Overview
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness. It causes psychological symptoms. Doctors call it a psychosis. This means the person can’t always tell their thoughts from reality. psychosis is a spectrum of disorders characterized by a disconnection from reality, including hallucinations and delusions. It affects a person’s ability to recognize symptoms. It’s severe but treatable, and many patients live happy, fulfilling lives. Best psychiatrist in Lahore can provide best possible treatment for schizophrenia
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a condition and a spectrum of psychotic disorders. These conditions cause a “lack of connection” to reality. Disconnections take many forms.
Types
Schizophrenia’s classifications and types have changed. Health professionals once classified schizophrenia into five types:
- Type-paranoid
- types include disorganized
- catatonic
- undifferentiated
- residual
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
psychosis affects thinking, behavior, and emotions. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and an impaired ability to function.
Symptoms:
Delusions.
These are untrue beliefs. You think you’re being harmed or harassed, certain gestures or comments are directed at you, you have exceptional ability or fame, someone loves you, or a major disaster is about to occur. Most schizophrenics have delusions.
Hallucinations.
These involve seeing or hearing nonexistent things. Yet schizophrenia sufferers feel their full force and impact. Hearing voices is a common hallucination.
Mindlessness (speech).
Speech disorganization leads to disorganized thinking. Effective communication is impaired, and answers may be unrelated. Rarely, speech may include meaningless words, called word salad.
their full force and impact. Hearing voices is a common hallucination.
Motor behavior is a mess. This can manifest as childlike silliness or unpredictability. Unfocused behavior makes tasks difficult. Behavior can include resisting instructions, odd posture, no response, or excessive movement.
Negative symptoms.
Reduced or absent normal functioning. The person may neglect personal hygiene or appear emotionless (no eye contact, monotone speech). The person may lose interest in daily activities, withdraw socially, or lack pleasure.
Over time, symptoms can worsen and improve. Always-present symptoms exist.
Schizophrenia’s causes
It’s causes are unknown. Experts believe genetic and environmental factors cause the condition. Some people may be genetically predisposed to developing schizophrenia, and stressful life events or substance abuse may serve as triggers.
psychosis cause is unknown. Like cancer and diabetes, schizophrenia has a biological basis.
Several factors appear to increase psychosis risk, including:
- psychosis can run in families, which means it can be inherited.
- People with schizophrenia may not be able to regulate brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that affect thinking and behavior.
- psychosis patients’ brains are abnormal, according to research. Not all schizophrenia patients are affected. It affects healthy people.
- Environment: Things like viral infections, exposure to toxins like marijuana, or highly stressful situations can cause psychosis in people whose genes make them more likely to get the disorder. Schizophrenia symptoms tend to worsen during times of rapid physiological change, such as adolescence and early adulthood.
What are schizophrenia and psychosis?
Schizophrenia and psychosis are related but different.
Psychosis involves a disconnection from reality and the outside world. Psychosis can occur with bipolar disorder and other conditions.
Schizophrenia involves psychotic symptoms.
Treatment of Schizophrenia
psychosis is lifelong but treatable. Trusted Sources can help with symptoms, relapses, and hospitalization. Doctors tailor treatment to each patient’s needs.
Possible Schizophrenia Treatment options
antipsychotics
Injectable medications can last up to 3 months if taken less frequently.
Counseling.
Mental health counseling helps people cope and achieve goals.
Specialized coordination.
It combines medication, family involvement, and education services.
Common antipsychotics include
Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Geodon, Clozaril, haloperidol (Haldol)
Many older drugs have neurological side effects. Newer drugs often cause weight gain.
Continue treatment even if symptoms improve. Stopping medication may bring back symptoms.
Psychosocial therapy:
While medication may help relieve schizophrenia symptoms, psychosocial treatments can help with behavioral, psychological, social, and occupational problems. Through therapy, patients can learn to manage symptoms, identify relapse warning signs, and develop a relapse prevention plan. Psychotherapy includes:
Rehabilitation focuses on social skills and job training to help people with schizophrenia live independently.
Cognitive remediation involves learning information-processing techniques. It uses drills, coaching, and computer-based exercises to improve attention, memory, planning, and organization.
Individual psychotherapy can help a person understand their illness, cope, and solve problems.
Family therapy can help families cope with a loved one with schizophrenia and better help them.
Group therapy/support groups provide mutual support.
Hospitalization: Many schizophrenia patients are outpatients. People may benefit from hospitalization:
- Symptomatic
- who may harm themselves or others
- Who can’t self-care
The ECT; electro convulsive therapy
Electrodes are attached to the scalp. While they’re asleep under general anesthesia, doctors shock the brain. 2-3 ECT treatments per week for several weeks is typical. Each shock causes a seizure. A series of treatments improve mood and thinking. Scientists don’t fully understand how ECT and controlled seizures help, but some think they affect neurotransmitter release in the brain. ECT is less effective for schizophrenia than depression or bipolar disorder, so it’s not used when mood symptoms are absent. It helps when medications don’t work or when depression or catatonia make treatment difficult.
Research: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may treat schizophrenia. Doctors implant electrodes that stimulate brain areas believed to control thinking and perception. DBS is a treatment for severe Parkinson’s disease and essential tremors, but it’s experimental for psychiatric disorders.
When to see a doctor
Schizophrenia sufferers often don’t realize they need medical help. Therefore, it is usually up to their loved ones to find them some assistance.
What is a schizophrenic person like?
Schizophrenia symptoms are: Hallucinations or delusions are positive symptoms. Negative symptoms include withdrawal from the world, lack of interest in social interactions, and an emotionless, flat appearance.
Conclusion:
Schizophrenia is a spectrum of disorders characterized by a disconnection from reality, including hallucinations and delusions. It’s severe but treatable, and many patients live happy, fulfilling lives. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and an impaired ability to function. Schizophrenia symptoms tend to worsen during rapid physiological change, such as adolescence and early adulthood. Schizophrenia affects less than 1% of Americans. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may treat schizophrenia. DBS is an implant that stimulates brain areas believed to control thinking and perception.