WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?
Schizophrenia is first and foremost a disease of the brain. It is not a character flaw. A person with schizophrenia is not "crazy," "nuts," "lazy," "demon-possessed," or any other pejorative term traditionally applied to us.
There are 4 types of schizophrenia listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (commonly known as the
DSM-IV-TR). For an accurate diagnosis, physicians use this manual and I cannot stress enough that a professional should be consulted before any preemptive diagnosis is made by laypersons. Professionals able to make a diagnosis are limited to psychiatrists (medical doctors who can prescribe medication) and clinical psychologists (persons having their doctorate degree in clinical psychology and who can treat the brain-diseased with talk therapy). Only these professionals are qualified to make a diagnosis.
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WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA (CONTINUED)