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In 1896, the german spychiatrist Emil Kraepelin first described the psychlogical disorder we know today as schizophrenia. Kraepelin called the condition, characterized by hallucinations,apathy, social withdrawal,and an inability to carry out the activities of daily living, dementia praecox (early-onset dementia)
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Bleuler coined the term "schizophrenia" meaning "split mind." he did not intend the term to mean that the personality literally fragmented, and schizophrenia is not the same as multiple personality disorder. Instead, the "split" is between the intellect and external realtiy, emotion and cognition. In other words, it is individual's mental processes that are fragmented, not his or her personality.
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For many years, uncaring or neglectful parents, particularly mothers, were thought to cause schizophrenia. The typical "schizophrenogenic mother" was characterized as cold, aloof, perfectionisitic, and domineering. photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotbastard/68552339/
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The new science of behavioral pharmacology linked schizophrenia to the neurotransmitter dopamine Amphetamines, which stimulate the release of dopamine, can produce hallucinations and paranoid delusions similar to those observed in schiozphrenia. Conversely, the first antipsychotic medications -- bgining with Thorazine, introduced in 1952, blocked dopamine receptors. Scientists concluded that schizophrenia was caused by elevated levels of dopamine. photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wellcomeima
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Retrospective research on the childhood history of people with schizophrenia revealed the presence of subtle differences in motor skills and emotional facial expressions years before the onset of symptoms. In addition, neuroanatomical studies -- including brain imaging studies -- supported the idea that schizophrenia was the result of developmental errors that disrupted brain circuits.
