Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that impairs a person’s thoughts and behaviour. Individuals who have this disorder may experience hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and paranoid beliefs. They may also experience ‘negative’ symptoms, labelled as such because they refer to an absence of some common characteristics. For example, a schizophrenic person may lack diverse facial expressions, withdraw from social circles, and only respond using short or a small number of words in conversation. 

• The period right before the beginning of schizophrenia is known as the prodromal period.
•  During this period a person may withdraw from others and experience an increase in unusual thoughts and suspicions. 
• It is critical to seek a professional opinion if a prodromal period is suspected because early intervention (prior to or just following the first psychotic episode) can greatly minimize the symptoms and alter the course of the illness.

DISCLAIMER: This information is for educational purposes only and not to be used for self-diagnosis. If you or a loved one can relate to a number of features listed below, then please do use our therapist directory to find a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist that is right for you to receive a professional diagnosis.

• The symptoms of schizophrenia can be broken down into positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.
• Positive symptoms refer to the presence of psychotic behaviours that are not seen in people without this condition. They include:
  • Hallucinations- this refers to experiencing things that aren’t there. The most common type of hallucination involves hearing sounds that aren’t there, but hallucinations can involve the other senses of taste, smell, touch, and sight too.
  • Delusions- these are false beliefs that persist even after other people tell that they are neither true nor logical. 
  • Thought disorders- these are unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking:
    • One form of a thought disorder is called “disorganized thinking.” This is when a person has trouble organizing his or her thoughts or connecting them logically, and they may talk in a confusing way that is hard to understand. 
    • Another form is called “thought blocking.” This is when a person stops speaking abruptly in the middle of a thought. When asked why he or she stopped talking, the person may say that it felt as if the thought had been taken out of his or her head. A person with this symptom might also make up meaningless new words. 
  • Movement disorders may appear as agitated body movements:
    • A person with a movement disorder may repeat certain motions over and over. 
    • In the other extreme, a person may become catatonic. 
      • Catatonia is a state in which a person does not move and does not respond to others. It is rare today, but it was more common when treatment for schizophrenia was not available.

• Negative symptoms are associated with disruptions to normal emotions and behaviours. These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for depression or other conditions. These symptoms include the following:
  • Flat affect (a person’s face does not move or they talk in a dull or monotonous voice)
  • Lack of pleasure in everyday life
  • Lack of ability to begin and sustain planned activities
  • Speaking little, even when forced to interact
  • Neglecting basic personal hygiene

• Cognitive deficits are commonly present in people with schizophrenia, but they may be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder. Often, they are detected only when other tests are performed. Cognitive symptoms include the following:
  • 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 the information immediately after learning it)
  • Slower processing speed

Please Note: This information is for educational purposes only and not to be used for self diagnosis. If you or a loved one can relate to a number of features listed below, then please do use our therapist directory to find a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist that is right for you to receive a professional diagnosis.

• Genes and Environment
  • The illness occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. 
  • The risk is highest for an identical twin of a person with schizophrenia. This individual has about a 50 percent chance of developing the disorder.
  • Schizophrenia is highly polygenic, meaning it is caused by many different genes, none of which alone is sufficient to produce the outcome. 
  • However, environmental factors are also in play, including exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, problems during birth, and other not yet known factors.

• Drug Use
  • Research has suggested that using drugs during the teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia.
  •  A growing body of evidence also indicates that smoking marijuana increases the risk of experiencing psychosis, though this may occur only in those already at high risk due to genetic factors. 
  • The younger and more frequent the use, the greater the risk of having a psychotic episode.

• A general practitioner (GP) or psychologist can usually diagnose schizophrenia by asking questions about a person’s medical history and symptoms.
• The GP/psychologist will also inquire about a patient’s physical health to ensure that the psychotic symptoms are not caused as a result of an underlying medical condition, or by other factors such as drug or alcohol use.
• The GP/psychologist will check the symptoms that the patient presents, against the standard criteria for schizophrenia before making a diagnosis.
• For a diagnosis to be made, acute symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions must be present for a one-month period, and continuous signs of a disturbance must be present for at least six months. 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia helps people test the reality of their thoughts and perceptions, including how to “not listen” to their voices, and how to manage their symptoms overall. 
  • CBT can help reduce the severity of symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse.

• Medication:
  • Antipsychotics have greatly improved the outlook for individual patients as they reduce psychotic symptoms and usually allow the patient to function more effectively and appropriately. 

• Psychotherapeutic Treatment
  • These treatments help people deal with the everyday challenges of their illness, such as difficulty with communication, self-care, work, and forming and keeping relationships. 
  • Patients who receive regular treatment also are more likely to keep taking their medication, and they are less likely to have relapses or be hospitalized. 

• Illness Management Skills
  • Once patients learn basic facts about schizophrenia and its treatment, they can make informed decisions about their care. 
  • If they know how to watch for the early warning signs of relapse and make a plan to respond, patients can learn to prevent relapses. 

• Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation includes a wide array of non-medical interventions emphasizing social and vocational training to help patients and former patients overcome difficulties.
  •  Because schizophrenia usually develops in people during the critical career-forming years of life (ages 18 to 35), and because the disease makes normal thinking and functioning difficult, most patients do not receive training in the skills needed for a job. 
  • Programs may include vocational counselling, job training, problem-solving, money management skills, use of public transportation, and social skills training. 

• Individual Psychotherapy
  • Individual psychotherapy involves regularly scheduled talks between the patient and mental health professionals. 
  • A positive relationship with a therapist gives the patient a reliable source of information, sympathy, encouragement, and hope, all of which are essential for managing the disorder. 

• Family Education
  • With the help of a therapist, family members can learn ways to minimize the person’s chance of relapse by having an arsenal of coping strategies and problem-solving skills to support their ill relative. 
  • Additionally, families should learn where to find outpatient and family services.

• Self-Help Groups
  • Although not led by a professional therapist, these groups may be therapeutic because members are provided continual support as well as comfort in knowing that they are not alone. 
  • Self-help groups may also serve other important functions. Families working together can more effectively serve as advocates for research and for more hospital and community treatment programs. 
  • Groups are also able to draw public attention to the discrimination many people with mental illnesses face.

• Schizophrenia affects more than 1%  of the world’s population, and it affects men and women equally.
• The peak age for onset in men is between ages 21 and 25. 
• Women are more likely to be diagnosed between ages 25 and 30, and again after age 45. 
• 20% of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide at least once, and 5% of people with schizophrenia die by suicide.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, here are some activities you can do at home until you are able to consult a professional

• • Exercise
  • Engage in creative outlets such as writing, painting, or music
  • Keep a gratitude journal
  • Talk to a family member or friend about how you are feeling
  • Practice Mindfulness
  • Practice Yoga
  • Engage in a well-balanced diet
  • Maintain a good sleep schedule 
  • Recognise what you can and can’t handle