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Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has been recognized throughout recorded history. People with schizophrenia sometimes hear voices others don't hear, believe that others are broadcasting their thoughts to the world, or become convinced that others are plotting to harm them. .Because many people with schizophrenia have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, the burden on their families and society is significant as well. Researchers are developing more effective medications and using new research tools to understand the causes of schizophrenia and to find ways to prevent and treat it. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated anatomical abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. Bilateral ventriculomegaly and decreased brain volume exist in medial temporal areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala. Because of the large overlap between the healthy and the schizophrenic brain, these findings are of greater research interest than clinical utility. The active symptoms of schizophrenia must be present at least 6 months, or only 1 month if treated. This brochure presents information on the symptoms of schizophrenia, when the symptoms appear, how the disease develops, current treatments, support for patients and their loved ones, and new directions in research.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Some are common Symptoms of Schizophrenia :
- Depersonalization (intense anxiety and a feeling of being unreal)
- Loss of appetite
- Delusions
- Violence
- Positive symptoms are unusual thoughts or perceptions, including hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, and disorders of movement.
- Problems focusing or paying attention, difficulty processing information, confusion, and fragmented thoughts.
- Job or school performance problems are common and usually due to an inability to complete tasks or goals.
- Inability to take care of personal needs
Causes of Schizophrenia
The common Causes of Schizophrenia :
- The brain structure of people with schizophrenia may be abnormal.
- Enlarged lateral ventricles (the fluid-filled spaces in the brain).
- Studies suggest that it runs in families, but the risk of getting schizophrenia, if a family member has it, is still relatively small.
- Some believe that something that happens in the womb might cause schizophrenia many years later
- A sibling or a parent with schizophrenia increases the likelihood that a person will have the disease.
- An attack can be brought on by stress, although this is not the cause of schizophrenia
Treatment of Schizophrenia
- The outlook for sufferers has improved greatly in the last few decades and many people can be treated outside hospital and live within the community for most of their lives.
- In addition anti-psychotic medicines are available to treat the worst symptoms of the illness, such as hallucinations, but there is no "cure" at present.
- Hyperprolactinemia is associated with galactorrhea, amenorrhea, gynecomastia, impotence, and osteoporosis.
- Use of novel antipsychotic drugs is assumed to result in a decline in the incidence of TD, but, until many patients have been exposed to these drugs for several years, this will not be known with certainty.
- Other side effects are known as extrapyramidal symptoms (muscle contractions, problems of movement and gait, and feelings of restlessness or "jitters").
- Treatment for schizophrenia is lifelong and includes medications, professional counseling, and support from family or community services.
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