Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental illness.

• People with this disorder often do not behave the way most people do towards others. They also may not know what is real (this is called psychosis).

• Some common signs are strange beliefs, unclear or confused thinking and language, hallucinations (such as hearing voices that aren't there), poor interaction with others, less expression of feelings, and not doing much.

Meaning

• The word schizophrenia comes from two Greek words that mean to split and mind, because there is a 'split' between what's going on in the person's mind and what is actually happening. A person with schizophrenia does not change between different personalities: they have only one.

• Schizophrenia is a serious mental condition that can have a profound impact on a person's capacity to clearly think, feel, and behave in social situations. It is a persistent condition that almost always manifests itself in one's late teens or early adulthood, and it is estimated that approximately 1% of the population across the globe is afflicted with it. The symptoms of schizophrenia typically emerge over a period of months or even years, and it may take this long for the symptoms to become severe enough to support a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

• The historical ideas on schizophrenia have seen significant shifts over the course of time. In the past, it was assumed that the disorder was caused by inadequate parenting, moral weakness, or even possession by demonic spirits. Today, we know that these are not the causes of the disorder. However, modern research has shown that it is most likely caused by a confluence of factors, including those related to genetics, the environment, and neurodevelopment.

Signs and symptoms

• Positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms are the three main types of symptoms that can be associated with schizophrenia. Positive symptoms include things like irritability, social withdrawal, and impaired judgment. Positive symptoms are experiences that an individual has that are added to their perspective of reality. Some examples of positive symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. Apathy, social detachment, and a lack of motivation are examples of negative symptoms. These are experiences that are removed from an individual's view of reality. Cognitive symptoms are problems with attention, memory, and other cognitive processes including reasoning and decision-making.

In most cases, positive signs of schizophrenia include the following:

• Hallucinations are defined as the experience of things that are not actually present, such as hearing voices or seeing things that other people do not see.
• Delusions are defined as having incorrect beliefs that are not grounded in reality. Some examples of delusions include believing that one is being persecuted or that one possesses unique abilities.

Typical unfavorable effects of schizophrenia include the following:

1. Apathy is characterized by a lack of enthusiasm or motivation in one's regular tasks.
2. Avoiding social interactions and activities is an example of social disengagement.
3. Absence of facial expression, giving the impression of being emotionless or having no expression at all

The following is a typical list of cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia:

• Attention deficiencies are characterized by difficulties in concentrating and keeping one's attention.
• Memory impairments include not being able to retain information Executive function impairments include not being able to plan, organize, or carry out tasks effectively.
• Causes of the mental illness schizophrenic

Causes

• It is not completely understood what causes schizophrenia, although it is believed that a mix of genetic, environmental, and neurodevelopmental factors have a role in the disorder.

• Genes play a role. Studies on families, twins, and adoption have all come to the same conclusion: individuals with a history of schizophrenia in their family are more likely to have schizophrenia themselves. There is also evidence that certain genetic variants are linked to an increased propensity toward developing schizophrenia.

• Environmental variables, such as exposure to viruses or starvation during pregnancy, have been linked to an increased chance of developing schizophrenia later in life. Individuals who are already at risk for developing schizophrenia may also be susceptible to having the condition triggered by traumatic life events, such as the loss of a loved one or being laid off from their job.

• Neurodevelopmental factors: Research has shown that schizophrenia may be caused by disturbances in brain development that take place during the prenatal and early postnatal periods of a person's life. This might manifest as aberrant migration of neurons, improper connections between neurons, or abnormal functioning of particular neurotransmitters.

• Both psychological, genetic and social factors (epigenetic mechanisms may have a role in the development and progression of schizophrenia. Social isolation, unemployment, and poverty are all potential contributors.

Diagnosis

• Schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated in a variety of ways.

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a list of symptoms that must be present in order to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-5). An in-depth evaluation will typically include a medical and psychiatric examination, in addition to an interview with the individual and their family members, in order to collect information about the individual's symptoms, medical history, and personal history. This information will be used to form an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

• Medication, notably antipsychotics, is frequently the initial treatment that doctors try when treating schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medications accomplish their beneficial effects by inhibiting the actions of specific neurotransmitters inside the brain. This, in turn, helps to alleviate some of the most favorable symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.

• There are two primary categories of antipsychotic medication, which are referred to as first-generation (typical) and second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics respectively. The efficacy of treating positive symptoms is comparable across both classes, but second-generation antipsychotics often have fewer adverse effects than their predecessors.

• In addition to the use of medicine, there are a number of psychological treatments that have shown promise in the management of the symptoms of schizophrenia. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as family therapy. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on assisting individuals in recognizing and altering negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to their symptoms, family therapy addresses the impact that the disorder has on the individual's family and provides support and education to family members. CBT focuses on helping individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to their symptoms.

• Rehabilitation and social support are also vital in controlling schizophrenia. This can involve vocational rehabilitation, which assists persons in returning to work or education, as well as supported housing, which assists individuals in learning how to live independently. Individuals who struggle with schizophrenia and their families can also benefit from participating in social support groups.

Living with Schizophrenia

• Living with schizophrenia can be demanding and unpleasant, but there are methods that individuals and their families can take to better manage the symptoms of schizophrenia and enhance their quality of life. These various tactics are as follows:

• Maintaining adherence to a treatment plan: taking one's prescription medication on a consistent basis, going to therapy sessions, and participating in other forms of rehabilitation activity
• Keeping an eye on the symptoms: Keeping a record of one's symptoms and communicating any shifts in condition with a medical professional
• Keeping one's organization: Developing a schedule for each day and dividing work into smaller, more doable parts
• Establishing a network of support: Developing relationships with other people living with schizophrenia, as well as their families and the mental health professionals who treat them
• Maintaining an awareness of: Acquiring as much information as possible on the condition, including the most recent findings from research and the various treatment options.

Latest research

• The study of schizophrenia is still continuing on, and each new finding helps us understand the condition a little bit more. Recent studies have concentrated on determining particular genetic abnormalities that are linked to schizophrenia and studying the impact that environmental factors play in the development of the condition. Research is also being conducted in other areas, such as the creation of novel drugs that are more successful and the application of neuroimaging techniques in order to investigate how the brain functions in people who have schizophrenia.

• There is also current research being conducted on the efficacy of integrating traditional and alternative treatments to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia. These treatments include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin supplementation, physical exercise, and a great deal of other methods.

Schizophrenia Resources
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Classification	ICD-10: F20 OMIM: 181500 DiseasesDB: 11890
External resources	MedlinePlus: 000928 eMedicine: med/2072 Scholia: Q41112