Bipolar Disorder: A Concise Overview of Etiology, Epidemiology Diagnosis and Management: Review of Literatures

Abstract

Schizophrenia is arguably the most severe of the psychiatric disorders. It is among the most disabling and economically catastrophic medical disorders, ranked by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten illnesses contributing to the global burden of disease. The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia has generally been estimated to be approximately 1% worldwide. The prevalence of schizophrenia is about the same in men and women. The onset of schizophrenia usually occurs between the late teens and the mid 30s. The onset of schizophrenia is later in women than in men, and the clinical manifestations are less severe. For males, the peak age of onset for the first psychotic episode is in the early to middle 20s; for females, it is in the late 20s. This may be because of the antidopaminergic influence of estrogen. Schizophrenia is a disease caused by biopsychosocial influences, including genetic, perinatal, neuroanatomic, neurochemical and other biologic abnormalities. In addition psychological and socioenvironmental factors may increase the risk of schizophrenia in international migrants or urban populations of ethnic minorities. Increased paternal age is associated with a greater risk of schizophrenia. Diagnosis of Schizophrenia must be made after differentiating other psychiatric and medical illnesses, as well as from disorders such as heavy metal toxicity, adverse effects of drugs, and vitamin deficiencies which may manifest with psychosis. Schizophrenia treatment requires an integration of medical, psychological, and psychosocial inputs. The bulk of care occurs in an outpatient setting and is best carried out by a multidisciplinary team. Psychosocial rehabilitation is an essential part of treatment