Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that makes people have abnormal interpretations of reality. It might result in delusions, hallucinations, and highly disordered behaviour and thinking that affects daily functions and turns out to be disabling. The ones with schizophrenia need treatment for life. Getting treatment early on might help get the symptoms under control before serious complications arise. Additionally, it might help in improving the long-term outlook.
Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia involves several behaviour, emotions, and cognition (thinking) issues. Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia might vary but typically involve disorganized speech, hallucinations, and delusions. Overall, it impairs the ability to function correctly. The symptoms of schizophrenia are:
Delusions:
Delusions refer to false beliefs that aren’t based on any reality. For instance, you might think you are harassed or harmed; you might believe you have exceptional fame or ability; specific comments or gestures are meant for you; a famous person loves you, or a major disaster is about to strike. Such delusions are common in schizophrenic people.
Hallucinations:
Usually, these involve hearing or seeing things that do not exist, though they have the impact and force of any everyday experience for a schizophrenic person. Hallucinations are of many types, though hearing voices is the most common.
Disorganized thinking:
Disorganized thinking leads to incoherent speech. It might impair effective communication. Sometimes the answers to specific questions might be entirely or partially unrelated. In rare cases, the person might put together meaningless words forming somewhat of a word salad.
Extreme disorganization or abnormality in motor behaviour:
It might show up in several ways, right from unpredictable agitation to childlike silliness. Since behaviour is not focused on any goal, completing tasks becomes difficult. Typical behaviours are bizarre or inappropriate posture, excess or useless movement, resistance to directions, or a lack of appropriate response.
Negative symptoms:
It involves a lack of or reduced ability to normally function. For instance, a person might neglect general personal hygiene or seem to lack emotions. They might speak monotone, hold the same facial expressions, or not make eye contact. Also, the person might not feel interested in regular activities, start social withdrawal or lack any feeling of pleasure.
Causes of Schizophrenia
Though the exact cause of schizophrenia is not known, a combination of brain chemistry, environment, and genetics are believed to lead to the disorder.
Issues with specific naturally occurring brain chemicals, such as the neurotransmitters like glutamate and dopamine, might lead to schizophrenia. As such, neuroimaging studies have shown differences in the brain structure and the central nervous system of those with schizophrenia. Though researchers are not sure about the value of the changes, they point out that schizophrenia is a brain disorder.
Treatment of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia needs treatment for life, even after the symptoms subside. Treatments using psychosocial therapy and medications might help in managing the condition. Hospitalization might be necessary in some cases.
An experienced psychiatrist usually guides the treatment for schizophrenia. Also, the medical team might include a social worker, psychologist, psychiatric nurse, and even one case manager to coordinate care. This full-team approach is usually available in clinics with expertise in treating schizophrenia.
During times of crisis or severe symptoms, hospitalization might be needed to ensure adequate sleep, proper nutrition, safety, and basic hygiene. A doctor will suggest hospitalization for schizophrenia if staying at home is harmful to the patient and his family. Some patients might need prolonged hospitalization.
Support and Coping
Coping with schizophrenia is challenging for both the patient and their family and friends. Given below are a few ways to cope:
- Remaining focused on the goals: Schizophrenia management is a constant process. It is important to remember the treatment goals to motivate the patient.
- Avoiding drug and alcohol use: The use of nicotine, recreational drugs, or alcohol might make it hard to treat the disorder.
- Learn stress management and relaxation: A schizophrenic person will benefit from different stress-reduction methods like Tai Chi, yoga, or meditation.
Prognosis of Schizophrenia
Some people can recover from schizophrenia completely. Within ten years of diagnosis, fifty per cent of people improve or recover to a point where they can live and work independently. Twenty-five per cent of patients are better but keep needing help from a good support network for day-to-day activities. The rest of the patients require hospitalization.
The Endnote
The success of schizophrenia treatment depends mainly on how soon the treatment begins after the symptoms are diagnosed. The sooner the treatment starts, the greater the chances of improving and recovering. Thus, it is necessary not to delay the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.
