Schizophrenia is considered one of the most complex mental disorders, where the affected individual lives in a world different from reality and suffers from hallucinations, delusions, or severe behavioral disturbances. They may see or hear things that do not exist, which affects the patient's thinking patterns and lifestyle.
Therefore, it is important to identify the symptoms associated with schizophrenia to diagnose the condition early and begin the proper treatment journey as soon as possible, controlling the symptoms to improve the quality of life.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a psychological brain disorder that affects a patient's thinking, perception of reality, and behavior. A person with schizophrenia has difficulty distinguishing between real life and fantasy and is characterized by a belief in illogical ideas and auditory and visual hallucinations.
Different Types of Schizophrenia
Types of schizophrenia vary according to the distinctive symptoms of each type, including:
Paranoid Schizophrenia:
- Individuals with paranoid schizophrenia are consumed by delusions and hallucinations of being pursued by someone else.
- Their speech and thought processes appear normal, like a non-afflicted person.
Catatonic Schizophrenia:
- Individuals affected by it show clear motor symptoms, such as performing unexplained repetitive movements, or not moving for long periods and not responding to external stimuli to the point where the patient's body becomes rigid.
Disorganized Schizophrenia:
- The patient suffers from suspicion, confusion, and problems communicating with others.
- They suffer from speech disorganization.
- They often exhibit inappropriate behaviors or silly actions.
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia:
- The symptoms of schizophrenia are unclear or do not clearly fit into the other types.
- The patient experiences the return of some symptoms after an improvement in their condition.
Potential Causes of Schizophrenia
So far, there are no definitive primary causes for schizophrenia, but science has proven the existence of some factors that contribute to the onset of the disease, such as:
- An imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin.
- Addiction to narcotics and alcohol.
- A family history of schizophrenia increases the likelihood of developing it.
- Exposure to psychological pressures or severe emotional trauma.
- Postpartum depression and oxygen deficiency during childbirth may cause schizophrenia.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from case to case, but they share some common symptoms, including:
Psychological Symptoms:
- Hallucinations: seeing or hearing unclear things.
- Delusions: illogical beliefs, such as feeling persecuted.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Impaired awareness of reality or difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy.
- Emotional disturbances and difficulty expressing them.
Social Symptoms:
- A tendency towards isolation and avoiding gatherings.
- Decreased energy and daily activity.
- Loss of interest in things.
- Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene.
- Sleep disturbances and eating disorders.
How Schizophrenia Affects Thinking and Behavior
Schizophrenia significantly affects the patient's thinking patterns and perception of reality, which impacts their daily behaviors. A person with schizophrenia finds it difficult to separate reality from the world of fantasy, which affects their ability to organize their thoughts or express them clearly, leading to speaking in illogical phrases due to hallucinations or delusions.
The patient may begin to speak to others in an impulsive manner, and over time, behaviors of complete isolation, lack of social interaction, loss of interest in things or daily activities, and withdrawal from society become apparent.
Modern Methods for Treating Schizophrenia
A person with schizophrenia needs an integrated treatment plan that combines pharmacological treatment, psychological therapy, and social support to control the symptoms associated with the disease.
Pharmacological Treatment:
- Schizophrenia medications help reduce symptoms to minimize chronic hallucinations and delusions.
- Drug treatment combines the use of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants to improve the patient's mood.
Psychological Therapy:
- Psychological therapy supports the patient's mental health, helps them understand and deal with their conflicting thoughts.
- The most common type of psychological therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps the patient control delusions and hallucinations.
Social Support:
- Social and family support is one of the most important treatment methods, helping to rehabilitate the patient for interaction with people and society through organizing activities to develop skills and encouraging the patient to return to their normal life.
Medications for Treating Schizophrenia
Recently, several medications are available that help alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce the occurrence of hallucinations. These medications include:
- Antipsychotics such as: Aripiprazole, Quetiapine, Haloperidol.
- Mood Stabilizers such as: Carbamazepine, Lithium, Valproic Acid.
- Antidepressants such as: Escitalopram, Citalopram, Fluoxetine.
The Family's Role in Providing Psychological Support for a Person with Schizophrenia
The family plays an important role in the treatment journey of a person with schizophrenia, especially from the psychological aspect, through:
- Encouraging the patient to adhere to treatment.
- Restoring their self-confidence.
- Understanding the nature of the illness.
- Providing a quiet and stable environment for the patient, free from stress or arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Schizophrenia
Is schizophrenia the same as multiple personality disorder?
It is common to confuse schizophrenia with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), known as multiple personality disorder. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that causes an inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy, whereas Dissociative Identity Disorder is a disorder that causes the presence of two or more distinct identities within the same patient.
Can schizophrenia be completely cured?
No, schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness whose symptoms can be managed or controlled to achieve a stable life, but it cannot be completely cured.
Article Summary
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects thinking, emotions, and behavior. However, contrary to what some believe, it is not multiple personalities, but rather a dysfunction in the perception of reality. Its symptoms manifest as hallucinations, delusions, and social isolation, and their severity varies from person to person.