Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects how a person thinks, behaves, and feels.
Schizophrenia is most likely the most severe and possibly debilitating kind of mental illness in any community throughout the planet. It can manifest as either an acute or chronic sickness.
While there is no cure for schizophrenia, research is producing new and safer treatments. Experts are also examining genetics, performing behavioral studies, and employing advanced imaging to examine the structure and function of the brain. These techniques hold the prospect of developing new and more effective treatments.
According to research, men and women are affected equally by schizophrenia, but men may have an earlier onset. Rates are comparable all throughout the world. People with schizophrenia are more likely than the general population to die at a younger age, owing to high incidence of co-occurring medical problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
Causes of Schizophrenia
There is no known cause of schizophrenia, but researchers believe that it is caused by a mix of genetics, brain chemistry, and environment.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
When the condition is active, the person may have episodes in which they are unable to discriminate between actual and unreal sensations. The severity, length, and frequency of symptoms can vary as with any illness; however, among people with schizophrenia, the incidence of severe psychotic symptoms frequently decreases as the individual becomes older. Noncompliance with medication, use of alcohol or illegal substances, and stressful conditions all likely to exacerbate symptoms. Symptoms are classified into three types:
- Positive symptoms
- Negative symptoms
- Disorganized symptoms
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The word positive doesn’t mean good. It refers to added thoughts or actions that aren’t based in reality. They’re sometimes called psychotic symptoms and can include:
- Delusions(state beliefs which cannot be substantiated)
- Hallucinations (hearing voices)
- Incoherent speech or illogicality
- Odd or disorganised behaviour
- Patient believes his or her thoughts are controlled by outside forces
- Catatonia:In this condition, the person may stop speaking, and their body may be fixed in a single position for a
Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The word “negative” here doesn’t mean “bad.” It notes the absence of normal behaviors in people with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Apathy
- Reduced social contact or withdrawal
- Speaking less
- Lack of motivation
- Loss of pleasure or interest in life
- Poor persona hygiene
Disorganized Symptoms of Schizophrenia
These are positive symptoms that show that the person can’t think clearly or respond as expected. Examples include:
- Talking in sentences that don’t make sense or using nonsense words, making it difficult for the person to communicate or hold a conversation
- Forgetting or losing things
- Repeating movements or gestures, like pacing or walking in circles
- Having problems making sense of everyday sights, sounds, and feelings
- Shifting quickly from one thought to the next without obvious or logical connections between them
- Moving slowly
- Being unable to make decisions
- Writing excessively but without meaning
How Is Schizophrenia Treated?
A person is diagnosed with schizophrenia if they have at least two of these symptoms for at least 6 months:
- Delusions
- Disorganized speech
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Negative symptoms
One of the symptoms has to be
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech
The causes of schizophrenia are complex and are not fully understood, so current treatments focus on managing symptoms and solving problems related to day to day functioning. Treatments include
- Medications
- Psychosocial therapy
- Coordinated specialty care (CSC)
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Can Schizophrenia Be Prevented?
There is currently no cure for schizophrenia. Early detection and treatment, on the other hand, can help people avoid or manage relapses and hospitalizations, as well as reduce the amount of disruption to their lives, families, and relationships.
Complications of Schizophrenia
Left untreated, schizophrenia can result in severe problems that affect every area of life. Complications that schizophrenia may cause or be associated with include:
- Financial problems and homelessness
- Social isolation
- Suicide, suicide attempts and thoughts of suicide
- Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Depression
- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs, including nicotine
- Inability to work or attend school
- Health and medical problems
- Being victimized
- Aggressive behavior, although it’s uncommon
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