Schizophrenia; Cases, symptoms, treatment, preventions.

 

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (Pronounced as SKIT-SUU-FREE-NEE-UH )  is a mental illness. Schizophrenia effected peoples are rare to find. They have symptoms of hallucination, fear and anger management.

 

What is Schizophrenia?

 Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal thinking, feeling and behavior. Schizophrenia affects about 1% of people worldwide. Symptoms may include hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real), delusions (believing something that isn't true and having false belief) and disorganized speech and actions. Schizophrenia is often first diagnosed in young adulthood. There is no cure for schizophrenia, but treatment can help control symptoms. People who have schizophrenia need long-term care. Treatment includes medication and therapy.

What are the causes of Schizophrenia?

 The causes of schizophrenia are not known. Researchers believe that genetics, environment, and both together play a role in causing the disease. In some cases, schizophrenia runs in families. It runs down in genes and effect the individuals. If a mother is affected by Schizophrenia, it is possible that one of her children is affected by it.

Other risk factors include head injury, drug use, and certain infections. Main cause of schizophrenia is still vague but environment around that person, their mental wellbeing and genetical disease are listed the cause of schizophrenia till now. However, researchers have identified several risk factors that may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. These include genetic predisposition, early brain injury, environmental influences, and certain medical conditions.

1. Genetic Predisposition

 Studies suggest that schizophrenia is inherited. A person's genes may make them more likely to develop schizophrenia than others. Researchers believe that genetics play a role in schizophrenia because identical twins who share 100% of their DNA are much more likely to both get schizophrenia than fraternal twins who only share 50% of their DNA.

 2. Early Brain Injury

 Researchers think that some people are born with a vulnerability to developing schizophrenia. Early brain injuries, such as those caused by infections, head trauma, or birth complications, may increase a child's risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

 3. Environmental Influences

 Some studies suggest that environmental influences may trigger the onset of schizophrenia.

 4. Medical Conditions

 Certain medical conditions may increase a person's risk of developing schizophrenia.

 5. Treatment Options

 There are many treatments for schizophrenia. Medications are often prescribed to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family counseling may also help patients cope with the condition.

 

Types of schizophrenia

 There are different types of schizophrenia.

1.       Psychotic disorders

2.       Paranoid Disorders

3.       Catatonic disorders

4.        Delusional disorders

 

1.     Psychotic disorders:

These disorders are those that involve hallucinations and delusions. The patient hears and see things that are not there. Seeing ghosts, hearing noises are the most common symptoms.

2.    Paranoid disorders

      They are  marked by suspiciousness and paranoia. They will make stories in their mind about supernatural things and will trick their brain in thinking those things exists.

3.    Catatonic disorders

      Catatonic disorders are marked by immobility, stupor and rigidity.

 4.  Delusional disorders 

Delusional disorders are marked by false beliefs. These includes seeing and talking to spirits and the spirits talking to you.

 
Symptoms of schizophrenia

 Symptoms of schizophrenia vary depending on what type of schizophrenia someone has. Hallucinations and delusions are common in psychotic disorders. Disorganized thoughts and behaviors are common in paranoid disorders. Stupor and catatonia are common in delusional disorders. So, the major symptoms are delusion, hallucination, immobility of body, sudden anger, suspiciousness. It can also effect children and teenagers, the abnormal behavior can affect their life drastically.

 

Medication for schizophrenia

 Treatment for schizophrenia involves medications and therapy. There is no specific treatment to sure this disease Medications treat specific symptoms. Antipsychotics are commonly prescribed. These drugs work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Atypical antipsychotics are newer than typical antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics include Haldol, Thorazine, Prolixin and Mellaril. Atypical antipsychotics include Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify and Geodon.

How does therapy help?

 Psychotherapy helps patients learn how to cope with their illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing negative thought patterns. Family counseling helps family members understand the illness and learn coping skills. Support groups provide emotional support. The family needs to believe them and take them to therapy, talk to them to know what is happening in their heads.

 People with schizophrenia need long-term treatment. Treatment should focus on helping them live a normal life, instead of making them feel like an outcast.

Schizophrenia affects how people to think, feel, behave, and relate to others. People who have schizophrenia may experience hallucinations (seeing things that aren't really there), delusions (believing something isn't true even though it is), disorganized speech and behavior, and negative symptoms (not feeling well). Schizophrenia is not contagious; however, it passes from generation to generation. It effects the off-springs in a long term

Early Signs of Schizophrenia

 The first sign of schizophrenia is often hearing voices or seeing visions that seem real. Other symptoms include:

 • Delusions – believing false thoughts or ideas

 • Hallucinations – experiencing sounds, sights, smells, tastes, or feelings that don't exist

 • Disorganized thinking – having trouble organizing information

 • Negative symptoms – lacking interest in activities, feeling sad or empty, or losing touch with reality

There are some warning signs that could mean you're developing schizophrenia. These include:

 • Hearing Voices – hearing voices that aren't yours

 • Seeing Visions – seeing things that aren't really out there

 • Feeling Unusual Thoughts – having unusual thoughts about yourself or others

 • Acting Strangely – behaving differently than usual

Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. In the United States, schizophrenia is estimated to affect about 0.5-0.8% of the general population.

 

Preventions :

 There are not rules you can follow to prevent this mental illness. Therapy and medications are the only solutions for schizophrenia. Some-times the patient has had enough and takes their lives, it is important for the family of patient to give proper care in this case. The patients get triggered easily and it is difficult to cool them down. In some cases, the patient changes their voice and talks aggressive, so talk to them, try to understand them. In the times where their brain is tricking them in different abnormal behavior, their environment must be supportive for them.

 

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