Schizophrenia
En Español (Spanish Version)More InDepth Information on This ConditionSchizophrenia
is a chronic, severe, disabling brain disorder that interferes with the way a person interprets reality. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices or see things that others do not, become paranoid that people are plotting against them, experience cognitive deficits, and withdraw socially. These and other symptoms make it difficult for them to have positive relationships with others. It is different from split or
multiple personality disorders
.
Regions of the Brain
Schizophrenia affects many different areas of the brain causing a wide range of behavioral, emotional, and intellectual symptoms.
© 2011 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Problems with brain structure and chemistry are thought to play a role. There also appears to be a genetic component. People with a parent or sibling with schizophrenia have a 10%-15% chance of developing the disease. This compares to a 1% chance if no relatives have schizophrenia.
Some researchers believe that environmental factors may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. They theorize that a fetal viral infection and/or difficult birth or obstetrical trauma may trigger schizophrenia in people who are predisposed.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
Schizophrenia does not develop because of one risk factor. Rather, it develops because of how your genes and environment interact. You may have a gene that increases your chance of schizophrenia, but may or may not develop the disease based on your environment. Environment in this case means any outside factors like stress or infection. Factors that increase your risk of schizophrenia include:
- Having a parent or sibling with schizophrenia
- Marijuana use
- Abnormal brain structure
- In the northern hemisphere: being born during winter months; being born in the city
-
Infection
Oxygen deprivation during pregnancy
-
Maternal
depression
-
Issues at birth such as:
- Long labor
- Bleeding during pregnancy
- Prematurity
- Low birth weight
- Maternal malnutrition
- Congenital deafness
- Infections during pregnancy
- Loss of a parent during childhood
- Financial stress
Men typically develop symptoms in their late teens or early twenties, while onset for women tends to occur in their twenties or thirties. In rare cases, it is seen in childhood.
Symptoms usually start in adolescence or early adulthood. They often appear slowly and become more disturbing and bizarre over time, or they may occur in a matter of weeks or months.
Symptoms include:
- Hallucinations—seeing or hearing things/voices that are not there
- Delusions—strong but false personal beliefs that are not based in reality
- Disorganized thinking
- Disorganized speech—lack of ability to speak in a way that makes sense or carry a conversation
- Catatonic behavior—slow movement, repeating rhythmic gestures, pacing, walking in circles, negativism, repetitive speech
- Emotional flatness—flat speech, lack of facial expression, and general disinterest and withdrawal
- Paranoia—a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur
- Inappropriate laughter
- Poor hygiene and self-care
Associated conditions include:
Early diagnosis is extremely important. People who are diagnosed early are able to:
- Stabilize their symptoms
- Decrease the risk of suicide
- Decrease alcohol and substance abuse
- Reduce the chance of relapse and/or hospitalization
A person must have active symptoms for at least two weeks, and other symptoms for at least six months before a diagnosis can be made. The doctor will rule out other causes such as drug use, medical illness, or a different mental condition.
Schizophrenia is not curable but it is highly treatable. Hospitalization may be required during acute episodes. Symptoms are usually controlled with antipsychotic medications.
Antipsychotic medications work by blocking certain chemicals in the brain. This helps control the abnormal thinking that occurs in people with schizophrenia. Determining a medication plan can be a complicated process. Often medications or dosages need to be changed until the right balance is found. This can take months or even years. Examples of medications include:
Relapse is common, even for patients taking medication. Treatment compliance can be a challenge since people often stop taking their medication when they are feeling better. If you don’t take your medications as prescribed, your doctor may give you a long-acting injection instead of daily pills. The side effects of traditional antipsychotics also can cause people to discontinue treatment. The most common are physical side effects such as:
- Slow and stiff movements
- Restlessness
- Facial tics
- Protruding tongue
Medications called
atypical antipsychotics
, have fewer side effects, and are better tolerated over long periods of time. However, they may cause weight gain, elevated blood sugar, and elevated serum cholesterol. Examples of these medications include:
Conditions often associated with schizophrenia include
depression
and
anxiety
. They may be treated with:
- Antidepressants
- Anxiolytic drugs
- Mood stabilizers
- Anticonvulsants
Electroconvulsive therapy may be used to treat severe
depression, suicidal ideation, or severe psychosis.
Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition. It can be confusing and frightening for the person with the disease and for family members. Individual and family therapy can address:
- Social skills
- Vocational guidance
- Community resources
- Coping with family
- Living arrangements
- General emotional support
- Working with the family to help them deal with the patient
If you are diagnosed with schizophrenia, follow your doctor's
instructions
.
There are no guidelines for preventing schizophrenia because the cause is unknown. However, studies show that early, aggressive treatment leads to better outcomes.
National Institute of Mental Health
World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
Canadian Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association website. Available at:
http://www.psych.org
. Accessed July 14, 2009.
Guha M.
Professional Guide to Diseases
, 9th ed. Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009: 23.
Moore DP, Jefferson JW.
Handbook of Medical Psychiatry
. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2004.
Last Reviewed September 2011