Writing 2150t: Spring 2021

Author: MELODY LIN

Melody Lin-MA2-D1

Introduction

Hook: In today’s society, mental illness occupies a large part of the disease, and more and more people suffer from mental illness. Teenagers have a place in it.

Statement of the Problem/Debate: Adult schizophrenia and teenager schizophrenia are different in terms of treatment and prevention. Although current drug treatment can help schizophrenia to some extent, it also brings many sequelae to patients. The current medicine for the treatment of teenage schizophrenia can effectively help young people treat mental illnesses, but they also bring many side effects. The signs of adolescent schizophrenia are not so easy to detect, and its diagnosis and treatment options are also different from those of adults. They help us understand how to view juvenile schizophrenia in a correct way and how to prevent juvenile schizophrenia.

  1. What are the signs of schizophrenia in a teenager? 
  2. What are the differences between teenage schizophrenia and adult schizophrenia? 
  3. What are the impacts and treatment plans for schizophrenia? 
  4. Can current treatments really help young people reduce the chance of developing schizophrenia? What are the pros and cons of medication for teenage schizophrenia? 

Thesis Statement: The causes of adult schizophrenia and juvenile schizophrenia are different. Although current drug treatment can help schizophrenia to some extent, it also brings many sequelae to patients.

Body Paragraphs

Subargument # 1: It is not common for adolescents to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. It usually occurs before the age of 18 and rarely occurs in children under 13 years of age. Symptoms of schizophrenia in adolescents can be abnormal in behavior and mood. Indications that teenagers suffer from schizophrenia. Before teenagers show the classic symptoms of schizophrenia, they usually go through the so-called “prodromal period.” Also called disease signal.

  • Support 1: Before teenagers show the classic signs of schizophrenia, they often go through what’s known as “the prodromal period.” During this time, teens may exhibit signs such as: Steadily increasing the number of unusual thoughts and actions, Hanging out with a new group of friends and leaving old friends behind, Withdrawing from normal social activities, Making lower grades than usual, Seeming depressed or irritable, Sleeping too much or too little. (Florida Behavioral Health in Parenting, 2019) 
  • Support 2: As children with schizophrenia age, more typical signs and symptoms of the disorder begin to appear. Signs and symptoms may include delusions. These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, you think that you’re being harmed or harassed; that certain gestures or comments are directed at you; that you have exceptional ability or fame; that another person is in love with you; or that a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia. (Childhood schizophrenia, 2016)
  • Support 3: Changes in Behavior: Unblinking, vacant expression, Awkward or unusual movements of the face or body, Talking to themselves, using odd speech that you can’t understand, or making rapid shifts in topics, Inappropriate responses, such as laughing during a sad movie, Trouble “reading” social cues in others, Problems making and keeping friends, becoming more and more isolated. (Jennifer Casarella, 2020)

Subargument # 2: The signs of adolescent schizophrenia are not so easy to detect, and its diagnosis and treatment options are also different from those of adults. 

  • Support 1: Compared with schizophrenia symptoms in adults, teens may be: Less likely to have delusions, More likely to have visual hallucinations, Later signs and symptoms. (Childhood schizophrenia, 2016) 
  • Support 2: Compared to adult schizophrenia, childhood schizophrenia manifests higher familial predisposition and possibly greater genetic loading. Some of the susceptibility genes that have been detected in adult schizophrenia have also been replicated in childhood schizophrenia studies. Neuroimaging studies in childhood schizophrenia provide evidence for progressive structural brain abnormalities. (Androutsos Ch, 2012)
  • Support 3: For this reason, the DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia are valid for all age spectrums, but their application in earlier ages is difficult, and the particular developmental characteristics of each developmental phase should be taken into consideration. (Androutsos Ch, 2012)

Subargument # 3: Schizophrenia not only has a negative impact on the life and social life of patients but also has a certain degree of impact on society. For example, schizophrenia leads to confusion and emotional disorders, which leads to an increase in violent crime. At that time, there were multiple methods that could help treat schizophrenia.

  • Support 1: Treatment options for people with schizophrenia include: Antipsychotic medications, Family therapy in which the whole family learns to help the affected teen, Individual therapy, Social skills classes, Support groups. In some cases, teenagers with schizophrenia need temporary residential treatment. During this time, the teen lives in the treatment facility and professionals monitor them around the clock. They also receive medication management and daily therapy sessions. (Florida Behavioral Health in Parenting, 2019) 
  • Support 2: Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, with subsequent suspiciousness and hostility, may result in aggressive behavior. Or, aggression may be impulsive and caused by an environmental frustrating event. Patients may be more aggressive and violent during acute episodes. (Maurizio Pompili, MD, Ph.D., Andrea Fiorillo, MD, Ph.D., Psychiatric Times, 2015)
  • Support 3: There has been a consensus that violence risk is increased in schizophrenia. Much of this research was summarised in a meta-analysis in 2009 (Fazel et al, 2009). It reported an average fourfold increase in violent crime in men with schizophrenia, compared to men without schizophrenia. (Vishal Bhavsar, 2015)

Subargument # 4: The current medicine for the treatment of teenage schizophrenia can effectively help young people treat mental illnesses, but they also bring many side effects in either physical and mental.

  • Support 1: Antipsychotic drugs, Social skills training, vocational rehabilitation, and psychologic and educational support Schizophrenia cannot be cured, although hallucinations and delusions may be controlled with antipsychotic drugs, such as haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone. Children are particularly susceptible to the side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Side effects may include tremors, slowed movements, movement disorders, and metabolic syndrome (which includes obesity, type 2 diabetes, and abnormal levels of fat in the blood). (By Josephine Elia, MD, 2019)
  • Support 2: Some of the most common side effects of antipsychotics, which are prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are “increased appetite (and resulting weight gain), increased prolactin (women may lactate and men grow breast tissue), somnolence [sleepiness], and restlessness,” according to Siegel. (Ashley Laderer, 2020)
  • Support 3: Because medications for schizophrenia can cause serious side effects, people with schizophrenia may be reluctant to take them. Willingness to cooperate with treatment may affect drug choice. For example, someone who is resistant to taking medication consistently may need to be given injections instead of taking a pill. (Mayo Clinic 2020)

Conclusion

  • As a result, the abnormal signal of teenager schizophrenia is not easy to detect in the early stage. The diagnosis of adult schizophrenia does not apply to teenager schizophrenia. Most parents will understand the symptom as adolescence and ignore the seriousness of problems. The harm caused by schizophrenia is far greater than we thought, it can cause emotional and mobility disorders in patients. Interpersonal relationships and social security will be affected. Studies have found that, unlike adult schizophrenia, most teenager schizophrenia is genetically inherited. Genetic inheritance is a lifelong disease and only can reply on medicine control or psychotherapy. However, taking antipsychotic medicine will bring many sequelae. Therefore, medical treatment is not the best treatment plan. Many researchers developed different treatment plans for patients of different ages. Measures have also been taken to prevent teenager schizophrenia. 
  • Are you or a friend around you who needs help? If you need to, please don’t be anxious and seek help from professional institutions in time.

Reference: 

 

Marvel Movies

The author Martin Scorsese pointed out in his argument why Marvel is not regarded as a movie theater or in a sense not worthy of its fame. One of the author’s points is that Marvel is a commercial product and does not have the enlightenment required by movies. He pointed out in the article: “They are sequels in name but they are remakes in spirit, and everything in them is officially sanctioned because it can’t really be any other way. That’s the nature of modern film franchises: market-researched, audience-tested, vetted, modified, revetted, and remodified until they’re ready for consumption.” This sentence makes me wonder because is the movie he made purely for charity? I believe that there is no movie that does not want to get a good box office after it is released. Every movie has invested a huge amount of money in the early stage, so the income after the movie is released is reasonable. Marvel movies should not be criticized for this. In addition, he also mentioned that the series of blockbusters are now the first choice in many places. Some of the points he pointed out were jealous, such as: “It’s a perilous time in film exhibition, and there are fewer independent theaters than ever. The equation has flipped and streaming has become the primary delivery system.” “Except for franchising Apart from movies, there is no other opportunity to show other movies on the big screen.” Wait. In this era of the prevalence of technological networks, it is a very common phenomenon that some viewers are accustomed to watching movies on media platforms. It is also understandable that theaters screen movies to cater to market conditions.

Second, Martin Scorsese proposed that Marvel movies do not meet the definition of traditional movies. He pointed out: “What’s not there is a revelation, mystery or emotional danger. Nothing is at risk. The pictures are made to satisfy a specific set of demands, and they are designed as variations on a finite number of themes.” But the facts are not In this way, Marvel movies contain a lot of spiritual lessons. For example, the article Spiritual Lessons From the Marvel Cinematic Universe stated: “In the newest MCU feature film, Captain Marvel comes to realize that what’s she been told about her enemy isn’t true. Don’t judge a person by his or her appearance. Don’t listen to gossip about others. Sometimes, it’s hard to know the enemy. Pay attention to their actions, not just their words.” These contents are all spiritual education to the audience. Therefore, it is not so subjective to think that Marvel movies are not movies. Martin Scorsese’s point of view is obviously biased against Marvel movies. Even if he does not approve of Marvel movies from the perspective of a director, you cannot deny that it is a success. You can dislike it, but you can’t be prejudiced about it. As Eric Kohn quoted in the debate: “It’s like asking Picasso to assess Banksy: One might have an opinion about the other’s work, but it’s hard to imagine why it would matter any more than anyone else weighing in.” Eric Kohn argued in the debate that changing the most obvious definition of film requires revision. Marvel movies belong to a certain type of film. Although it incorporates modern technology, it does not mean that Marvel movies are meaningless.

“Spiritual Lessons From the Marvel Cinematic Universe” 24, April 2019 https://www.ulc.org/ulc-blog/spiritual-lessons-from-the-marvel-cinematic-universe

Eric Khon, 23, October 2019 “Marvel Movies Vs. Cinema: Why Martin Scorsese and Others Should Sit Out This Debate”, IndieWire https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/scorsese-marvel-movies-vs-cinema-debate-1202183984/

Melody Lin Synthesis Letter.

Topic: Teenage Schizophrenia

Research Questions:

  1. What are the signs of schizophrenia in a teenager?
  2. What is the differences between teenage schizophrenia and adult schizophrenia?
  3. What are the impacts and treatment plans for teenage schizophrenia? 

Synthesis Letter: 

Dear Professor Beacher,

               In the process of researching adolescent schizophrenia, I found many useful resources. Here I chose these four more persuasive and reusable resources. These resources come from authoritative organizations related to the subject, which makes them more convincing and reliable resources. These resources may seem scattered, but all items are connected in some way. This gives the main idea that adult schizophrenia and juvenile schizophrenia have similarities but some differences. The signs of adolescent schizophrenia are not so easy to detect, and its diagnosis and treatment options are also different from those of adults. They help us understand how to view juvenile schizophrenia in a correct way and how to prevent juvenile schizophrenia. 

            Androutsos Ch. (2012) and Dr. Rochelle Caplan. (2010) both found through research that the proportion of adolescent schizophrenia is usually less than that of adult schizophrenia. But this does not mean that he should not be taken seriously, because part of adult schizophrenia is developed from early adolescent schizophrenia. Androutsos Ch. (2012) mentioned in the article that although the DSM-IV and ICD-10 schizophrenia standards are applicable to all age groups, they are difficult to apply in earlier ages. Both authors believe that the incidence of young schizophrenia mostly increases during adolescence, which is between 13-18 years of age. Dr. Rochelle Caplan. (2010) believes that adolescents in adolescence are moody and moody due to unstable hormones in their bodies. They often show tension and anxiety, and anger and quarrel are their behavioral expressions. This affects the sleep of adolescents and severely causes behavioral disorders. Such as self-harm, alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide. Jamison Monroe (2020) also agrees with this view. The author mentioned in the article because most teenagers have changeable thoughts and unstable emotions during adolescence. Many adolescents often feel anxious due to the academic and social pressures of adolescents, as well as developmental diseases without proper guidance and emotional expression. Sick teenagers often feel nervous and fearful, which may interfere with daily work and school activities. Many teenagers abuse drugs and alcohol in an attempt to paralyze themselves, hoping to eliminate mental harm. But the fact is just the opposite. The use of drugs and alcohol aggravated their condition. Long-term use can lead to addiction. These various mental illnesses are all related to the adolescent schizophrenia I studied. The behavioral disorders, depression, and eating disorders mentioned in the article are all complications related to schizophrenia. Caplan. (2010) also called on more parents in the video to use the above-mentioned signals to find out their children’s psychological problems as early as possible.

               Androutsos Ch. (2012) believes that in addition to an emotional imbalance in adolescence, genetic history is one of the reasons for most adolescent schizophrenia. If one parent or both families have a history of mental illness, this will greatly increase the child’s chance of suffering from schizophrenia. Compared with adults, pre-morbid neurodevelopmental disorders are more common and obvious in people who develop schizophrenia during childhood or adolescence. Therefore, ordinary diagnostic techniques are not effective for teenagers with schizophrenia, because most of the main symptoms of psychosis are usually hidden. This is different from adult patients, which causes delays in diagnosis and treatment are common. Regarding the treatment of schizophrenia, Goff, D. C. (2021) mentioned two generations of antipsychotic drugs and psychosocial and rehabilitation interventions in the fourth resource. Regarding the fact that Androutsos Ch. (2012) mentioned genetic inheritance, Goff, D. C. (2021) mentioned in the study that this part of patients belonged to lifelong patients. The author also mentioned that the hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia are apathy, loss of emotional expression, and cognitive deficits, which are the same as the concept of schizophrenia by other authors. In terms of drugs, the first-generation drug named clozapine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1990 for the treatment of drug-resistant schizophrenia. Although the symptoms are alleviated, side effects also exist. The second-generation antipsychotic is olanzapine, a chemical mimic of clozapine. Compared with the first-generation drugs, olanzapine reduces many adverse neurological reactions, so the treatment effect is better. But this still does not solve the problem, and medical treatment requires the cooperation of social assistance. It is very important to provide a wide range of evidence-based psychosocial services for patients with mental illness, such as establishing psychological service stations in schools and communities. Family psychological education should also be carried out at the same time, with regular psychological education and emotional counseling for young people. This is consistent with the ideals conveyed by Dr. Rochelle Caplan. (2010). Family psychological education has played a vital role in preventing adolescents with schizophrenia.

               Now, I have gained knowledge of adolescent schizophrenia symptoms, prevention, and treatment options from these resources, which will help me explain and show the topic to the audience better and more clearly. I believe these four resources can better help me understand adolescent schizophrenia. I will avoid using too many complex and difficult technical terms and should use words that are easy for the audience to understand. This can make my article clear, easy to understand, and straightforward. Because the number of cases of youth schizophrenia is rapidly increasing worldwide, I hope I can integrate these resources and the knowledge I have learned to share these with the audience.

Sincerely,

Melody Lin

 

Melody Lin

Hey! Everyone. 

I’m Melody. I’m your classmate for the spring semester. Nice to meet you guys. Let me introduced something about myself.

I’m born in Japan and then backed to China when I am 3 years old. We lived in Tycko, the capital of Japan. My parents are both Chinese but they can speak Japanese very fluently. There are 3 languages used in my family. Chinese, English, and Chinese. I’m grown up in a diverse environment.

The reason why I immigrated to the United States with my parents was that I successfully passed the preparatory course at the Julia Conservatory of Music when I was 12 years old. The Julliard School located in Lincoln Center. The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing art education and is located at  Lincoln Center in New York City.  I started learning piano when I was 5 years old and it has been 13 years now. Since I was little, I have participated in many competitions one after another. By chance, I participated in an international piano competition held in the United States when I’m 10. Piano took me to many places. I traveled to many countries for piano competitions.

Living in Queens provoked a familiar yet strange feeling. As you can see, there are many Chinese families living here. I felt the Chinese culture and its influence while instantly, I found myself stepping into an exotic world with a different language. I needed to adapt to a new environment.

Although music gave me a voice and a sense of certainty, I wanted a different stage. At the end of the ninth grade, I was captivated by VE courses and started my journey of exploration.

The journey was fraught with thrilling obstacles and rewards. I learned many things that I had never contacted in my piano apprenticeship. So I came to Baruch, I started a new journey here. 

Nice to meet you guys.  Continue reading “Melody Lin”