What is it?
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that alters how a person feels, what they see, how they process thoughts, and how they behave. It's a chronic condition that is usually diagnosed in the late teens to early thirties, and there's no cure for it. However, many people with schizophrenia are able to become fully or partially free from its symptoms and live full lives with the condition.
Schizophrenia, which can involve hallucinations, delusions and difficulty with social relationships, is not as common as some other mental health issues. In fact, it's estimated that less than 1% of Americans have schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Symptoms
To arrive at a diagnosis, most experts agree that you have to experience symptoms for more than six months.
As with most mental illnesses, recognizing the signs of schizophrenia isn't always easy. Schizophrenia does not mean having split or multiple personalities, despite commonly held stereotypes. Instead, schizophrenia symptoms often reflect difficulty sorting out reality from fantasy. Schizophrenia symptoms can affect all aspects of a person—thoughts, emotions, and behavior—which can filter down into difficulty negotiating many aspects of life.
Here are some of the common symptoms of schizophrenia:
Hallucinations. These can be auditory or visual.
Delusions. Stories you create to make sense of your state of mind.
Disorganized thinking and speech. This can also include talking off topic, switching topics or creating words.
Cognitive symptoms. Difficulty with memory, focus, planning, or organization.
Agitation. Flailing with extra, unnecessary movements; clumsiness.
Appearing withdrawn. Speaking in monotones, not making eye contact.
Suicidal thoughts and feelings.
Diagnosis
Doctors and mental health experts diagnose schizophrenia by performing physical examinations and medical tests to rule out other causes of a person's symptoms (like a brain tumor) first. If there is no physical reason a person is experiencing these schizophrenia-like symptoms, a psychiatric or psychological evaluation, including an interview and specific assessment tools, is the next step in delving into the cause of a person's thoughts and behaviors.
If you notice any of the symptoms of schizophrenia in yourself or a loved one, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
Treatment
Without a cure, schizophrenia treatment remains focused on managing symptoms. This usually involves antipsychotic medications that can help with the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. These prescription meds are usually taken orally every day, but they can also sometimes be administered as injections. Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to manage schizophrenia symptoms.
Visit: neurology.pencis.com
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