Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder denoting an often chronic,
major mental illness primarily affecting thinking, with attendant
difficulties in perception of reality, which in turn can affect
behavior and emotion. The primary sign of schizophrenia is considered
to be fragmentation of basic thought structure and cognition, and the
inability to distinguish between internal and external experience.
People with schizophrenia may report hallucinations or be observed
responding to them and may express clearly delusional beliefs. Social
or occupational dysfunction, a number of secondary signs, and the lack
of an identifiable organic cause may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Mainstream research has suggested that both biological and
sociocultural influences are important contributing factors, with
current research often focusing on the influences of biochemical and
genetic factors on the neurobiology of the brain. The status of
schizophrenia is considered controversial by some, who claim a lack of
objectivity in the stated diagnostic criteria. There is no objective
biological test for schizophrenia, and diagnosis is based on the basis
of the self-reported experiences of the patient combined with the
observations of the psychiatrist or other responsible clinician.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1260:
The Cathedral of Chartres was dedicated in the presence of King
Louis IX of France.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Chartres)
1648:
The Peace of Westphalia was signed, ending the Thirty Years' War and
"officially" recognizing the United Provinces and Swiss Confederation.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_of_Westphalia)
1929:
The Great Depression: The New York Stock Exchange crashed on "Black
Thursday", setting off a chain of bankruptcies and triggering a
worldwide economic depression.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_1929)
1930:
History of Brazil: A bloodless coup d'état ousted President
Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa and President-elect Júlio Prestes.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Brazil_%281930-1945%29)
1945:
The UN Charter, the constitution of the United Nations, entered into
force.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Charter)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those who
feel." -- Horace Walpole
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Horace_Walpole)