Schizophrenia - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental illness. It is characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality. Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality and relates to others. It affects men and women equally and seems to be more common in city areas and in some minority ethnic groups. It is rare before the age of 15, but can start at any time after this, most often between the ages of 15 and 35. Schizophrenia varies in severity from person to person. Some people have only one psychotic episode while others have many episodes during a lifetime but lead relatively normal lives between episodes. Schizophrenia symptoms seem to worsen and improve in cycles known as relapses and remissions. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices others don't hear, believe that others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that others are plotting to harm them. These experiences can make them fearful and withdrawn and cause difficulties when they try to have relationships with others. Some psychotherapists have begun to use a classification of schizophrenia based on two main types. People with Type I, or positive schizophrenia, have a rapid (acute) onset of symptoms and tend to respond well to drugs. They also tend to suffer more from the "positive" symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations. People with Type II, or negative schizophrenia, are usually described as poorly adjusted before their schizophrenia slowly overtakes them.

Schizophrenia begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. People who have schizophrenia may have unusual beliefs, called delusions. Schizophrenia is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. A child who has one parent with schizophrenia. Implicates abnormalities in both the brain's structure and biochemical activities. Sometimes, the use of street drugs seems to bring on schizophrenia. These include ecstasy (E), LSD (acid), amphetamines (speed) and crack. Environmental factors, such as a viral infection, poor social interactions or highly stressful situations, may trigger schizophrenia in people who have inherited a tendency to develop the disorder. Schizophrenia more often surfaces when the body is undergoing hormonal and physical changes Schizophrenia is known to run in families. Thus, the risk of illness in an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia is 40-50%. A child of a parent suffering from schizophrenia has a 10% chance of developing the illness. The risk of schizophrenia in the general population is about 1%. Abnormal brain structure and function in people with schizophrenia. However, this type of abnormality doesn't happen in all schizophrenics and can occur in people without the disease. The effectiveness of schizophrenia treatment is often assessed using standardized methods, one of the most common being the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS).

Causes of Schizophrenia

Common Causes and Risk factors of Schizophrenia

• Genetics factors.
• Environmental factors.
• Abnormal brain development
• Infections
• Birth complications
• Head Injury.

Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Sign and Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• Hallucinations.
• Delusions.
• Paranoia.
• Lack of motivation and enjoyment.
• Concentration

Treatment of Schizophrenia

Common Treatment of Schizophrenia

• Treatment includes counselling, social support and rehabilitation.
• Anti-psychotic medicines are available to treat the worst symptoms of the illness, such as hallucinations, but there is no "cure" at present.
• Anti-psychotic drugs, though effective, are associated with a range of distressing side-effects which can result in constant twitching/fidgeting, writhing and disjointed movements. However, newer ('Atypical') anti-psychotic drugs are designed to offer control of symptoms and less of these disabling side-effects.
• Support from family, friends and healthcare services is also a vital part of therapy.