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UNIT 3: SCHIZOPHRENIA
2. Do you know anyone who suffers from this illness? Have you seen any
films, documentary or read any articles about schizophrenia? Discuss with
a partner.
Read the following article and answer the questions that follow.
Schizophrenia
1 Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1
percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime – more
than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year. Although
schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, the disorder often
5 appears earlier in men, usually in the late teens or early twenties, than in
women, who are generally affected in the twenties to early thirties. People with
schizophrenia often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hearing internal voices I
not heard by others, or believing that other people are reading their minds,
controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These symptoms may leave
10 them fearful and withdrawn. Their speech and behavior can be so disorganized
that they may be incomprehensible or frightening to others. Available
treatments can relieve many symptoms, but most people with schizophrenia
continue to suffer some symptoms throughout their lives; it has been estimated
that no more than one in five individuals recovers completely.
15 Schizophrenia is found all over the world. The severity of the symptoms and
long-lasting, chronic pattern of schizophrenia often cause a high degree of
disability. Medications and other treatments for schizophrenia, when used
regularly and as prescribed, can help reduce and control the distressing II
symptoms of the illness. However, some people are not greatly helped by
20 available treatments or may prematurely discontinue treatment because of
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• Delusions
Delusions are false personal beliefs that are not subject to reason or
contradictory evidence and are not explained by a person’s usual cultural
50 concepts. Delusions may take on different themes. For example, patients
suffering from paranoid-type symptoms – roughly one-third of people with
schizophrenia – often have delusions of persecution, or false and irrational
beliefs that they are being cheated, harassed, poisoned, or conspired against.
These patients may believe that they, or a member of the family or someone V
55 close to them, are the focus of this persecution. In addition, delusions of
grandeur, in which a person may believe he or she is a famous or important
figure, may occur in schizophrenia. Sometimes the delusions experienced by
people with schizophrenia are quite bizarre; for instance, believing that a
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• Disordered Thinking
People with schizophrenia may not be able to sort out what is relevant and what
is not relevant to a situation. The person may be unable to connect thoughts into
logical sequences, with thoughts becoming disorganized and fragmented. This VII
lack of logical continuity of thought, termed “thought disorder,” can make
70 conversation very difficult and may contribute to social isolation. If people
cannot make sense of what an individual is saying, they are likely to become
uncomfortable and tend to leave that person alone.
Antipsychotic medications have been available since the mid-1950s. They have
75 greatly improved the outlook for individual patients. These medications reduce VIII
the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and usually allow the patient to
function more effectively and appropriately.
Antipsychotic drugs are the best treatment now available, but they do not “cure”
schizophrenia or ensure that there will be no further psychotic episodes. The
80 choice and dosage of medication can be made only by a qualified physician who IX
is well trained in the medical treatment of mental disorders. The dosage of
medication is individualized for each patient, since people may vary a great deal
in the amount of drug needed to reduce symptoms without producing
troublesome side effects.
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(Risperdal®), appear less likely to have this problem. Sometimes when people
with schizophrenia become depressed, other symptoms can appear to worsen.
The symptoms may improve with the addition of an antidepressant medication.
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A. VOCABULARY
Match these words with their correct meaning as used in the text.
B. REFERENCE
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C. Find words in the passage (from line 1 to line 28) that match the definitions below.
6) An outward or noticeable
signs of disease :_____________________
D. Reading Comprehension
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_____________________________________________________________
3. What are the limitations of the available medications or treatments to some of the
schizophrenia patients?
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7. What are the differences between ‘neuroleptics’ and the newer medicines?
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_________________________________________________________________
Speaking Task
Read the article “Moving Lives Forward” and discuss in your group:
“It’s easier for them to accept that the symptoms are due to charms and evil spirits than to
accept that it is due to mental illness,” says consultant psychiatrist Professor Dr
Mohammad Hussain Habil in conjunction with Schizophrenia Awareness Month. “The
Malays are especially reluctant to seek medical advice. Once they have seen a bomoh and
been told that it’s an occult problem, they will continue to go back for more.
“Generally, there is a two to three year delay before they come for medical treatment.
Unfortunately it gets more and more difficult to treat the longer you wait.”
Schizophrenia affects about one percent of the world’s population and affects both
genders. Symptoms include delusions, hallucination, catatonic behaviour and not reacting
to people, and the environment, and keeping to themselves. Dr Salina says diagnosis is
reached when two or more of these symptoms persist for a month or more.
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The older antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia had terrible side effects. For
instance, many patients develop a “robotic” walk while others experience an increase risk
of heart attack. Nowadays, the side effects of the new medication are so minimal, it is
difficult to tell who has schizophrenia and has not, says consultant psychiatrist Dr. Salina
Abdul Aziz.
Some recovered patients are well enough to work but, like our undergraduates, many are
simply too choosy. The illness usually appears among males in their late teens and early
20s. In females, it shows up in their late 20s and early 30s.
Even when they have family backing, many find it hard to go back to school later in life.
They say they find it near impossible to study.
“I wish I could go back to study. I’ve tried to go back to school but I’m too depressed. I
just can’t concentrate,” says Peter Tan, a 30 year old schizophrenia patient. He became ill
during Grade 11, in a boarding school in Connecticut, USA. He takes his medication
faithfully. As a result, he has not had a single relapse.
*For the protection of the patients and their families,
none of the names quoted here are real.
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It’s often possible to identify causes (reasons) or effects (results) in a reading by paying
attention to cause and effect conjunctions such as because, so, for, since, as, therefore,
thus, as a result, or consequently. However, there is frequently no cause and effect
conjunction used. Then you have to use your own logic and infer – use logic to guess the
cause and effect.
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F. Making Inferences
The inferences below can be made from the article on schizophrenia. Find specific
information to support each inference.
1. Inference : People suffering from schizophrenia do not normally recover from it.
Support : ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Inference : Anti psychotic treatments are able to help patients live a normal life.
Support : ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Support : ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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Read the review and identify the comments that the writer made regarding the film “A
Beautiful Mind”. How many positive and negative comments can you identify?
Who would want to watch a film about the life of a mathematician? One that’s over
two hours long and chronicles his life from college in the 40’s until the present? No
takers? Well, this one will probably change your mind.
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Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind is easily is his best achievement to date and features
equal bests by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly, the underexposed young actress last
seen in the twisted Requiem For A Dream.
The depiction of John Nash’s life – from his graduate school days at Princeton University,
through a mental breakdown and the onset of paranoid schizophrenia, to his apparent
recovery and reception of the Nobel Prize a few years ago – is truly amazing. The story is
well put together, the characters fascinating and the writing good, but there’s just one
problem – it’s not 100% true.
While this shouldn’t really affect the enjoyment of the film, it does change how it should
be viewed. Specifically, A Beautiful Mind’s claim to be “based on” Nash’s life (currently
at Princeton) has to be seen as tenuous.
The problem is that everything has, in typical and unavoidable Hollywood fashion, been
simplified, from his relationship with his wife (whom in reality divorced and cheated on
with, among others, men) to the particular nature of his studies (romanticized to almost
unrecognizable levels).
That said, the film is still a gripping one. Beginning with Nash’s enrolment in Princeton’s
ridiculously competitive math graduate school, it works quickly through his life towards
its real focus – Nash was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, at a time when little was
known about the disease.
While he was placed in a hospital and treated, the effect was not as he desired, so Nash
proceeded to come to terms with it and conquer it on his own. This cold, steely
intellectualism is the focus of the film, and it is what Crowe conveys so thoroughly and
sympathetically.
One imagines while watching, that if anyone could be so triumphant and control his own
mind, it must be Nash, and perhaps Crowe himself. Such intense concentration is
excruciating, as Nash acknowledges, saying “People don’t tend to like me.” Crowe’s
performance is reminiscent of fine actors like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro at their best.
Complementing the performance is a solid directing style, at times a little flashy, but
effective when tricks are necessary. Howard seems to recognize throughout that this is not
his movie – it belongs to Crowe, and thus allows the actor as much leeway as needed. The
settings, however, do overwhelm at times, from the oddly futuristic overtones of the CIA
vaults, to the pseudo-gothic arches of the universities involved; but they serve superbly as
backdrops and act as a counter-balance to his life outside of academia.
The domestic world within the film is dominated by Connelly, who, as Nash’s wife,
transcends remarkably above her past performances. As an ever-present force guiding
Nash, she works to stabilize him and in the end, perhaps, save him. While a beautiful idea,
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it is also one of the films few flaws – the standard Hollywood reliance on the idea of love
overcoming all (see Robin Williams’ last 10 flicks).
It’s trite, and in this case, both untrue and unnecessary. The story of Nash saving himself
and reentering the ivory halls of knowledge is so much so interesting than what is implied
here. Nonetheless, through the pure strength of the performances, these remain small
arguments against an otherwise a beautiful film about a beautiful mind.
Coherence
A coherent paragraph has consistent topic strings. The discussion in the paragraph
concentrates on one main idea. The focus of the discussion does not stray from the
core idea or the topic sentence.
A coherent paragraph introduces the topic sentence in the introductory line. This
helps the reader to understand clearly the subject of the discussion. The rest of the
paragraph – the supporting details – is aimed at explaining the topic sentence.
Cohesion
Transitions
There are two types of transitions: transitional words and transitional phrases. For the
most part, these words and phrases are attached to the beginning of the sentence and are
preceded by a period (.) or semicolon (:). They do not really join two sentences together
but indicate the relationship between the two sentences. Different transitions denote
different relationships.
Chronological order
Transitional expressions such as first, second, next, then, last and finally are used to
indicate chronological order. They can also be used to signal examples, especially when
the examples are in chronological order. Another application is to indicate the progression
of the discussion. For an example;
There are several things that I like about the movie. First, are the main
characters. This is Ron Howard’s best achievement to date and features
equal bests by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly. Second, the amazing
ability of Ron Howard in depicting John Nash’s life – from his graduate
school days at Princeton University, through a mental breakdown and the
onset of paranoid schizophrenia, to his apparent recovery and reception of
the Nobel Prize a few years ago. Next, is Ron Howard’s solid directing
style even though at times a little flashy, but effective when tricks are
necessary. Howard is able to recognize that this is not his movie- it belongs
to Crowe, and thus allows the actor as much leeway as needed. Finally, the
superb backdrop – from the futuristic CIA vaults to the pseudo-gothic
arches of the universities involved. These act as a counter-balance to his
life outside of academia.
Examples
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For example and for instance are the most frequently used transitional phrases for
introducing examples and illustrations. They occur most often at the beginning of a
sentence, but they can be placed in the middle (after the introductory phrases, after the
verb phrase, or after the subject) or at the end of the sentence. Other expressions that are
similar in meaning are like and such as.
Addition
Expressions such as also, furthermore, moreover, in addition, and besides that are used to
include more information about an idea already stated. They can be placed at the
beginning, middle or end of the sentence.
Also, they are not able to sort out what is relevant and what is not relevant to a
situation.
Besides that, they are not able to sort out what is relevant and what is not
relevant to a situation.
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Furthermore, they are not able to sort out what is relevant and what is not
relevant to a situation.
It, moreover, affects the patient’s ability to sort out what is relevant and
what is not relevant to a situation.
It also affects the patient’s ability to sort out what is relevant and what is
not relevant to a situation.
Comparison or contrast
Expressions such as likewise, similarly, and in the same way indicate comparison or
similarity between the items stated.
Expressions such as conversely, however, on the other hand, and in contrast indicate
contrast or difference between the items stated.
People around Nash dislike him. His wife, on the other hand, loves and
supports him.
People around Nash dislike him. In contrast, his wife loves and supports
him.
Conclusion
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The expressions finally and in conclusion signal the last example or the conclusion of a
paragraph as passage.
In conclusion, although I realize this film does not reflect Nash’s true story, I know
that at this point I understand more about schizophrenia.
Finally, Nash is able to conquer the mental disorder that he suffers successfully.
Conjunctions
Conjunctions function in the same way as transitions, which is to link ideas in clauses,
sentences or paragraphs.
Conjunctions are divided into three groups. They are coordinating conjunctions,
subordinating conjunctions and correlative conjunctions.
Coordinating conjunctions
There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (combining the
first letters of these words gives FANBOYS).
Example 1:
Example 2:
Subordinating conjunctions
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as that where
as if though whereas
how whatever
Example 1:
They suddenly organised the meeting because the chief executive officer
was going to be transferred to another subsidiary.
Example 2:
Whether he likes it or not, he has to stay in the house and consume the
pills.
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Example 3:
Correlative conjunctions
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
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