Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
Observational studies within epidemiology are used to evaluate the association between a risk factor and an outcome. Observational studies make use of careful measurement of patterns of exposure and disease in populations to draw inferences about etiology (Friss & Sellers, 2014, p.284). The two main sub types of observational studies are descriptive and analytical. Descriptive studies identify cases by person, place, and time. Analytical studies establish relationships between causative factors and incidence of disease. They consist of ecologic, case-control, and cohort studies. This discussion will be focused on the causative factor of stress or trauma related to the development of paranoid schizophrenia.NURS 6700 Epidemiology for Public Health Practice
Risk Factor and Selected Health Problem
People with paranoid schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality and may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them or feel like they’re being constantly watched (Smith & Segal, 2018). In the many years of psychiatry in working with adults with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, I have seen the profound effect it has had on loved ones. With proper treatment, it has been heartwarming to find that when at baseline that most of these individuals are wonderful with great personalities and very pleasant to be around. It’s not known what causes schizophrenia, but researchers believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environment contribute to the development of the disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Of the environmental factors, high levels of stress are believed to trigger schizophrenic episodes by increasing the body’s production of the hormone cortisol (Smith & Segal, 2018). To examine the association between increased stress and development of paranoid schizophrenia, a case-control study design is appropriate.