Schizophrenia: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis ...

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, ... MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsBlogsVideosMedicationsCrisisAssistanceFindaPsychiatristOverview&FactsSymptoms&TypesTests&DiagnosisMedication&TherapyRisks&ComplicationsSupport&ResourcesWhatIsSchizophrenia?EarlySignsofSchizophreniaSchizophreniaSymptomsSchizophreniaTestsSchizophreniaMedicationAnxiety/PanicDisordersBipolarDisorderDrugInteractionCheckerMentalHealthPsychoticDepressionSchizoaffectiveDisorderSchizophreniformDisorderSmokingCessationSchizophreniaReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbySmithaBhandari, MDonJanuary21,2022ArticlesOnSchizophreniaOverviewWhatIsSchizophrenia?EarlySignsofSchizophreniaSchizophreniaSymptomsSchizophreniaTestsSchizophreniaMedicationSchizophreniaisachronic,severementaldisorderthataffectsthewayapersonthinks,acts,expressesemotions,perceivesreality,andrelatestoothers.Thoughschizophreniaisn’tascommonasothermajormentalillnesses,itcanbethemostchronicanddisabling.Peoplewithschizophreniaoftenhaveproblemsdoingwellinsociety,atwork,atschool,andinrelationships.Theymightfeelfrightenedandwithdrawn,andcouldappeartohavelosttouchwithreality.Thislifelongdiseasecan’tbecuredbutcanbecontrolledwithpropertreatment.Contrarytopopularbelief,schizophreniaisnotasplitormultiplepersonality.Schizophreniainvolvesapsychosis,atypeofmentalillnessinwhichapersoncan’ttellwhat’srealfromwhat’simagined.Attimes,peoplewithpsychoticdisorderslosetouchwithreality.Theworldmayseemlikeajumbleofconfusingthoughts,images,andsounds.Theirbehaviormaybeverystrangeandevenshocking.Asuddenchangeinpersonalityandbehavior,whichhappenswhenpeoplewhohaveitlosetouchwithreality,iscalledapsychoticepisode.Howsevereschizophreniaisvariesfrompersontoperson.Somepeoplehaveonlyonepsychoticepisode,whileothershavemanyepisodesduringalifetimebutleadrelativelynormallivesinbetween.Stillothersmayhavemoretroublefunctioningovertime,withlittleimprovementbetweenfull-blownpsychoticepisodes.Schizophreniasymptomsseemtoworsenandimproveincyclesknownasrelapsesandremissions.WhatAretheEarlySymptomsofSchizophrenia?Theconditionusuallyshowsitsfirstsignsinmenintheirlateteensorearly20s.Itmostlyaffectswomenintheirearly20sand30s.Theperiodwhensymptomsfirststartandbeforefullpsychosisiscalledtheprodromalperiod.Itcanlastdays,weeks,orevenyears.Itcanbehardtospotbecausethere’susuallynospecifictrigger.Youmightonlynoticesubtlebehavioralchanges,especiallyinteens.Thisincludes:AchangeingradesSocialwithdrawalTroubleconcentratingTemperflaresDifficultysleepingPositiveSymptomsofSchizophreniaInthiscase,thewordpositivedoesn’tmeangood.Itreferstoaddedthoughtsoractionsthataren’tbasedinreality.They’resometimescalledpsychoticsymptomsandcaninclude:Delusions:Thesearefalse,mixed,andsometimesstrangebeliefsthataren’tbasedinrealityandthatthepersonrefusestogiveup,evenwhenshownthefacts.Forexample,apersonwithdelusionsmaybelievethatpeoplecanheartheirthoughts,thattheyareGodorthedevil,orthatpeopleareputtingthoughtsintotheirheadorplottingagainstthem.Hallucinations:Theseinvolvesensationsthataren'treal.Hearingvoicesisthemostcommonhallucinationinpeoplewithschizophrenia.Thevoicesmaycommentontheperson'sbehavior,insultthem,orgivecommands.Lesscommontypesincludeseeingthingsthataren'tthere,smellingstrangeodors,havingafunnytasteinyourmouth,andfeelingsensationsonyourskineventhoughnothingistouchingyourbody.Catatonia:Inthiscondition,thepersonmaystopspeaking,andtheirbodymaybefixedinasinglepositionforaverylongtime.DisorganizedSymptomsofSchizophreniaThesearepositivesymptomsthatshowthatthepersoncan’tthinkclearlyorrespondasexpected.Examplesinclude:Talkinginsentencesthatdon’tmakesenseorusingnonsensewords,makingitdifficultforthepersontocommunicateorholdaconversationShiftingquicklyfromonethoughttothenextwithoutobviousorlogicalconnectionsbetweenthemMovingslowlyBeingunabletomakedecisionsWritingexcessivelybutwithoutmeaningForgettingorlosingthingsRepeatingmovementsorgestures,likepacingorwalkingincirclesHavingproblemsmakingsenseofeverydaysights,sounds,andfeelingsCognitiveSymptomsofSchizophreniaThepersonwillhavetrouble:Understandinginformationandusingittomakedecisions(adoctormightcallthispoorexecutivefunctioning)FocusingorpayingattentionUsingtheirinformationimmediatelyafterlearningit(thisiscalledworkingmemory)RecognizingthattheyhaveanyoftheseproblemsNegativeSymptomsofSchizophreniaTheword"negative"heredoesn’tmean"bad."Itnotestheabsenceofnormalbehaviorsinpeoplewithschizophrenia.Negativesymptomsofschizophreniainclude:LackofemotionoralimitedrangeofemotionsWithdrawalfromfamily,friends,andsocialactivitiesLessenergySpeakinglessLackofmotivationLossofpleasureorinterestinlifePoorhygieneandgroominghabitsWhatCausesSchizophrenia?Theexactcauseofschizophreniaisn’tknown.Butlikecanceranddiabetes,schizophreniaisarealillnesswithabiologicalbasis.Researchershaveuncoveredanumberofthingsthatappeartomakesomeonemorelikelytogetschizophrenia,including:Genetics(heredity):Schizophreniacanruninfamilies,whichmeansagreaterlikelihoodtohaveschizophreniamaybepassedonfromparentstotheirchildren.Brainchemistryandcircuits:Peoplewithschizophreniamaynotbeabletoregulatebrainchemicalscalledneurotransmittersthatcontrolcertainpathways,or"circuits,"ofnervecellsthataffectthinkingandbehavior.Brainabnormality:Researchhasfoundabnormalbrainstructureinpeoplewithschizophrenia.Butthisdoesn’tapplytoallpeoplewithschizophrenia.Itcanaffectpeoplewithoutthedisease.Environment:Thingslikeviralinfections,exposuretotoxinslikemarijuana,orhighlystressfulsituationsmaytriggerschizophreniainpeoplewhosegenesmakethemmorelikelytogetthedisorder.Schizophreniamoreoftensurfaceswhenthebodyishavinghormonalandphysicalchanges,likethosethathappenduringtheteenandyoungadultyears.WhoGetsSchizophrenia?Anyonecangetschizophrenia.Itaffectspeopleallovertheworld,fromallracesandcultures.Whileitcanhappenatanyage,schizophreniatypicallyfirstappearsintheteenageyearsorearly20s.Thedisorderaffectsmenandwomenequally,althoughsymptomsgenerallyappearearlierinmen.Theearlierthesymptomsstart,themoreseveretheillnesstendstobe.Childrenovertheageof5canhaveschizophrenia,butit’srarebeforeadolescence.HowIsSchizophreniaDiagnosed?Ifsymptomsofschizophreniaarepresent,thedoctorwillperformacompletemedicalhistoryandsometimesaphysicalexam.Whiletherearenolaboratoryteststospecificallydiagnoseschizophrenia,thedoctormayusevarioustests,andpossiblybloodtestsorbrainimagingstudies,toruleoutanotherphysicalillnessorintoxication(substance-inducedpsychosis)asthecauseofthesymptoms.Ifthedoctorfindsnootherphysicalreasonfortheschizophreniasymptoms,theymayreferthepersontoapsychiatristorpsychologist,mentalhealthprofessionalstrainedtodiagnoseandtreatmentalillnesses.Psychiatristsandpsychologistsusespeciallydesignedinterviewsandassessmenttoolstoevaluateapersonforapsychoticdisorder.Thetherapistbasestheirdiagnosisontheperson'sandfamily'sreportofsymptomsandtheirobservationoftheperson'sattitudeandbehavior.Apersonisdiagnosedwithschizophreniaiftheyhaveatleasttwoofthesesymptomsforatleast6months:DelusionsHallucinationsDisorganizedspeechDisorganizedorcatatonicbehaviorNegativesymptomsOneofthesymptomshastobeDelusionsHallucinationsDisorganizedspeechDuringthe6months,thepersonmusthaveamonthofactivesymptoms.(Itcanbelesswithsuccessfultreatment.)Symptomsshouldnegativelyaffectthemsociallyoratwork,andcan’tbecausedbyanyothercondition.HowIsSchizophreniaTreated?Thegoalofschizophreniatreatmentistoeasethesymptomsandtocutthechancesofarelapse,orreturnofsymptoms.Treatmentforschizophreniamayinclude:Medications:Theprimarymedicationsusedtotreatschizophreniaarecalledantipsychotics.Thesedrugsdon’tcureschizophreniabuthelprelievethemosttroublingsymptoms,includingdelusions,hallucinations,andthinkingproblems.Older(commonlyreferredtoas"first-generation")antipsychoticmedicationsusedinclude:Chlorpromazine(Thorazine)Fluphenazine(Prolixin)Haloperidol(Haldol)LoxapineHCL(Loxapine)Perphenazine(Trilafon)Thiothixene(Navane)Trifluoperazine(Stelazine)Newer("atypical"orsecond-generation)drugsusedtotreatschizophreniainclude:Aripiprazole(Abilify)AripiprazoleLauroxil(Aristada)Asenapine(Saphris)Brexpiprazole(Rexulti)Cariprazine(Vraylar)Clozapine(Clozaril)Iloperidone(Fanapt)Lumateperone (Caplyta)Lurasidone(Latuda)Olanzapine(Zyprexa)Olanzapine/samidorphan(Lybalvi)Paliperidone(Invega Sustenna)Paliperidone (InvegaTrinza)Quetiapine(Seroquel)Risperidone(Risperdal)Ziprasidone(Geodon)Note:ClozapineistheonlyFDA-approvedmedicationfortreatingschizophreniathatisresistanttoothertreatments.It’salsousedtolessensuicidalbehaviorsinthosewithschizophreniawhoareatrisk.Coordinatedspecialtycare(CSC):Thisisateamapproachtowardtreatingschizophreniawhenthefirstsymptomsappear.Itcombinesmedicineandtherapywithsocialservices,employment,andeducationalinterventions.Thefamilyisinvolvedasmuchaspossible.Earlytreatmentiskeytohelpingpatientsleadanormallife.Psychosocialtherapy:Whilemedicationmayhelprelievesymptomsofschizophrenia,variouspsychosocialtreatmentscanhelpwiththebehavioral,psychological,social,andoccupationalproblemsthatgowiththeillness.Throughtherapy,patientsalsocanlearntomanagetheirsymptoms,identifyearlywarningsignsofrelapse,andcomeupwitharelapsepreventionplan.Psychosocialtherapiesinclude:Rehabilitation,whichfocusesonsocialskillsandjobtrainingtohelppeoplewithschizophreniafunctioninthecommunityandliveasindependentlyaspossibleCognitiveremediation,whichinvolveslearningtechniquestomakeupforproblemswithinformationprocessing.Itoftenusesdrills,coaching,andcomputer-basedexercisestostrengthenmentalskillsthatinvolveattention,memory,planning,andorganization.Individualpsychotherapy,whichcanhelpthepersonbetterunderstandtheirillness,andlearncopingandproblem-solvingskillsFamilytherapy,whichcanhelpfamiliesdealwithalovedonewhohasschizophrenia,enablingthemtobetterhelptheirlovedoneGrouptherapy/supportgroups,whichcanprovidecontinuingmutualsupportHospitalization:Manypeoplewithschizophreniamaybetreatedasoutpatients.Buthospitalizationmaybethebestoptionforpeople:WithseveresymptomsWhomightharmthemselvesorothersWhocan’ttakecareofthemselvesathomeElectroconvulsivetherapy(ECT):Inthisprocedure,electrodesareattachedtotheperson'sscalp.Whilethey’reasleepundergeneralanesthesia,doctorssendasmallelectricshocktothebrain.AcourseofECTtherapyusuallyinvolves2-3treatmentsperweekforseveralweeks.Eachshocktreatmentcausesacontrolledseizure.Aseriesoftreatmentsovertimeleadstoimprovementinmoodandthinking.Scientistsdon’tfullyunderstandexactlyhowECTandthecontrolledseizuresitcauseshelp,butsomeresearchersthinkECT-inducedseizuresmayaffectthereleaseofneurotransmittersinthebrain.ECTislesswell-proventohelpwithschizophreniathandepressionorbipolardisorder,soitisn’tusedveryoftenwhenmoodsymptomsareabsent.Itcanhelpwhenmedicationsnolongerwork,orifseveredepressionorcatatoniamakestreatingtheillnessdifficult.Research:Researchersarelookingataprocedurecalleddeepbrainstimulation(DBS)totreatschizophrenia.Doctorssurgicallyimplantelectrodesthatstimulatecertainbrainareasbelievedtocontrolthinkingandperception.DBSisanestablishedtreatmentforsevereParkinson'sdiseaseandessentialtremor,butit’sstillexperimentalforthetreatmentofpsychiatricdisorders.ArePeopleWithSchizophreniaDangerous?Popularbooksandmoviesoftendepictpeoplewithschizophreniaandothermentalillnessesasdangerousandviolent.Thisusuallyisn’ttrue.Mostpeoplewithschizophreniaarenotviolent.Moretypically,theyprefertowithdrawandbeleftalone.Whenpeoplewithmentalillnessdotakepartindangerousorviolentbehaviors,it’sgenerallyaresultoftheirpsychosisandthefearthatthey’rebeingthreatenedinsomewaybytheirsurroundings.Drugoralcoholusecanmakeitworse.Ontheotherhand,peoplewithschizophreniacanbeadangertothemselves.Suicideisthetopcauseofprematuredeathamongpeoplewithschizophrenia.WhatIstheOutlookforPeopleWithSchizophrenia?Withpropertreatment,mostpeoplewithschizophreniacanleadproductiveandfulfillinglives.Dependingonhowseveretheconditionisandhowwelltheygetandstickwithtreatment,theyshouldbeabletolivewiththeirfamiliesorincommunitysettingsratherthaninlong-termpsychiatrichospitals.Ongoingresearchonthebrainandhowbraindisordershappenwilllikelyleadtomoreeffectivemedicineswithfewersideeffects.CanSchizophreniaBePrevented?There’snoknownwaytopreventschizophrenia.Butearlydiagnosisandtreatmentcanhelpavoidoreasefrequentrelapsesandhospitalizations,andhelpcutthedisruptiontotheperson'slife,family,andrelationships.NextInSchizophreniaOverviewEarlySignsofSchizophreniaHowDoIKnowIfIHaveSchizophrenia?WhatIsSchizoaffectiveDisorder?SchizophreniaWithParanoia:Symptoms9TypesofPsychoticDisordersHowtoHelpaLovedOneStayonSchizophreniaMedsFamousFacesofSchizophreniaFacesofSchizophreniaYouMayKnowTypesofPsychoticDisordersSchizophreniaPrognosisSchizophrenia:HowtoTakeCareofYourHealthSchizophrenia:HowtoGetaSupportSysteminPlaceSchizophrenia:HowtoAvoidCaregiverStressHowtoTalktoOthersAboutSchizophreniaLivingWithSchizophreniaTopicsCelebritiesWithSchizophreniaFamousfacesyoumayrecognize.WhatSchizophreniaLooksLikeBeawareofthesewarningsigns.9MythsAboutSchizophreniaTherealtruthonthiscondition.SchizophreniaWithBipolarorDepressionSymptomsofschizoaffectivedisorder.ArticleAreThereTypesofSchizophrenia?ArticleAntipsychoticMeds&SideEffectsArticleWhenaLovedOneHasSchizophreniaArticleSymptomsofSchizophreniaArticleSchizophreniaWithParanoiaArticle9TypesofPsychoticDisordersArticleSchizophreniaMedsandDrugInteractionsArticleSchizophreniaandSuicideSchizophreniaSymptomsTestsforSchizophreniaCaringforSomeoneWithSchizophreniaSchizophreniaMyths&FactsCausesofSchizophreniaFamousFacesofSchizophreniaHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads