Research Paper On Schizophrenia In Women

Schizophrenia in Women
Amiaya K. Glover
Gray Collegiate Academy Abstract Mental health affect a person well being along with there place in society. A women’s health more so effect her place in society with the perspective of having relationships, pregnancy, and menopause, especially in a country where a woman statues holds importance on their social lives. Noted that there is not a clear mortality in sex differences. This paper examines women's mental health with schizophrenia by the use of clinical study and social life. To understand how this disorder affect women we must understand this disorder has no significant gender difference in the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and there is no clear trend
in mortality, although suicides seem to be more in women with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that effect the person’s ability to tell the difference from reality and fantasy.
Keywords: Marriage, pregnancy, schizophrenia, severe mental illness, women

Schizophrenia in Women

Schizophrenia affects the brain in away that many do not understand; a person with this illness may hear voices,see things that are not there, and they may also think people are plotting against them.
A person with this disorder may be viewed as unpredictable because of their behavior. Schizophrenia has very few treatment. The most common treatment options for this illness is medication and therapy to help prevent psychotic episode. As with any illness the person’s family and friends are also affected by the illness as well because the person’s entire life is affected by the illness. Many women with severe mental illness stay outside treatment settings, especially in low income countries with poor and inadequate mental health facilities. Those who do enter treatment settings have varied experiences ranging from humane care to indifference and stigmatization. The 1998 World Health report states that “women's mental health is inextricably linked to their status in society. It benefits from equality and suffers from
discrimination.
More reports on human rights violations of mentally ill women are emerging. Women caregivers of the mentally ill seem to outnumber the male caregivers and also face unique problems. One of the major disorders which impact the life of women patients, caregivers and family members is schizophrenia. It is also observed that mental illnesses in women are different from those in men.This paper examines women's mental health with schizophrenia by the use of clinical study and social life.

Review of Literature he process and dynamics of courtship, dating and marriage vary widely between different nations and cultures and impact the rates of marriage.
In developed countries, where finding a partner involves social skills, persons with schizophrenia have low rates of marriage. However, in developing countries, where many marriages are arranged by the families, the rates of marriage are as high as 70.5% in Ethopia[31] and around 65% in Chennai, India.[32] While getting married did not probably involve too many social skills, staying married certainly did. Hence, separation and divorce were fairly common and much higher than seen in general
populations.
Even in urban areas, the misconception that marriage cures mental illness is still widely prevalent. As a consequence, many families secretly arrange marriages of their wards and professional care givers know of it much later. While fewer men get married, their marriages seem to be quite stable. On the other hand, breakdown and separation were seen more in female patients, especially if they are symptomatic or childless. Patients with a relapsing course were less likely to get married, and the system of arranged marriages accounted for higher rates of marriage in India compared to the West.[32]
An ethnographic, qualitative study of 75 women with schizophrenia who were either divorced or separated revealed that 95% of the marriages were arranged by the families and the separated women lived in their parental homes with the onus of care on elderly caregivers. The stigma of being separated was more often felt by patients and families. They continued to wear the traditional symbols of marriage (for example the mangalsutra) as it gave them a sense of security and status in a society where marriages are revered.
This study also highlighted the need for community-based resources like half way homes, Day Care Centers and Rehabilitation Centers in both the government and private sectors. The need for Comprehensive Care Centers for this group of patients where these chronic mentally ill women could learn some skills and get some employment to support their children is imminent.

Conclusion
In order to gain a complete understanding of Schizophrenia disorder one must take into consideration the biological and psychosocial events that occurred in the individuals life. Most of the studies have shown a better social adjustment for females compared to males, and they also have better morbid functioning than males. Women are reported to have better clinical outcome than males in the short-term, whereas gender differences tend to disappear over longer periods. There is not a noted gender difference in the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia however there is still a urgent matter in India countries of a more gender-sensitive health services and a better understanding for the community care of those women given the tasks of having roles and differential family response. Also more knowledge of certain medical aspect the caregivers specially woman should require a lot of information about the disorder and ways of handling various symptoms.

Reference