All you want to know about schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a persistent, severe mental illness that affects a person’s thought process, behavior, emotional expression and their relationships, both personal and professional. Despite not being as prevalent as other complex mental illnesses, schizophrenia can be the most persistent and incapacitating. Schizophrenic patients frequently struggle to function well in relationships, the workplace, and academic settings. They can actually lose their sense of reality, feel afraid and withdraw.
This mental disorder can be classified as a type of psychosis. Psychosis is a mental disorder in which a person cannot distinguish between the real world and their imagination. People with psychotic conditions occasionally become detached from reality. The world may appear to be a tangle of perplexing ideas, pictures, and sounds. They may act in a peculiar and even startling manner. A psychotic episode occurs when a person experiencing it loses touch with reality and has an abrupt shift in personality and conduct.
In India, schizophrenia affects roughly three out of every 1000 people. Considering that the total population of the country is in billions, the manifestation of this disease would mean a huge number of people are affected. On an average, men are more likely than women to suffer from schizophrenia and they may start experiencing its symptoms five years earlier than women do.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia symptoms cover a wide spectrum including cognitive, behavioral and emotional issues. Here are some of them classified basis the type of schizophrenia a person may experience.
Primary symptoms of schizophrenia
● Cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues: These are clear and easily detectable in schizophrenia. The signs and symptoms differ on the basis of the type of schizophrenia, but they typically entail hallucinations, delusions, or slurred speech and indicate a reduced capacity for function.
● Delusions: Most people with schizophrenia experience delusions. These can be understood as unfounded misconceptions or incorrect beliefs.
● Hallucinations: These typically entail observing or hearing things that are not real. The whole force and effect of a normal experience, however, is present for the individual with schizophrenia. There are many different types of hallucinations.
● Unorganized thought (speech): Chaotic speech implies disorganized thought. Answers to questions may be partially or entirely unconnected, which might hinder effective communication. Rarely, speaking may involve stringing together incomprehensible words, a practice known as “word salad.”
● Wildly disordered motor behavior: This may manifest in a variety of ways, ranging from naiveté to irrational agitation. It is challenging to complete tasks when the accompanying behavior is not goal-focused. Resistance to commands, odd or unsuitable postures, a complete lack of response, or unnecessary and excessive movement are all examples of disordered behavior.
● Undesirable signs: This describes a diminished or absent capacity to carry out routine tasks. For instance, the individual may exhibit poor personal hygiene or a lack of emotion (e.g., avoids eye contact), would be withdrawn, and incapable of expressing their emotions.
Symptoms of disorganized or Hebephrenic schizophrenia
Initially considered an official diagnosis, disorganized or hebephrenic schizophrenia is primarily characterized by and distinguished from normal schizophrenia by its disorganized symptoms. These are indications that a person is unable to think clearly or react appropriately. Another notable feature in this type of schizophrenia is that the patient does not suffer from hallucinations or delusions. Disorganized symptoms may include:
● Disorganized speech marked by illogical sentences and meaningless words, making it difficult for the patient to converse or continue a conversation
● Disorganized thoughts making the patient quickly switch between ideas without clear or rational connections between them
● Notable disorganized movement with slow and uncoordinated moving
● Inability to choose
● Inability to express or feel emotions
● Unrelated facial expressions
● Abundant but meaningless writing
● Losing or forgetting stuff
● Pacing or circular walking as repetitive motions or gestures
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the absence of typical behaviors in people with schizophrenia. The word “negative” in this context does not mean “bad”, but not expected. Some such symptoms may include:
● Emotionlessness or a narrow spectrum of emotions
● Isolation from friends, family, and social activities
● Low energy, less talking, and lack of motivation
● Decline in enjoyment or interest in life
● Poor grooming and hygiene practices
Symptoms of schizophrenia in adolescents
Although teenage schizophrenia symptoms are comparable to those in adults, it may be more challenging to diagnose. This may be partially due to the fact that some of the early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are typical of adolescent development, such as:
● Withdrawal from family and friends
● Decline in academic achievement
● Difficulty in sleeping
● Irritability or a downbeat attitude
● Recreational drug use — including marijuana, methamphetamine, or LSD — which can occasionally result in comparable signs and symptoms.
Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Apart from the symptoms mentioned above, there are some cognitive symptoms that are a result of impairment caused by schizophrenia. These include:
● Functioning deficits
● Low processing speed
● Poor concentration and focus
● Poor learning and retention ability
● Compromised working memory
Causes and risk factors of schizophrenia
The specific causes and risk factors of schizophrenia are unknown. However, researchers have identified numerous factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia. These would include:
● Hereditary: Schizophrenia can run in families, meaning that parents may pass on a higher risk of developing the disorder to their offspring.
● Brain chemistry and neural “circuits”: Schizophrenia patients may be unable to control the neurotransmitters, which regulate certain neural “circuits” that influence thoughts and behavior.
● Atypical brain structures: According to research, schizophrenia patients have a different brain structure. However, not everyone who has schizophrenia fits this description. Even those without the condition are susceptible.
● Environment: Environmental factors such as viral infections, exposure to poisons like marijuana, or intense stressors may also make people more susceptible to developing schizophrenia. When the body is undergoing hormonal and physical changes, such as those that take place during the teen and young adult years, schizophrenia tends to manifest more frequently.
Treatment
The purpose of schizophrenic treatment is to reduce the likelihood of relapse and lessen the severity of the symptoms. Schizophrenia treatment options include:
● Antipsychotic medication: These are the main class of medicines used to treat schizophrenia. A course of these medicines helps manage the most distressing symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, and cognitive difficulties. Antipsychotic medications can include first and second generations of antipsychotics and long-acting injectable antipsychotics.
● Psychosocial therapy: Different psychosocial treatments can help with the behavioral, psychological, social, and vocational issues that are associated with schizophrenia, while medicine may aid with symptom relief. Patients can develop a relapse prevention strategy, recognize early warning signs of relapse, and learn how to manage their symptoms through therapy. Psychosocial interventions may include family therapy, social skills training, individual therapy, and vocational rehabilitation or supported employment.
● Hospitalization: In severe cases of schizophrenia, hospitalization may be important to ensure patient safety. Hospitalization can also help the patients complete their daily chores, get adequate and proper nutrition and sleep well.
The road ahead
Schizophrenia can be diagnosed with the help of tests and screenings, a physical examination, or a psychiatric assessment. Once diagnosed, the patient needs immediate help. Athena Behavioral Health is a mental health and addiction treatment center located in the center of Gurgaon. We have the best doctors for schizophrenia, who administer the treatment in our safe, secure and luxurious facility. Our experienced doctors can customize the treatment basis the patient’s needs and requirements. For more information about schizophrenia and its treatment options, WhatsApp us at 9289086193.
