Schizophrenia
"Maybe each human being lives in a unique world, a private world different from those inhabited and experienced by all other humans. . . If reality differs from person to person, can we speak of reality singular, or shouldn't we be talking about plural realities? And if there are plural realities, are some more true (more real) than others? What about the world of a schizophrenic? Maybe it's as real as our world. Maybe we cannot say that we are in touch with reality and he is not, but should instead say, His reality is so different from ours that he can't explain his to us, and we can't explain ours to him. The problem, then, is that if subjective worlds are experienced too differently, there occurs a breakdown in communication ... and there is the real illness."
― Philip K. Dick
What is Schizophrenia?
Just like cardiac diseases that don’t kill you but make your life a living hell, Schizophrenia is a problematic mental disorder in which people simplify reality abnormally. It also results in hallucinations and delusions and treatment of schizophrenia is a long-term process.
What are the types of Schizophrenia??
Schizophrenia again just like cardiac disorders, has a lot of types with vary enormously when you study them in-depth. The only big similarity in them is that they are characterized by detachment from reality. The types of schizophrenia are enlisted below:
Type1: Paranoid schizophrenia
Type2: Hebephrenic schizophrenia
Type3: Catatonic schizophrenia
Type4: Undifferentiated schizophrenia
Type5: Residual schizophrenia
Type6: Simple schizophrenia
Type7: Unspecified schizophrenia
What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Most people regard schizophrenics as crazy because they speak and believe in things that other people do not find to be real. Some people also claim that they are doing it intentionally but that is not true, due to their loss of contact with reality they believe and sense things that do not exist. There are some common symptoms of schizophrenia that are mentioned below:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech and thinking
- Abnormal motor behavior
- Lack of emotions
- Lack of ability to perform tasks
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Sleeping problems
- Lack of motivation
- Depression
- Negative symptoms
Causes of Schizophrenia
The main cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Doctors consider the causes of schizophrenia are physical, environmental, genetics, and psychological which mostly becomes a cause of schizophrenia. Some people have schizophrenia due to emotionally disturbed and depressed lifestyles. Some natural chemicals in the brain named dopamine and glutamate also identified to be disturbed during schizophrenia which highlights them as a possible cause behind the disorder.
Risk factors of Schizophrenia
Although the exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown yet still there are some types of people who are more prone to the development of this disorder. Following are the risk factors of schizophrenia:
- Family history
- Taking mind-alerting medicines in teen years or young adulthood
- Some pregnancy and childbirth complication
Complications of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can ruin your entire life that is because it complicates everything a lot and causes serious harm to your lifestyle, occupational, and personal life. Many complications result due to schizophrenia which we are discussed here:
- Suicide attempts
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Social isolation
- Inability to work
- Homelessness
- Drug abuse
- Alcohol abuse
- Health problems
- Medical problem
- Financial problem
- Being victimized
- Aggressive behavior
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
Doctors diagnose the patients of schizophrenia by asking a detail of family history and then on the bases of symptoms they have. There are some of the techniques and methodologies which are used by the doctors. Some of such diagnostic techniques are mentioned below:
- Tests and screening
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia
Treatment of Schizophrenia
Thanks to the modernization and development of better medicines and techniques for the treatment of schizophrenia, the treatments are now better than they have ever been long in history but even after such a medical evolution, this disease is still a long term goal to treat. Doctors and the psychiatric health care workers can treat schizophrenia by the following methods and techniques which we have discussed here:
- By the help of medications
- Second-generation antipsychotics
- First-generation antipsychotics
- Long-term injectable antipsychotics
- Individual therapy
- Social skills training
- Family therapy
- Social skills training
- Vocational rehabilitation and supported employment
- Hospitalization
- Electroconvulsive therapy
Other Medical Advisory
Although medicines and therapies are very effective yet they are not alone enough for faster recovery and a hundred percent of treatment results in schizophrenic patients therefore doctors may advise some very important lifestyle changes to aid the therapy and medications. Some of those important medical advises are mentioned below:
- Avoid alcohol abuse
- Avoid drug abuse
- Have some education of schizophrenia
- Ask about social services assistance
- Join a support group
- Learn stress management