Schizophrenia

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. Most people with schizophrenia are not dangerous or violent. They also are not homeless nor do they live in hospitals. Most people with schizophrenia live with family, in group homes or on their own. Research has shown that schizophrenia affects men and women about equally but may have an earlier onset in males. 

(https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia)

Symptoms

When the disease is active, it can be characterized by episodes in which the patient is unable to distinguish between real and unreal experiences. It’s best to start by considering simplified descriptions of two common presentations

1.Positive symptoms- Hallucination, delusions and thought disorder
2.Negative symptoms- Lack of drive, social withdrawal and emotional apathy

Symptoms usually first appear in early adulthood. Men often experience symptoms in their late teens or early 20s and women often first show signs in their 20s and early 30s. More subtle signs may present earlier, including troubled relationships, poor school performance and reduced motivation.

Treatment

* Medicine
* Rehabilitation - Develop life-management skills

Case study

A 20 years old male student had been behaving in an increasingly odd way. At times he appeared angry and told his friends that he was being followed by the police and secret services at other times he was seen to be laughing to himself for no appearant reason. He said that he had heard voices commenting actions and abusing him.