8 【The Causes of Schizophrenia and its Relationship with Brain Function】 Schizophrenia is not caused by personality traits or a lack of mental strength. Rather, researchers believe that it develops through a combination of factors, including diff erences in brain function and imbalances in neurotransmitters. In particular, schizophrenia has been linked to excessive activity of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting information in the brain. Imbalances in dopamine are believed to contribute to symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In recent years, researchers have also been studying changes in brain regions such as the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and emotion, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for thinking and decision-making. Importantly, however, these are differences in brain functioning and do not mean that people with schizophrenia are inherently dangerous. Therefore, improving public understanding of the brain and the symptoms of schizophrenia is considered an important step toward reducing stigma.Yume Kurokawa1. IntroductionUniversity of Toronto, Canada Have you ever heard of the mental illness known as schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive difficulties. In particular, people with schizophrenia may experience auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices that are not actually there, or delusions, such as believing that they are being watched or monitored. These symptoms can make it difficult for individuals to distinguish reality from hallucinations or delusions. However, research has shown that people with schizophrenia suffer not only from the symptoms of the illness itself, but also from social stigma, prejudice, discrimination, and fear of being rejected by others. In some cases, individuals with schizophrenia are viewed as burdens in the workplace, or they experience changes in how others treat them after disclosing their condition. Through studying schizophrenia in my clinical psychology classes, I have come to realize that it is one of the most misunderstood mental illnesses in society. Currently, I am involved in research related to schizophrenia as a research assistant at the University of Toronto, and through this experience, I have become increasingly aware of how strongly stigma and prejudice affect the social lives and recovery of people living with schizophrenia. In particular, stereotypes such as “dangerous” or “unpredictable” remain deeply rooted in society today, and these stereotypes often contribute to social isolation among people with schizophrenia.The Structure of Social Stigma Toward Schizophrenia and the Challenges of Overcoming It
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