What Is Schizophrenia and How Is It Treated?

The World Health Organization estimates that 24 million people live with schizophrenia, which means it affects 1 in 22 adults. While schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, it can cause significant stress to patients who have this condition and their loved ones.

If you suspect you have schizophrenia or notice symptoms in someone you care for, talk to a medical professional. They can guide you through the diagnosis and treatment process. You can also turn to reputable sources to do your own research on this condition. This guide will dive deeper into schizophrenia, including its symptoms, signs, and treatment options.

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that changes how people perceive the world. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains that people with schizophrenia “may seem like they have lost touch with reality” because they experience psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders.

Schizophrenia can also impact cognitive processing, like the ability to make decisions or pay attention. Some patients may also lose motivation to participate in daily life and in social interactions and may struggle to complete work and chores.

The NIMH emphasizes that schizophrenia can be particularly distressing to the loved ones of patients who worry about their ability to function normally, think clearly, and interact with others.

Schizophrenia vs. Schizoaffective Disorder

If someone is diagnosed with schizophrenia, they may also receive a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. The Cleveland Clinic highlights how there are six types of schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder is one of them. This makes the disorder a subset of schizophrenia itself.

While schizophrenia is considered a thought disorder, which means it affects how a person perceives the world, schizoaffective disorder pairs the thought disorder with a mood disorder. This means the patient may experience emotional distress along with psychosis. People with schizoaffective disorder may experience depression or mania depending on how this condition presents itself.

Early Signs of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is often recognized as a form of psychosis, which is a group of symptoms that reflect a break from reality. Here are a few early signs of psychosis which are often associated with schizophrenia:

• Changes in thinking: People may have odd ideas, feel confused, or either slow down or dramatically speed up their thoughts.
• Changes in behavior: There could be personality changes, social withdrawal, or dramatic mood changes.
• Changes in feelings: Patients may be distrustful of others or feel cut off from the world. Their tone and body language may change.
• Hallucinations: They may see, hear, or feel things that are not there. This includes hearing voices.
• Delusions: They may believe they are being followed or controlled. These delusions are not easily given up, no matter how much their loved ones try to convince them otherwise.

The patterns of these symptoms highlight sudden changes in behavior and interactions with the world, whether the patient is pulling away from others or experiencing a high-energy mania.

Other Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Every person is different, which means patients experience schizophrenia in various ways. A few additional symptoms of schizophrenia that loved ones might notice include:

• Paranoia;
• Impaired emotional expression;
• Reduced experience of pleasure;
• Trouble with logical thinking;
• Bizarre behavior.

Patients may also experience brain fog that makes it hard to think clearly, remember things, and listen to others. These symptoms can trap people with schizophrenia inside their minds.

Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can develop at any age; however, symptoms tend to present themselves in men when they reach their late teens and early 20s and in women when they reach their late 20s to early 30s. There are a few potential causes of schizophrenia that highlight who is potentially at risk for developing this condition:

• Genetics: The likelihood of developing schizophrenia is six times higher for those with close relatives with the disorder.
• Environment: People exposed to certain viruses, bacteria, or lead paint are more likely to develop this condition. Malnutrition can also contribute to schizophrenia development.
• Brain function: People with certain brain chemicals or those with problems transmitting information are more likely to develop schizophrenia.
• Substance abuse: Taking mind-altering drugs can increase a person’s chances of developing schizophrenia, especially when done during the teen and pre-teen years.

Certain lifestyle factors can also trigger schizophrenia or worsen symptoms. For example, drug use, alcohol consumption, or stress can all increase the chances that someone prone to schizophrenia could develop noticeable signs.

What Is Psychosis?

The Yale School of Medicine says people experiencing psychosis have an “alteration in their perceptions of reality,” which means they cannot think as clearly as they normally would. This is a brain disorder that can affect anyone. People with schizophrenia may experience psychosis, but not everyone going through psychosis has schizophrenia.

An episode of psychosis can be dangerous because the person going through it cannot differentiate between reality and their thoughts. Someone with psychosis might think they are in danger and potentially harm themselves or their loved ones out of fear. For example, someone in a psychotic episode who thinks the government implanted a chip inside them might cut themselves to try and get it out.

Psychosis, like schizophrenia, can be treated with the help of medication and therapy.

Treatment Options for Schizophrenia

When someone is suspected of having schizophrenia, they will meet with a psychologist, physician, or clinician to answer a series of questions and complete a mental health evaluation. In some instances, the loved ones of the patient may answer these questions if the person with schizophrenia cannot. The medical professional will try to rule out other conditions, look for common symptoms of schizophrenia, and use their experience and judgment to reach a diagnosis.

Once someone is diagnosed with schizophrenia, they can receive a variety of treatment options. A few common treatments include:

• Medication: These usually are antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anti-depressants.
• Brain stimulation therapy: This involves using electricity to stimulate parts of the brain.
• Psychosocial therapy: Patients might work with psychologists to try different techniques to manage their schizophrenia.

Doctors often develop comprehensive treatment plans to support people with schizophrenia. For example, along with medication, a psychologist might recommend one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and changes to the patient’s diet and exercise. These efforts all work together to support the mental health of the person with schizophrenia.

What Is Catatonic Schizophrenia?

Catatonic schizophrenia is an outdated subtype of schizophrenia and is no longer recognized as an official diagnosis. Researchers have since divided catatonia and schizophrenia into two different conditions. People with catatonia often fail to react to the world around them. For decades, it was thought that people only experienced catatonia if they had schizophrenia, and researchers are just now starting to think of these conditions separately. The adjective “catatonic” references catatonia and means to be in an unresponsive stupor.

Schizophrenia can be a scary disorder for both patients and their loved ones. However, it’s better to seek out a diagnosis so the person with this condition can get help. It’s possible to live with schizophrenia as long as this illness is managed.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.