortions of thinking and perception, and by inappropriate or
\nblunted responses.<\/p>\n
Psychiatrist Heriani at the University of Indonesia's School
\nof Medicine and Cipto Mangunkusumo Public Hospital in Jakarta
\nsaid that basically schizophrenia included significant clinical
\nchanges, including the dysfunction of social relations.<\/p>\n
\"Social withdrawal, lack of motivation, depression, and dulled
\nfeelings are some of the symptoms as well as delusions and
\nhallucinations. Some patients may say they hear voices which are
\nperceived to be inside or outside of their body.\"<\/p>\n
She says that schizophrenia is not a disease, particularly a
\nhereditary disease.<\/p>\n
\"I would cite diabetes as an analogy. The genetic factor is
\npossible but not absolute, both in diabetes and schizophrenia,\"
\nshe says, adding that there much research is still needed to be
\ndone, particularly if any genetic factors play a significant role
\nin schizophrenia.<\/p>\n
In handling a patient, psychiatrists usually apply multi-axial
\ndiagnoses which include patients' complaints, background,
\nphysical illnesses, stress, and the adaption ability level,
\nHeriani says.<\/p>\n
Total recovery may occur, but it cannot be guaranteed or a
\ntimeframe estimated. In some cases people get better on their
\nown. \"Family support is very important. So is how other people
\nbehave toward patients. That's why an event like this (a painting
\nexhibition) is being held,\" she says.<\/p>\n
The painting exhibition she is referring to is by people with
\nschizophrenia. It is on display at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art
\ncenter, Central Jakarta, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10.<\/p>\n
Many people believe that those suffering from schizophrenia
\nare frightening, dangerous, scary, embarrassing and annoying as
\nthey sometime can suddenly be furious, lazy about washing and
\npoorly dressed.<\/p>\n
\"In Indonesia, some people lock the patients' legs between two
\npieces of wood or chain them. Few understand that there are now
\nmany newly developed medicines for schizophrenia which allow
\npatients to be rehabilitated,\" Heriani says.<\/p>\n
Heriani says that it is most common for schizophrenia to
\nattack people for the first time when they are between 18 and 40
\nyears old. \"The disorder may develop, but after the age of 45 we
\nhave to be careful about what may happen in the brain. But it
\noccurs across society. Everyone, rich or poor, male or female,
\ncan suffer from this.\"<\/p>\n
Heriani says that it is hard to talk about remission periods.
\nUnlike physical illnesses like cancer, there is no standard
\nschizophrenia. \"It's very individual. The sooner a patient gets
\ntreatment, the better.\"<\/p>\n
There is a problem, however, in that the treatment is always
\nexpensive. Especially when one considers that many people have
\nthe potential to suffer from schizophrenia.<\/p>\n
Based on common assumptions, the risk of becoming
\nschizophrenic is one percent. This means that about two million
\nIndonesians have suffered, are suffering or are likely to suffer
\nfrom this at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n
Psychiatrist Tun K. Bastaman says that in Indonesia there are
\n10,000 beds to treat schizophrenic patients. \"In Indonesia, there
\nare only 400 psychiatrists. Out of that number, 120 are in the
\ngreater Jakarta area.\"<\/p>\n
There are less than 40 psychiatric hospitals, sanatoriums or
\nhospitals with psychiatric disorder treatment divisions in
\nIndonesia. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-one-safe-from-schizophrenia-1447893297",
"image": ""
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