Symptoms of Schizophrenia

There are three categories of symptoms that generally accompany the mental illness – positive, negative and cognitive. Taking early notice of these signs in young people is critical to successful recovery and a more stable adult life.

Positive Schizophrenia Symptoms : Positive symptoms are those experienced by schizophrenic individuals, but not those who are mentally healthy. The severity of symptoms may also vary from person to person and time to time. Examples of positive symptoms include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Disorganized thought

Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms : Negative symptoms are those that diminish normal functioning. They are more difficult to diagnose as part of schizophrenia, particularly in adolescents, but usually include a loss of emotional expression, disorganized speech, a lack of interest in things the person used to enjoy, and the inability to focus and complete tasks:

• Apathy: Socially withdrawn and experiencing an increasing lack of care about your appearance and personal hygiene. Loss of interest and motivation in life and activities, including relationships and sex, lack of concentration,
• Alogia: less likely to initiate conversations and feeling uncomfortable with people, or feeling there is nothing to say.
• Avolition: Overall movements are reduced, Patients sits idle or not going anywhere. Does not wanting to leave the house.
• Anhedonia: Unable to enjoy the things other enjoy, like going to movie or attending a party.

Cognitive Schizophrenia Symptoms

Cognitive symptoms affect a person’s ability to process and retain information. These warning signs may not be as obvious as the positive ones, as they are often uncovered through testing. Because these are connected to focus, memory, and decision-making, cognitive problems may reveal themselves through different changes, including:

• A drop in grades
• Loss of job or difficulty getting a job
• Trouble keeping relationships
• Increased irritability

What causes schizophrenia?

• Substance abuse: Young people who experiment with mind-altering substances in adolescence may increase their risk of developing schizophrenia. Frequent drug use may also lead to an earlier and more serious onset of the disorder, and is even sometimes a precursor to it.
• Genetics: A family history of schizophrenia and psychosis increases the chances of someone having the illness. Approximately 10 percent of people with a first-degree family member who is schizophrenic also develop the condition.
• Environment: A person’s environment alone will not cause a mental disorder; however, the National Institute of Mental Health notes environmental factors, such as prenatal malnutrition or exposure to viruses in the womb, may increase his or her risk.

How Is Schizophrenia Treated?

While schizophrenia has been considered incurable in the past, recovery is possible with new treatment methods and approaches. Since there is not one root cause of the disorder, treatment focuses mostly on fighting the symptoms. A combination of the following options is generally used by medical professionals providing care:

• Antipsychotic Medication: Reduces hallucinations, delusions, and intensity of other symptoms.
• Rehabilitation: Teaches individuals social and professional skills for career development by providing programs for employment assistance, money management, and relationship counselling.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Can be provided in group or individual sessions and helps transform abnormal behaviour and thinking patterns by teaching patients how to recognize unrealistic thoughts.
• Psychosocial Therapy: Focuses on helping stable patients manage challenges and use coping skills to achieve life goals and improve communication and relationships.
• Psychological treatment :Psychological treatment can help people with schizophrenia cope with the symptoms of hallucinations or delusions better. They can also help treat some of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as apathy or a lack of enjoyment. Psychological treatments for schizophrenia work best when they are combined with antipsychotic medication. Common psychological treatments include
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) :Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to help you identify the thinking patterns that are causing you to have unwanted feelings and behaviour, and learn to replace this thinking with more realistic and useful thoughts. For example, you may be taught to recognize examples of delusional thinking. You may then receive help and advice about how to avoid acting on these thoughts. Most people will require between 8 and 20 sessions of CBT over the space of 6 to 12 months. CBT sessions usually last for about an hour.
• Family therapy :Many people with schizophrenia rely on family members for their care and support. While most family members are happy to help, caring for somebody with schizophrenia can place a strain on any family. Family therapy is a way of helping you and your family cope better with your condition. It involves a series of informal meetings over a period of around six months. Meetings may include:

• discussing information about schizophrenia
• exploring ways of supporting somebody with schizophrenia
• deciding how to solve practical problems that can be caused by the symptoms of schizophrenia

Quality, comprehensive treatment also usually includes family education and support. Schizophrenia affects more than just the person who has it, and it’s important that loved ones receive the resources and information necessary to help assist in the recovery process.

Crisis Resolution Team (CRT)

We have our team for acute patients with violent behaviour at home. We can safely handle patient & give immediate relief to patient & their relatives. In such cases we can send our team with ambulance to admit patient in our rehabilitation centre.