Schizophrenia

What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder and cannot be cured. Psychosis refers to hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing objects or people not present) or delusions (strong beliefs that are not true and are dangerous if acted upon) such as paranoia and suspiciousness. Some describe it as having a nightmare that doesn't go away when you wake up. It affects approximately 1% of the American population with the first episode of major symptoms occurring between ages 18 and 25. Patients experience an inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. People with schizophrenia do not have multiple personalities nor are they any more prone to violence than the rest of the population.

What Causes Schizophrenia?
Unfortunately, very little is known about the cause of schizophrenia. It is a disease related to the structure and function of the human brain. The brain's ability to filter information malfunctions, allowing extra and often overwhelming sensations to flood in. The schizophrenic person may find it therapeutic to spend time alone, away from the stimulus of group activities and interactions.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech patterns, and catatonia. Negative symptoms include difficulty relating to others, lack of spontaneous speech, anhedonia, and social withdrawal. The social/occupational dysfunctions include problems at work, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and compromise in the ability to carry on self care responsibilities. Cognitive deficits include problems with attention, memory, and executive functions like the ability to abstract. Co-occurring conditions also arise including mood difficulties, substance use disorders, anxiety syndromes, and, at times, acting out aggressive behaviors.

Treatment Options
While not a cure, antipsychotic medication is the primary base for treating schizophrenia. Once proper dosage is established, the medication works to correct the chemical imbalances in the brain. Psychotherapy ("talk therapy" or counseling) and small group discussions, when combined with medication, can be helpful in increasing the patient's understanding of schizophrenia and help to possibly identify early signs of future relapses. However, psychotherapy by itself is not seen as an effective treatment and may even make the patient's psychological pain and confusion worse.

Information sources: Pine Rest TODAY Magazine, "Schizophrenia: Understanding the Misunderstandings," Cropyright © Fall 1986; Pine Rest TODAY Magazine,"Psychopharmacology in the New Millennium," Copyright © Spring 2002.