Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious psychological condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterised by a number of symptoms that may include hallucinations (perceiving things that aren't there), delusions (deeply held beliefs that aren't grounded in reality), disorganised thought and speech, and reduced emotional expressiveness.

Schizophrenia patients generally struggle to function well in their relationships, the workplace, and academic settings. They seem to have lost their sense of reality, are afraid and withdraw. This chronic condition can't be cured, but it is manageable if given the right type of care.

What are the Types of Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is divided into types based on the major symptoms that people experience. It's crucial to remember that these categories are not mutually exclusive, and symptoms can differ between people. The types of schizophrenia are:

Paranoid Schizophrenia

This one is the most common form of Schizophrenia. This type is identified by severe paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations. People suffering from paranoid schizophrenia frequently assume that others are conspiring against them or spying on them.

Hebephrenic Schizophrenia

This kind of Schizophrenia is often known as "disorganized schizophrenia." It is commonly between the ages, 15 and 25. Disorganized actions and ideas, as well as fleeting delusions and hallucinations, are symptoms. The patients speak in a disorganized manner, making it challenging for others to understand them. They often exhibit little to no emotion in their facial expressions, speech tone, or mannerisms.

Catatonic Schizophrenia

The most uncommon kind of Schizophrenia is indicated by strange, restricted, and abrupt movements. Patients show extreme behavior either being quite busy or being very still. They don't speak much but imitate others movements and speech.

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia

Under this type, your diagnosis may show some symptoms of catatonic, paranoid, or hebephrenic Schizophrenia, but it doesn't clearly fit into any one of these given types.

Residual Schizophrenia

If you have a history of psychosis but only exhibit the negative symptoms (such as sluggishness, poor memory, lack of attention, and poor hygiene), you may be diagnosed with  Residual Schizophrenia.

Simple Schizophrenia

Here, positive symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, are infrequently observed while negative symptoms, such as sluggishness, poor memory, loss of focus, and poor hygiene, are most noticeable early on and get worse.

Cenesthopathic Schizophrenia

Cenesthopathic schizophrenia, also known as somatic delusional disorder, is an uncommon form of schizophrenia characterised by strong delusions relating to physical sensations and functions. Individuals suffering from this illness have persistent and distressing false perceptions regarding their body experiences.

What are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complicated mental condition characterised by a variety of symptoms that vary in intensity and presentation from person to person. It is crucial to note that not all people with schizophrenia will exhibit all of these symptoms, and how they appear may change over time. The following are the symptoms:

Prodromal Phase

The prodromal phase is characterised by subtle changes in behaviour, ideas, and emotions and occurs before the development of full-blown schizophrenia. The prodromal period might extend several weeks, months, or even years.

Onset Phase

Onset Phase is the stage at which active schizophrenia symptoms appear. It is also known as the "first-episode" or "acute" phase.

Active Phase

Active Phase is the phase when schizophrenia symptoms are most noticeable and severe. It might vary in duration and intensity depending on the individual.

Residual Phase

The residual phase occurs after the active phase, and symptoms become less intense but may still be present. The residual phase is distinguished by milder symptoms or a recurrence of prodromal-phase-like symptoms.

What are the Causes of schizophrenia?

There is no specific known cause of Schizophrenia or the spectrum of disorders related to it. A person's chance of suffering from this disorder is increased by a number of events and situations, but none of them are absolute guarantees that they will. The following are the key factors behind Schizophrenia:

• Imbalances in the chemical messages that your brain uses to communicate between cells.
• Issues with the brain's development before birth.
• Loss of connections between various parts of the brain.

What are the Treatments for schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia cannot be cured but the majority of the time it is treatable. People with Schizophrenia usually fully recover from it. There is no way to predict who would experience a relapse of this and who won't after one has recovered. As a result, medical professionals refer to patients who recover as being "in remission."

Schizophrenia Medication

• Typical Antipsychotics: The use of dopamine, a neurotransmitter required for cell-to-cell communication, is inhibited by these medications, which are also known as first-generation antipsychotics.
• Atypical Antipsychotics: These medications, which are commonly referred to as second-generation antipsychotics, work differently than first-generation antipsychotics. These inhibit both the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin, which are essential for communication. Clozapine is a very effective treatment for Schizophrenia symptoms when other drugs are unable to control them.. Healthcare professionals advise alternative antipsychotics first because it has a rare dangerous side effect that necessitates regular blood monitoring to keep individuals safe.

The best person to discuss your medications with is your healthcare physician. They may give you additional specific information about your position, such as your preferences, medical history, and living conditions.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one psychotherapy technique that can assist persons with Schizophrenia manage and cope with their condition. In addition to treating Schizophrenia, long-term therapy can also help with related conditions including anxiety, sadness, or substance abuse.

Therapy is essential for improving treatment adherence. Schizophrenia patients always feel like they don't need therapy because they don't comprehend or recognise their symptoms. Schizophrenia patients who constantly go for therapy are more likely to adhere to their treatment regimens and the advice of their medical professionals.

Other Therapies

There are two additional therapies that can be beneficial: drama therapy and art therapy. These methods can aid in treating symptoms like motivation loss and trouble detecting symptoms. Additionally, medical professionals could suggest methods for fostering social skills, creating self-care routines, and more.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Healthcare professionals may suggest adding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) if a patient's Schizophrenia does not get better after trying specific medications and the patient is at danger for injuring themselves or others. In situations where medication alone would take too long to work, this treatment can produce quick results.

ECT is frequently the only treatment that will work when all others have failed, and it can be lifesaving for those who are at high risk of suicide. Despite this, ECT use is uncommon because it has a negative reputation and because TV, films, and other popular media rarely depict this treatment realistically.

In order to stimulate certain brain regions during this procedure, an electrical current is administered to your scalp. People with severe depression, agitation, and other issues may benefit from improving brain function, which is brought on by the stimulus that triggers a brief seizure. When receiving ECT, patients are given anaesthesia, which causes them to fall asleep during the process and makes it painless.

FAQs

What does a Schizophrenic person do?

Delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (observing or hearing things that are not there), strange bodily behavior, and disorganized thought and speech are typical symptoms of Schizophrenia. Paranoid ideas or voice hearing are very common among Schizophrenia patients.

Can Schizophrenia be cured?

Despite being an illness that can be successfully treated and managed, schizophrenia currently lacks a cure. The key is to have a strong support system in place, get the greatest care, and practice self-help that works for you. You can have a contented, meaningful life.

What is the best treatment for Schizophrenia?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which enables you to recognise and alter any unfavourable ideas or behaviours that are making your life difficult, is the primary talking therapy method that is advised for the treatment of schizophrenia. CBT seeks to assist you in coping with psychotic symptoms including delusions and hearing voices.

How is Schizophrenia diagnosed?

One or more of the symptoms must be delusions, hallucinations, or slurred speech. In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor could ask for other testing, like a blood test or MRI scan.

How does Schizophrenia develop?

There is no known precise cause of Schizophrenia. According to research, a person may be more susceptible to acquire the illness if a combination of physical, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors are present. Because certain people are predisposed to Schizophrenia, a difficult or upsetting life event could set off a psychotic break.

Can Schizophrenia be genetic?

Schizophrenia, which affects 1% of the population, is known to be up to 90% heritable, but until recently, it has been difficult to understand how certain genes function to transmit risk.