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A Visual Guide to Schizophrenia
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What Is Schizophrenia?
It’s a serious mental
illness that can be disabling without care. About 1% of Americans have it.
People with the condition may hear voices, see imaginary sights, or believe
other people control their thoughts. These sensations can frighten the person
and lead to erratic behavior. Although there is no cure, treatment can usually
manage the most serious symptoms. It is not the same as multiple
personality disorder.
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What Are the Symptoms?
They include:
·
Hallucinations: hearing or seeing
imaginary things
·
Delusions: wildly false beliefs
·
Paranoia: the fear that others are
plotting against you
Some signs, such as lack
of enjoyment in everyday life and withdrawal from social activities, may mimic
depression.
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How It Affects Thoughts
People with
schizophrenia may have trouble organizing their thoughts or making logical
connections. They may feel like the mind is racing from one unrelated thought
to another. Sometimes they have "thought withdrawal," a feeling that
thoughts are removed from their head, or "thought blocking," when
someone's flow of thinking suddenly gets interrupted.
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Effects on Behavior
The disease has a major
impact in many ways. People may talk and not make sense, or they make up words.
They may be agitated or show no expression. Many have trouble keeping
themselves or their homes clean. Some repeat behaviors, such as pacing.
Despite myths, the risk of violence against others is small.
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Who Gets Schizophrenia?
Anyone can. It’s equally
common among men and women and among ethnic groups. Symptoms usually
start between ages 16 and 30. It tends to begin earlier in men than in women.
Schizophrenia rarely starts during childhood or after age 45. People with schizophrenia
or other psychotic disorders in their family may be more likely to get it.
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What Causes It?
Scientists don’t know
the cause. A person’s genes, experiences, and setting may all be involved.
Theories include how active and how well certain areas of the brain work, as
well as problems with brain chemicals such as dopamine and glutamate. There may
be structural differences, too, like loss of nerve cells that result in larger
fluid-filled cavities or "ventricles” in the brain.
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How Doctors Diagnose It
There are no lab tests
to find schizophrenia, so doctors usually base a diagnosis on a person’s
history and symptoms. They will first rule out other medical causes. In teens,
a combination of family history and certain behaviors can help predict the start
of schizophrenia. These behaviors include withdrawing from social groups and
expressing unusual suspicions, but that’s not enough for a diagnosis.
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Medicines That Treat It
Prescription drugs can
reduce symptoms such as abnormal thinking, hallucinations, and delusions. Some
people have troubling side effects, including tremors and gaining lots of
weight. Drugs may also interfere with other medicines or supplements. But in
most cases, medication is a must to treat schizophrenia.
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The Role of Therapy
Counseling can help
people develop better ways to recognize and handle their problem behaviors and
thoughts, and improve how they relate to others. In cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT), people learn to test the reality of their thoughts and better
manage symptoms. Other forms of therapy aim to improve self-care,
communication, and relationship skills.
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Navigating the World
Rehabilitation programs
for schizophrenia teach people how to do everyday things, like use public
transportation, manage money, shop for groceries, or find and keep a job. These
programs work best when someone receives proper medications and also gets
therapy.
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Staying on the Plan
People with
schizophrenia sometimes quit their medications because of side effects or not
understanding their illness. This raises the risk of serious symptoms
returning, which can lead to a psychotic episode (in which someone loses touch
with reality). Regular counseling can help people stick with their treatment
and avoid a relapse or the need for hospitalization.
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Challenges at Work
People with
schizophrenia often have trouble finding or keeping a job. This is partly
because the disease affects thinking, concentration, and communication. But it
also stems from the fact that symptoms start in young adulthood, when many
people are starting their careers. Vocational and occupational rehabilitation
can help people develop practical job skills.
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When a Loved One Has It
Relationships can be
rocky for people with schizophrenia. Their unusual thoughts and behaviors may
keep friends, co-workers, and family members away. Treatment can help. One form
of therapy focuses on forming and nurturing relationships. If you are close to
someone who has schizophrenia, you may want to join a support group or get
counseling yourself, so you can get support and learn more about what they are
going through.
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Alcohol, Drugs Are a Risk
People with
schizophrenia are much more likely than other people to abuse alcohol or
illicit drugs. Some substances, including marijuana and cocaine, can make
symptoms worse. Drug abuse also interferes with treatments for schizophrenia.
If you know someone who’s dealing with that, look for substance abuse programs
designed for people with schizophrenia.
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Discuss Before Pregnancy
Women with schizophrenia
who plan to get pregnant should talk with their doctors to make sure that their
medications are OK to take during pregnancy. Studies of schizophrenia
drug safety during pregnancy are encouraging. But although there are no
definitive links between medications for schizophrenia and birth defects or
serious pregnancy complications, it’s important to talk about it with your
doctor first.
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When It’s a Relative
It can be hard to
convince someone with schizophrenia to get help. Treatment often begins when a
psychotic episode results in a hospital stay. Once the person is stabilized,
family members can do these things to help prevent a relapse:
·
Encourage the person to stay on medication
·
Go with them to their follow-up
appointments
·
Be supportive and respectful
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Where to Learn More
To learn more about
schizophrenia, contact the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) or the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI can put you in touch with
local support groups for patients and their families.
This tool does not provide medical advice. S
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