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Schizophrenia
What You Need to Know
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts. It is a disease that makes it difficult for a person to tell the difference between real and imagined experiences, to think logically, to express normal emotional responses or to behave normally in social situations.
Schizophrenia can be draining on both the person with schizophrenia and their families. People with schizophrenia often have difficulty functioning in society, at work and in school. Family members may have to help out financially and make sure that medication is taken as prescribed.
No cure for schizophrenia has been discovered, but with proper treatment, many people with this illness can lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Schizophrenia--Who's
Likely To Suffer From It?
Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world population. In the United States,
about 2.5 million people have this disease.
Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 15 and 35, but often appear earlier in males than females.
Schizophrenia is NOT a "split personality."
Schizophrenia is NOT caused by bad parenting.
Schizophrenia is NOT caused by personal weakness.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a complex and puzzling disease. There are several theories about the cause of this disease: genetics (heredity); imbalance in the brain's chemistry; complications during pregnancy and/or birth. However, it is not clear if one or all of these theories are a factor in causing the disease.
- Genetics (Heredity) Scientists recognize that the disorder tends to run in families and that a person inherits a tendency to develop the disease. Schizophrenia may be triggered by environmental events, such as viral infections or highly stressful situations or a combination of both. Similar to other genetically-related illnesses, schizophrenia appears when the body undergoes hormonal and physical changes, like those that occur during puberty in the teen and young adult years.
- Chemistry. Genetics
help to determine how the brain uses certain chemicals. People with schizophrenia
have a chemical imbalance which means they are either very sensitive
to or produce too much of a brain chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter, allows nerve cells in the brain to send messages to each other. The imbalance of this chemical affects the way a person's brain reacts to stimuli--which explains why a person with schizophrenia may be overwhelmed by sensory information (loud music or bright lights) which other people can easily handle. This problem in processing different sounds, sights, smells and tastes can also lead to hallucinations or delusions.
- Complications during pregnancy and birth. Some researchers suspect a viral infection, improper nutrition during pregnancy, or birth complications may increase the chances of a person developing schizophrenia.
What Are The Different
Types Of Schizophrenia?
- Paranoid schizophrenia a person feels extremely suspicious, persecuted, grandiose, or experiences a combination of these emotions.
- Disorganized schizophrenia a person is often incoherent but may not have delusions.
- Catatonic schizophrenia a person is withdrawn, mute, negative and often assumes very unusual postures.
- Residual schizophrenia a person is no longer delusion or hallucinating, but has no motivation or interest in life. These symptoms can be most devastating.
What Are The Symptoms
Of Schizophrenia?
The appearance of symptoms varies from person to person; symptoms may develop
slowly over months or years, or may appear very abruptly.
Initial symptoms, which usually appear gradually, may include:
- mild feelings of tension,
- inability to sleep
or concentrate, or
- loss of interest in
school, work and friends
As the disease becomes worse the individual may experience more disabling and bizarre symptoms such as:
- delusions,
- hallucinations or
- disordered speech and
thoughts.
Schizophrenia may appear in cycles known as relapse or remission. During times of relapse, the person suffering from schizophrenia may experience one or all of the following symptoms:
- Delusions false ideas. For example, individuals may believe that someone is spying on him or her, or that they are someone famous.
- Hallucinations imaginary voices which give commands or comments to the individual. It is less common for the person to think he or she sees, feels, tastes, or smells something which really doesn't exist.
- Disordered thinking moving from one topic to another, but making no sense. Individuals may make up their own words or sounds.
During periods of remission, psychotic symptoms may lessen, although some symptoms such as social withdrawal, inappropriate or blunted emotions and extreme apathy, may persist
What Treatments Are
Available For Schizophrenia?
If you suspect someone you know is experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia,
encourage them to see a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who
specialize in the treatment of mental illnesses. They can diagnose schizophrenia
and have the authority to prescribe medications.
The psychiatrist will thoroughly interview the person to identify the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia; to date, however, there are no chemical tests for schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic Drugs.
Schizophrenia is usually a lifelong disease. Most people with this illness will probably take medication for the rest of their lives, as do patients with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Antipsychotic medications help to normalize the biochemical imbalances that cause schizophrenia. They are also important in reducing the likelihood of relapse. Like all medications, however, antipsychotic drugs should be taken only under close supervision of a psychiatrist or other physician.
There are two major types of antipsychotics, traditional and new antipsychotics.
-
Traditional antipsychotics
effectively control the hallucinations, delusions, and confusion of schizophrenia.
Side effects are common to many medications, including those for schizophrenia. Traditional antipsychotics have side effects which may be mild, to serious; some only occurring at high doses.
Side effects for antipsychotics may cause a patient to stop taking them. However, it is important to talk with your doctor before making any changes in medication since many side effects can be controlled. Be sure to weigh the risks against the potential benefits that antipsychotic drugs can provide.
Mild side effects: dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness and dizziness. These side affects usually disappear a few weeks after the person starts treatment.
More serious side effects: trouble with muscle control, muscle spasms or cramps in the head and neck, fidgeting or pacing, tremors and shuffling of the feet (much like those affecting people with Parkinson's disease).
Side effects due to prolonged use of traditional antipsychotic medications: facial ticks, thrusting and rolling of the tongue, lip licking, panting and grimacing.
New antipsychotics
New medications are effective in treating a broader range of symptoms
of schizophrenia, and have fewer side effects than traditional antipsychotics.
Counseling and Rehabilitation People with schizophrenia often have a difficult time performing ordinary life skills such as cooking and personal grooming as well as communicating with others in the family and at work.
Rehabilitation can help a person regain the confidence to take care of themselves and live a fuller life. Different forms of "talk" therapy, both individual and group, can help both the patient and family members to better understand the illness and share their coping problems.
Coping Guidelines For The Family:
- Establish a daily routine
for the patient to follow.
- Help the patient stay
on the medication.
- Keep the lines of communication
open about problems or fears the patient may have.
- Understand that caring
for the patient can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Take time
for yourself.
- Keep your communications
simple and brief when speaking with the patient.
- Be patient and calm.
- Ask for help if you
need it; join a support group.
MHAFC needs your financial support to continue to improve awareness and understanding of mental illnesses. Please click here to make a contribution.
This fact sheet is supported
by a grant from the William H. Donner Foundation.
©1997.
This pamphlet was reviewed by:
David Shore, MD, Acting Deputy Director, Division of Clinical Research and Treatment Research, National Institute of Mental Health
R. Elpers, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Anne Brown,
Director of Communications and Education, National Alliance for Research on
Schizophrenia and Depression
