Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality and by significant social or occupational dysfunction. A person experiencing untreated schizophrenia is typically characterized as demonstrating disorganized thinking, and as experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations. Although the disorder is primarily thought to affect cognition, it can also contribute to chronic problems with behavior and emotion. Due to the many possible combinations of symptoms, there is ongoing and heated debate about whether the diagnosis necessarily or adequately describes a disorder, or alternatively whether it might represent a number of disorders. For this reason, Eugen Bleuler deliberately called the disease "the schizophrenias" plural, when he coined the present name.

Diagnosis is based on the self-reported experiences of the patient, in combination with secondary signs observed by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or other competent clinician. There is no objective biological test for schizophrenia, though studies suggest that genetics, neurobiology and social environment are important contributing factors. Current research into the development of the disorder often focuses on the role of neurobiology, although a reliable and identifiable organic cause has not been found. In the absence of objective laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis, some question the legitimacy of schizophrenia's status as a disease. Furthermore, some question the status of schizophrenia as a disease on the basis that they do not consider their condition to be an impairment.

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SFU researchers find link between autism, schizophrenia http://bit.ly/6qHxB8 #autism
PeterBrownPsy (Peter Brown) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:46:10 -0000
SFU researchers find link between autism, schizophrenia http://bit.ly/6qHxB8 #autism
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness: Shared Risk Factors http://bit.ly/1I6iah
PsychDenver (MindBodyHealth) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:23:07 -0000
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness: Shared Risk Factors http://bit.ly/1I6iah
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness: Shared Risk Factors http://bit.ly/1I6iah
DaveMSW (David Earl Johnson) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:20:17 -0000
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness: Shared Risk Factors http://bit.ly/1I6iah
results fit w/ other evidence that autism may B caused by overdevelopment of specific brain regions & schizophrenia by underdevelopment,
MundaneMama (Mama Steph) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:13:53 -0000
results fit w/ other evidence that autism may B caused by overdevelopment of specific brain regions & schizophrenia by underdevelopment,
duplication was oftn associated w/ autism while the opposite variation – a deletion of the genetic material – was linked 2 schizophrenia.
MundaneMama (Mama Steph) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:13:29 -0000
duplication was oftn associated w/ autism while the opposite variation – a deletion of the genetic material – was linked 2 schizophrenia.
Vancouver: SFU researchers find link between autism, schizophrenia http://bit.ly/54pfoP
Vancouver_CP (Vancouver CP) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:11:48 -0000
Vancouver: SFU researchers find link between autism, schizophrenia http://bit.ly/54pfoP

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