Howard R. & Goldsman A. (2001) The movie ‘’A beautiful mind’’. United States Of America: Universal Studios.
The Producer uses this movie to bring out a story of a man who was a genius in mathematics, John Forbes Nash Jr. as he entered Princeton who was a clever student with an infinite future ahead of him. In college, Nash met with Alicia (Jennifer Connelly) a beautiful lady and fell in love with her and got married. However his passion and hunger for excellence in the future was shattered when he discovered that he had schizophrenia (a mental condition) but Nash fought to overcome the challenges with the help of his devoted wife Alicia.
Howard, the producer unfolds a beautiful story of love, despair, perseverance, pride and compassionate whereby throughout the movies, he significantly shows the effects and developments of psychosis on the patient (Nash), the patient’s family and the community at large. Thus as his illness progressed, he became more scared and as a result his productivity at work was affected as he was not functional at work, also other aspects of his life appeared to be built on paranoia, grandiosity and ideas of allusion. He was however committed to his treatment a fact that led to an improvement to his health, although later his path was marked by disabling negative symptoms and non adherence. Despite this he eventually succeeded in his struggle to reintegrate the community’s education program.
Jones C. (2009). Australian story. “All in your mind”. Brisbane , Australia: ABC.
Jones, uses the broadcast “All in your mind” a 30 minute DVD that was first broadcasted on 11th of May 2009 to discuss the issue of Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert whose dream of becoming a famous chef were shattered when she discovered that her twin brother Scott Shannon was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his teens.
The broadcast notes that Professor Shannon on witnessing the distressing symptoms of delusions and hallucinations from her own twin brother whom she loved so much, embarked on a mission to find a cure for the disease. Now a world-leading neurobiologist, she was invited to guide a top schizophrenia study program in Sydney two years ago whereby the team discovered that mutations in a particular estrogen gene were connected to schizophrenia. Out of the research Clinical drug trials programs were initiated which were to start later. Despite her research and advancement in the world of schizophrenia, her brother was still confined to his condition back in the USA. From her research it notes that “estrogen modifies human emotion and cognition and impacts symptoms of schizophrenia. Hypothesis show that the variation in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene and cortical ESR1 mRNA is linked with schizophrenia.” (Jones 2009)
Costain, W.F. (2008). The effects of cannabis abuse on the symptoms of schizophrenia: Patient perspectives. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 17, 227-235.
Costain analysis the connection between the continued abuse of cannabis and its relation to schizophrenic persons, especially persons who continuously continue using the drug. He notes that “cannabis is known to worsen positive symptoms, mix the effects of negative symptoms and lead to deterioration in health hence resulting in a negative effect on the quality of life of a given individual.” In addition he analyzes previous studies exploring this fact that used quantitative methodology where questions were asked which had been preset by researchers whereby, the subjective skills of the patients were analyzed. He observes that qualitative methodology was used less in this study in order to give voice to the patients’ perspectives and to add to the knowledge of the frameworks of meanings used by patients. From the article one can note that majority of participants in this study did not realize they had mental illness and they held strong beliefs concerning the use of cannabis. Constain (2008) notes “reasons given for their continuing cannabis use included; they required the effects of cannabis use to control the symptoms, to feel normal, apparent improvement in cognitive function, reduced psychological pain and increased energy.”
Hence these beliefs could influence a person’s devotion to treatment and their future cannabis use. This article also analyzed the clinical performance of clinicians and found out that they lacked insight into the importance of the phenomenal beliefs of a person with schizophrenia. The author further notes that lack of insight by the clinician into the phenomenal beliefs would impact on development of a therapeutic relationship between them and the patients.
Schizophrenia research institute (2010). The Key Facts. Sydney Schizophrenia Research Institute.
Schizophrenia research institute deals with investigations of understanding the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders, which badly affect millions of people. Thus the schizophrenia library is structured around nine categories identified through the available information. “They cover topics pertinent to schizophrenia including treatments, its risk factors, physical features, symptoms of the disease, disease course and its outcome, family considerations and diagnostic measures of the disease.” Schizophrenia research institute (2010)
According to research from the institute, it shows that schizophrenia has no single cause but rather it appears that there are multiple causes to the disease such as genetic factors, environmental and psychological assaults and possible hormonal changes that alter the brains chemistry. Much has been learned concerning mental disorders and their effects on the brain due to researches done by the institute. The institute is working on finding the cure of this disease and updates are made regularly to ensure access to the latest information about schizophrenia. The author adds that the institutes aim is to serve as a resource to scientists, clinicians, government, consumer and career groups and the public and to help inform policy and clinical guideline development. The institute also aims to be a resource that can be used by scientists to identify relevant research questions.
ABC. (2010). All in the mind’-schizophrenia: personal confrontations and philosophical investigation. Melbourne: ABC program.
The program, All in the mind’-schizophrenia: personal confrontations and philosophical investigation was a show that was aired to highlight the issues of individuals living with schizophrenia where a Philosopher, poet and writer Dr Paul Fearne was a guest in the program that was presented by Natasha Mitchell. The show talked about Dr. Pauls first psychotic episode that occurred while he was just a young university student. Dr.fearne noted that during that stage in his life, he kept a diary which he entered notes concerning his life on a daily basis. From the show, he noted that one of his favorite entries into the diary was “To live is to take a leap into a sea of daggers, each one stabbing the fabric of your being”. ABC (2010) observes that “one can note that his experiences and diary entries encouraged a unique PhD investigation into the philosophical questions posed by schizophrenia whereby later the diary was published and is known as Diary of a Schizophrenic”.
ABC (2010) notes “it was brave for Dr. Fearne, to go public with something so intimate but publishing anything from those anxiety-tinged years of his early adulthood life is even braver.” What makes his diary exceptional is that throughout his first psychosis, he was reading grand classics of literature, whereby his intellect could construe well what was going on. However with treatment and right support, Dr.fearne completed his honors degree and a master in the philosophy of aesthetics and beauty, got married, and has a child he concludes in the show that, talent, love and acceptance can take all of us a long way in the face of adversity.