Schizophrenia

A disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel and behave clearly.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Positive symptoms of Schizophrenia - also known as psychotic symptoms. For example, delusions and hallucinations.

Negative symptoms of Schizophrenia - these refer to elements that are taken away from the individual. For example, absence of facial expressions or lack of motivation.

Cognitive symptoms of Schizophrenia - these affect the person's thought processes. They may be positive or negative symptoms, for example, poor concentration is a negative symptom.

Emotional symptoms of Schizophrenia - these are usually negative symptoms, such as blunted emotions

Major symptoms of Schizophrenia

Delusions - the patient displays false beliefs, which can take many forms, such as delusions of persecution, or delusions of grandeur. They may feel others are attempting to control them remotely. Or, they may think they have extraordinary powers and abilities.

Hallucinations - hearing voices is much more common than seeing, feeling, tasting, or smelling things which are not there however people with schizophrenia may experience a wide range of hallucinations.

Thought disorder - the person may jump from one subject to another for no logical reason. The speaker may be hard to follow or erratic.

Causes of Schizophrenia

Chemical imbalance in the brain-Experts believe that an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is involved in the onset of schizophrenia. Other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, may also be involved.

Family relationships-There is no evidence to prove or even indicate that family relationships might cause schizophrenia, however, some patients with the illness believe family tension triggers relapses.

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common type of schizophrenia. The subtypes are classified as: Paranoid Schizophrenia, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual type.

Psychosis

People who are experiencing psychosis may have either hallucinations or delusions. Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur within the absence of an actual stimulus. For example, a person having an auditory hallucination may hear their mother yelling at them when their mother isn’t around. Or someone having a visual hallucination may see something, like a person in front of them, who isn’t actually there. The person experiencing psychosis may also have thoughts that are contrary to actual evidence. These thoughts are known as delusions. Some people with psychosis may also experience loss of motivation and social withdrawal.

Schizophrenia with Depression

Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition that involves symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder like major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. In fact, many people with schizophrenia are incorrectly diagnosed at first with depression or bipolar disorder. Treatment for schizophrenia: Due to advancement in science there are different treatment modalities available like medicines, electroconvulsive therapy, injections.If the patient is aggressive or violent then admission is required .