Schizophrenia is known as a chronic and severe mental disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. The characterizations of schizophrenia are distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language and a sense of self behaviour. It is a considerable mental disability that may affect the educational and occupational performance of people. People who are suffering from schizophrenia are more likely to die early than the general population. Discrimination and violations of the human rights of people with schizophrenia are common. However, schizophrenia is a treatable disease. The most effective treatment for schizophrenia is a combination of medication and psychological counseling. The effective management strategies for people with schizophrenia are supported housing, supported employment and facilitation of assisted living.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia is a mental illness or a psychosis. Before experiencing these symptoms, a person may feel out of sorts, anxious and lack focus on something. The common symptoms associated with it are as follows:
- Delusions- False beliefs or suspicions not shared by others in the person’s culture and firmly held even when there is evidence.
- Disorganized speech- A person may have incoherent or irrelevant speech.
- Hallucination– They may hear, see and feel things that are not there.
- Disturbances of emotion- They may have marked apathy or disconnect between reported emotion and what is observed-such as facial expressions or body language.
Some other symptoms are:
- Motivation: A person may neglect his/her daily activities, including self-care. They also experience catatonia, during which they are barely able to talk or move.
- Social life: people may withdraw socially through fear that somebody is going to harm them.
- Communication: The thoughts and speech patterns of a person make it difficult to communicate with others.
- Emotional expression: he/she may respond inappropriately or not respond to sad and happy occasions.
People do not realize they are suffering from schizophrenia in the early stages. Hallucinations and delusions may seem realistic to them at times. It is hard to convince them to take medications. It is likely to occur when a person is in their late teens and can also affect children.
Causes of Schizophrenia:
According to the national institute of mental health, schizophrenia occurs due to specific genetic and environmental factors. The following factors contribute to the development of this disorder:
- Environmental factors: The factors that may increase the risk include trauma during birth, viral infections, psychological factors and malnutrition before birth.
- Genetic inheritance: schizophrenia likely develops in people who have a history of this disease in their family.
- Drugs and medications: some substances in cannabis can trigger schizophrenia in those who are prone to it.
- Chemical imbalance in the body: Schizophrenia is likely to develop when there is an imbalance of neurotransmitters called dopamine and serotonin in the brain.
Treatment:
Schizophrenia is known to be a lifelong condition. But effective treatment can help a person to manage their excessive symptoms and avoid relapses. Some of the potential treatment methods are-
- Counseling can assist a person in developing coping skills and pursuing life goals.
- Coordinated special care: A holistic approach that includes medication, family involvement, and education.
- Antipsychotic drugs: This method is for daily use if a person opts for injectable medications. It can last up to 2-3 months between injections, depending on the medicine.
Right Skill = Bright Future
The common medications for schizophrenia are:
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- Ziprasidone
- Clozapine
- Haloperidol
These drugs may have adverse effects, like neurological symptoms and weight gain. There is no diagnostic test to be done for schizophrenia. Doctors diagnose it by proper observation and the person’s behaviour. As a result, schizophrenia is a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to live a normal life.
By – Sanchayita Chattopadhyay
