Schizophrenia Overview

Schizophrenia is a serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. Someone with schizophrenia may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary; may be unresponsive or withdrawn; and may have difficulty expressing normal emotions in social situations. The most common form is paranoid schizophrenia, or schizophrenia with paranoia as it’s often called. People with paranoid schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality. They may see or hear things that don’t exist, speak in confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them, or feel like they’re being constantly watched. This can cause relationship problems, disrupt normal daily activities like bathing, eating, or running errands, and lead to alcohol and drug abuse in an attempt to self-medicate.

Many people with schizophrenia withdraw from the outside world, act out in confusion and fear, and are at an increased risk of attempting suicide, especially during psychotic episodes, periods of depression, and in the first six months after starting treatment.

Symptoms of schizophrenia
Symptoms vary from person to person, and commonly include:

• hearing or seeing things that are not real (hallucinations)
• having very strange beliefs (delusions)
• unusual thinking and speech
• having problems thinking clearly
• not being able to make decisions and having trouble making plans
• having trouble interpreting other people’s emotions and motives
• suicidal thoughts.
• isolating oneself from friends and family
• changing friends or social groups
• a change in focus and concentration
• sleep problems, irritability and agitation
• lack of facial and emotional expression
• lack of motivation. difficulty concentrating

Treatment of Schizophrenia

Through therapy, patients can learn to manage their symptoms, identify early warning signs of relapse, and come up with a relapse prevention plan. Psychosocial therapies include: Cognitive remediation, which involves learning techniques to make up for problems with information processing. It often uses drills, coaching, and computer-based exercises to strengthen mental skills that involve attention, memory, planning, and organization. Individual psychotherapy, which can help the person better understand their illness, and learn coping and problem-solving skills Family therapy, which can help families deal with a loved one who has schizophrenia, enabling them to better help their loved one.
If a person with schizophrenia gets the right treatment and the support they need, they can manage their symptoms. Many people can lead full lives, even if they still have symptoms or relapses from time to time. About 1 in 7 people with schizophrenia recover almost completely. Some people with schizophrenia only ever have one episode of psychosis and then recover well. Many have more than one episode, with good recovery or at least some recovery after each episode. Recognizing the signs of schizophrenia in yourself or a loved one can be frightening. But with the right treatment and self-help, you can manage the disorder and lead a fulfilling life.