Schizophrenia, When Does Schizophrenia Start, and Who Gets it?
Understanding Schizophrenia: start
If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, you may find coping with schizophrenia to be challenging. But first, it is helpful to have a general understanding of what schizophrenia actually is. It is always easier to cope with something once you understand it better. start
Schizophrenia is a very serious psychiatric illness that afflicts approximately 1% of the population. It is a very disabling disorder and is both chronic and severe. While schizophrenia can strike at any age, it typically first appears in a person’s life in late adolescence to his or her late twenties or early thirties. Symptoms of schizophrenia generally appear at an earlier age in males than in females.
Schizophrenia is:
A serious mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. They may hear voices other people don’t hear. They may think other people are trying to hurt them. Sometimes they don’t make any sense when they talk.
Schizophrenia symptoms can make it hard for a person to interact with other people, go to school, keep a job, or take care of day-to-day tasks. The symptoms can be very disabling but with effective treatment many people with schizophrenia experience recovery.
For Example,
A schizophrenic person may have the delusion that his thoughts are being controlled by aliens, or that his every move is being tracked by a microchip that has been implanted in his brain.
He may also experience auditory hallucinations in the form of voices telling him to do something or commenting on his actions. These psychotic symptoms can often make the schizophrenic individual feel very scared or paranoid.
When Does Schizophrenia Start and Who Gets it?
Schizophrenia occurs in slightly more men than women and affects all ethnic groups. Symptoms usually start between the ages of 16 and 30. In rare cases, children have schizophrenia too.
Signs And Symptoms:
Schizophrenia symptoms fall into three categories:
- Positive symptoms.
- Negative symptoms.
- and cognitive symptoms.
1. Positive Symptoms:
Positive symptoms are psychotic experiences that are not generally seen in healthy people. People with these symptoms are sometimes unable to tell what’s real from what is imagined. These symptoms can be severe, and at other times, hardly noticeable. Positive symptoms include:
A. Hallucinations:
When a person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels things that are not real. “Hearing voices” is common for people with schizophrenia. People who hear voices may hear them for a long time before family or friends notice a problem.
B. Delusions:
When a person believes things that are not true. For example, a person may believe that people on the radio and television are talking directly to him or her. Sometimes people believe that they are in danger and others are trying to hurt them.
C. Thought Disorders:
When a person has ways of thinking that are odd or illogical. People with thought disorders may have trouble organizing their thoughts. Sometimes a person will stop talking in the middle of a thought or makeup words that have no meaning.
D. Movement Disorders:
When a person has may appear as agitated body movements. A person may repeat certain motions over and over. In the other extreme, a person may stop moving or be talking for a while, which is a rare condition called catatonia.
2. Negative Symptoms:
Negative symptoms refer to social withdrawal, difficulty showing emotions, or difficulty functioning normally. People with negative symptoms may need help with everyday tasks. Negative symptoms include:
- Talking in a dull voice.
- Showing no facial expression, such as a smile or frown.
- Having trouble experiencing happiness.
- Having trouble planning and sticking with an activity, such as grocery shopping.
- Talking very little to other people, even when it is important.
3. Cognitive Symptoms:
Cognitive symptoms are not easy to see, but they can make it hard for people to have a job or take care of themselves. Often, these symptoms are detected only when specific tests are performed. Cognitive symptoms include:
- Difficulty using the information to make decisions.
- Problems using the information immediately after learning it.
- Trouble paying attention.
Causes of Schizophrenia:
Genetic and Environmental Aspects:
Genetic factors play an important role in the occurrence of Schizophrenia. Studies have proven that a person with a family history of Schizophrenia is more likely to develop a mental disorder himself.
Statistics in terms of propensity to develop Schizophrenia show that people with a family history of Schizophrenia are rated 10% whereas people without a family history of Schizophrenia are rated at 1%.
However,
The genetic factor is just an influencing factor and not a determining factor. Supporting this, 60% of people who suffer from Schizophrenia were found to have no family history of the disorder.
Looking into the environmental aspect of the causes responsible for Schizophrenia, scientists have indicated that an elevated level of stress is accountable for triggering Schizophrenia, as increased stress not only causes several biochemical changes in the body but also increases the level of cortisol hormone.
Many factors may cause schizophrenia, including:
- Genes, because schizophrenia sometimes runs in families.
- The environment, such as exposure to viruses or nutrition problems before birth.
- Brain structures and brain chemistry.
- Stress, It is well recognized that stressful incidents often precede the onset of schizophrenia. These may act as precipitating events in vulnerable people.
- Alcohol and other drug use:
- armful alcohol and other drug use, particularly cannabis and amphetamine use, may trigger psychosis in people who are vulnerable to developing schizophrenia.
- While substance use does not cause schizophrenia, it is strongly related to relapse.
Scientists have learned a lot about schizophrenia, but more research is needed to help explain its causes.
Types of Schizophrenia:
According to the DSM-IV-R, there are currently five different types of schizophrenia. These are determined by the particular symptoms which are the most prominent at a given time. The five types are:
- Paranoid.
- Disorganized.
- Catatonic.
- Undifferentiated.
- Residual.
Risk Factors:
Researchers believe that a number of genetic and environmental factors contribute to causation, and life stressors may play a role in the disorder’s onset and course. Since multiple factors may contribute, scientists cannot yet be specific about the exact cause in individual cases. Since the term schizophrenia embraces several different disorders, variation in the cause between cases is expected.
A. Genetics:
Schizophrenia sometimes runs in families. However, it is important to know that just because someone in a family has schizophrenia, it does not mean that other members of the family will have it as well. Genetic studies strongly suggest that many different genes increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, but that no single gene causes the disorder by itself. It is not yet possible to use genetic information to predict who will develop schizophrenia.
B. Environment:
Scientists think that interactions between genetic risk and aspects of an individual’s environment may play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Environmental factors that may be involved include living in poverty, stressful surroundings, and exposure to viruses or nutritional problems before birth.
C. Brain structure and function:
Scientists think that differences in brain structure, function, and interactions among chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters) may contribute to the development of schizophrenia.
D. Pregnancy and birth complications:
Research has shown people who develop schizophrenia are more likely to have experienced complications before and during their birth, such as:
- a low birth weight.
- premature labor.
- a lack of oxygen (asphyxia) during birth.
It may be that these things have a subtle effect on brain development.
Exams and Tests:
There are no medical tests to diagnose schizophrenia. A psychiatrist should examine the person and make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is made based on an interview of the person and family members.
The psychiatrist will ask about the following:
- How long symptoms have lasted.
- How a person’s ability to function has changed.
- What the person’s developmental background was like.
- About the person’s genetic and family history.
- How well medicines have worked.
- Whether the person has problems with substance abuse.
- Other medical conditions the person has.
Brain scans (such as CT or MRI) and blood tests may help rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms.
Treatment of Schizophrenia:
Two main types of treatment can help with symptoms:
- Antipsychotic medications.
- Psychosocial treatments.
A. Antipsychotic Medications:
help patients with the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Some people have side effects when they start taking medications, but most side effects go away after a few days. Side effects include:
- Blurry vision.
- Body movements a person can’t control, such as shaking.
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness.
- Fast heartbeat.
- Feeling restless.
- Menstrual problems.
- Sensitivity to the sun.
- Skin Rashes.
- Stiffness in the body.
Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications:
- Some types of antipsychotic medications can cause a lot of weight gain and other health concerns, which can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol, or other conditions.
- Other types of antipsychotic medications can cause side effects related to physical movement where a person cannot control muscle movements, especially around the mouth.
People,
respond to antipsychotic medications differently, so it is important to report any of these side effects to a doctor. Sometimes a person needs to try several medications before finding the right one. People should not stop taking the medication without first talking to a doctor. Stopping the medication suddenly can be dangerous, and it can make schizophrenia symptoms worse.
B. Psychological Treatment:
Psychosocial treatments help patients deal with the everyday challenges of schizophrenia. These treatments are often most helpful after patients find a medication that works.
Treatments include:
- Family education: teaches the whole family how to cope with the illness and help their loved one.
- Illness management skills: help the patient learn about schizophrenia and manage it from day-to-day.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): helps the patient identify current problems and how to solve them. A CBT therapist focuses on changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
- Rehabilitation: helps with getting a job or going to school and everyday living skills.
- Self-help groups: provide support from other people with the illness and their families.
- Treatment for drug and alcohol misuse: is often combined with other treatments for schizophrenia.
Because of,
The severity of the symptoms experienced by a person with schizophrenia can often be very difficult for the individual to function well in society or to do well in an occupation. Many individuals with schizophrenia are in and out of treatment facilities throughout their lives. s start start start start start
Currently,
There is no known cure for schizophrenia. However, our understanding and treatment of schizophrenia are constantly improving, and research is ongoing. While the diagnosis of schizophrenia can be heartbreaking, there is always hope that in time medical researchers may find more and more ways to better treat the illness, and perhaps eventually determine if and how it can be prevented or cured.
Long-term Use of,
Antipsychotics may increase the risk of a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia. This condition causes repeated movements that the person cannot control. Call the healthcare provider right away if you think you or your family member may have this condition due to the medicine. When schizophrenia does not improve with antipsychotics, other medicines may be tried.
Schizophrenia is a life-long illness. Most people with this condition need to stay on antipsychotics for life.
Support Programs And Therapies:
Support therapy may be helpful for many people with schizophrenia. Behavioral techniques, such as social skills training, can help the person function better in social and work situations. Job training and relationship-building classes are also important. Family members and caregivers are very important during treatment. Therapy can teach important skills, such as:
- Coping with symptoms that continue, even while taking medicines.
- Following a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough sleep and staying away from recreational drugs.
- Taking medicines correctly and managing side effects.
- Watching for the return of symptoms, and knowing what to do when they return.
- Getting the right support services
Are People With Schizophrenia Violent?
Most people with schizophrenia are not violent; however, the risk of violence is greatest when schizophrenia is untreated. It is important to help a person with schizophrenia symptoms get treatment as quickly as possible. People with schizophrenia are much more likely to harm themselves than others.
Possible Complications:
Having schizophrenia increases the risk of:start start start start
- Developing a problem with alcohol or drugs. Using these substances increases the chances that symptoms will return.
- Physical illness. This is due to an inactive lifestyle and the side effects of medicines.
- Suicide.
When to Contact a Medical Professional:
Call your provider if you (or a family member):
- Hear voices telling you to hurt yourself or others.
- Have the urge to hurt yourself or others.
- Feel scared or overwhelmed.
- See things that are not really there.
- Feel that you cannot leave the house.
- Feel that you are not able to care for yourself.
Prevention:
- Schizophrenia cannot be prevented.
- Symptoms may be prevented by taking medicine exactly as the doctor instructed.
- Symptoms are likely to return if the medicine is stopped.
Here’s How can you help someone I know with schizophrenia?
Caring for and supporting a loved one with schizophrenia can be very challenging. It can be difficult to know how to respond to someone who is experiencing psychosis.
Here are some things you can do to help your loved one:
- Help them get treatment and encourage them to stay in treatment.
- Remember that their beliefs or hallucinations seem very real to them.
- Tell them that you acknowledge that everyone has the right to see things their way.
- Be respectful, supportive, and kind without tolerating dangerous or inappropriate behavior.
Some symptoms require immediate emergency care. If your loved one is thinking about harming themselves or others or attempting suicide, seek help right away.
Alternative Names: Psychosis – schizophrenia; Psychotic disorders – schizophrenia.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
Sources- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml – American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
Driver, D. I., et al. (2013). Childhood onset schizophrenia and early onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3771646/
DSM-IV to DSM-5 schizophrenia comparison. (2016). - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t22/
Schizoaffective disorder. (n.d.). - https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizoaffective-Disorder
Schizophrenia. (2018). - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/schizophrenia.shtml
