Schizophrenia Disorder

This is a severe mental disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The person can often feel like they are disconnected from reality.

The symptoms of Schizophrenia often show up between the ages of 16 and 30. It is very rare, but children can also have Schizophrenia.

The symptoms of Schizophrenia are in 3 different categories.

Positive Symptoms

These symptoms are psychotic behaviors that you would not normally see in healthy people. With these, the person seems to “lose touch” with certain aspects of reality.

These symptoms include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking)
• Movement disorders (agitated body movements)

(NIMH)

Negative Symptoms

These symptoms usually disrupt people’s normal emotions and behaviors.

These symptoms include

• “Flat affect” (reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone)
• Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life
• Difficulty beginning and sustaining activities
• Reduced speaking

(NIMH)

Cognitive Symptoms

These symptoms can be subtle in certain patients, but can be severe in others. Some patients could notice changes in memory or other aspects of thinking.

These symptoms include:

• Poor “executive functioning” (the ability to understand information and use it to make decisions)
• Trouble focusing or paying attention
• Problems with “working memory” (the ability to use information immediately after learning it)

(NIMH)

There are many factors that contribute to developing Schizophrenia. Genes and environment are one of the factors. Scientists believe there are multiple genes that contribute to the development of Schizophrenia. There is no single gene that contributes to this mental illness though. It is also not possible to use genetic information to predict the probability of who will and will not develop Schizophrenia.

Scientists also believe the interaction between genes and the individual’s environment are necessary for Schizophrenia to develop. These environmental factors may include:

• Exposure to viruses
• Malnutrition before birth
• Problems during birth
• Psycho-social factors

(NIMH)

Dopamine, glutamate, as well as other neurotransmitters are also thought to possibly play a role in the development of Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is treated with anti-psychotics. These can be taken in pill or liquid form every day or in injection form once or twice a month.

It can also be treated with psycho-social therapies. In psychotherapy, a person learns how to use coping skills that will help them learn how to live with Schizophrenia. This can help people struggling with it achieve goals. People who go through psychotherapy often have a lesser chance of being hospitalized.

Another treatment option is Coordinated Specialty Care. This uses “medication, psychosocial therapies, case management, family involvement, and supported education and employment services” (NIMH). These are all to help the people struggling and hopefully make their lives easier for them.

How can I help someone I know?

Talk to the person and let them know that you are there to support them and care for them. Learn everything you can about how to handle their episodes and help them through them.

• Get them treatment and encourage them to stay in treatment
• Remember that their beliefs or hallucinations seem very real to them
• Tell them that you acknowledge that everyone has the right to see things their own way
• Be respectful, supportive, and kind without tolerating dangerous or inappropriate behavior
• Check to see if there are any support groups in your area

(NIMH)