Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that usually appears in late adolescence or early adulthood. Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and other cognitive difficulties, schizophrenia can often be a lifelong struggle. In this article, we will cover the causes, symptoms, and treatment of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness. 1 in 100 people suffer from it. It often starts in young age (20-30 years). Symptoms of this illness are Delusions, Hallucinations and other abnormal experiences e.g. experience of body or thoughts being controlled etc. person who suffers from it is out of touch with reality and does not belief that there was any thing wrong with him. It is a major psychiatric illness and requires treatment.
What is a delusion?
It is false belief which is firmly held and cannot be explained by person’s cultural or religious background e.g. MI5 is after me because I am the only person who knows that all people here are aliens. Patents hold the belief with full conviction and cannot be convinced otherwise.
What is hallucination?
It is perception without a stimulus. It means that person sees, hears or feels without presence of any such stimuli e.g., healing a man talking when nobody is there.
What are positive and negative symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Delusions and hallucinations are positive symptoms. Negative symptoms are apathy, thought disorder, inactivity, lack of motivation.
Are Schizophrenics dangerous?
Schizophrenics are not dangerous. They are in need of help. Some studies show that that as compared to general public there is more prevalence of violent crimes in schizophrenics.
What is treatment of schizophrenia?
Drugs used to treat Schizophrenia are called neuroleptics. Treatment should be started as early as possible. Medicines get rid of some of the symptoms given above. They improve behaviour and quality of life.
Do Schizophrenics get better?
Most of patients improve one third of these patients of this illness get well and never get another episode? ½ of the patients stay well and live independently,
