Schizophrenia: Understanding the Disease, its Symptoms, and Treatment

Given the movies, novels, and shows depicting schizophrenics as unpredictable, most people fear this disease. Unfortunately, real exposure to mental diseases such as schizophrenia comes from news stories, creating a stigma about schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness among so many people. In this blog, we will see that schizophrenia is a disease of the brain and is just as physical as diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and epilepsy. We’ll also discuss the symptoms experienced by schizophrenia and the possible treatments available.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It has been recognized as a disturbance in thought and behavior in one form or another throughout history. While the exact cause of schizophrenia remains elusive, advancements in research have led to a deeper understanding of the disorder, aiding in the development of effective treatment strategies.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

A range of distinctive symptoms characterizes schizophrenia. These include abnormal behavior, strange speech, certain types of hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and loss of insight. These symptoms usually coexist with negative symptoms (alogia, social withdrawal), which can either be primary or secondary to depression or medication side effects.

Also, it is pertinent to note that schizophrenia symptoms can overlap with symptoms of bipolar disorder; however, bipolar disorder causes extreme mood shifts while schizophrenia causes delusions and hallucinations. Individuals with bipolar disorder may explore specific treatments like mood stabilizers as part of their bipolar treatment regimen.

Here are the symptoms experienced:

Positive symptoms

• The patient hears their own voice speaking aloud.
• Third-person hallucinations (third-person voices talking about the affected person)
• Somatic hallucinations (experiencing sensations that are not real)
• Delusions of thought or withdrawal
• Delusions through broadcasting (believing that their thoughts are broadcast to others)
• Delusions of passivity (made acts, thoughts, or emotions)

Negative symptoms

Negative symptoms encompass a reduction or absence of certain abilities and emotions. It may involve:

• Diminished emotional expression
• Reduced motivation
• Challenges in initiating and sustaining activities
• Asociality
• Anhedonia

Cognitive Symptoms

Cognitive symptoms can affect memory and executive functioning. Affected people may experience cognitive symptoms such as:

• Difficulties in processing and using information
• Challenges in initiating and sustaining activities

What are the treatments available for schizophrenia?

While there is no cure for schizophrenia, effective treatment approaches can help manage symptoms and improve overall functioning. Treatment plans are often individualized, considering each person’s specific needs and challenges.

Here are some of the potential treatments available:

Medication

Medications are a crucial part of schizophrenia treatment, and antipsychotic medications are the most commonly prescribed drugs. The goal of treatment with antipsychotic medications is to manage signs and symptoms at the lowest possible dose effectively.

The psychiatrist effectively manages the dosage and may try different drugs, different doses, or combinations over and over to achieve the desired result. Other medications also include antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Medications treat symptoms such as feeling agitated, delusions, and hallucinations; however, the medications are taken on a long-term basis.

Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), supportive therapy, and family therapy are commonly utilized to address various aspects of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term, problem-focused approach to educating schizophrenia with a variety of coping skills to help them manage difficult situations. While supportive therapy helps to increase self-esteem and quality of life and achieve greater social and community functioning, family therapy is somewhat informal and extends over 6 months, It explores ways of supporting someone with schizophrenia.

Hospital or clinic treatment

One requires in-patient care at the hospital or psychiatric clinic for severe cases. After looking at the severity of the symptoms, if the patient’s healthcare provider feels the hospital treatment would remain best, they encourage the patient to admit themselves for further care. In this scenario, there may be times when the patient refuses to go into the hospital, but the Mental Health Act (2007) allows a person to be legally detained at the hospital or clinic.

In such cases, the detention is considered pertinent to the

• person’s health and safety
• health and safety of others

Treatment at the hospital is needed only when the person must receive in-patient treatment. Once there is improvement in the person, they are fit to be discharged from the hospital.

Psychosocial rehabilitation

Psychosocial rehabilitation helps individuals with schizophrenia achieve restoration from a state of dependency to independent decision-making.

Psychosocial rehabilitation programs focus on enhancing daily functioning and life skills. Occupational therapy, vocational training, and educational support are essential components of rehabilitation, aiming to empower individuals to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding schizophrenia as a complex brain disorder is crucial to dispelling misconceptions and reducing stigma. While there is no cure, effective treatments, including medication, therapy, and rehabilitation, can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia. Education and empathy are essential in fostering a supportive environment for those affected by this challenging condition. Book your first tele – consultation now!