Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that may cause lifetime impairment in young adults. Schizophrenia is set about in the mid-’20s and above but the symptoms of the same may appear from as early on as 13 years of age. Early diagnosis of schizophrenia renders a very good chance for the individual to heal and control this disorder.
Unfortunately, there is no current cure for the disease but with consistent medical care and support, the disorder can be controlled and managed effectively in the patient. Schizophrenia treatment is offered in many medical and mental health institutions.
There are also some rehabilitation centers that help patients to receive psychiatric care in a safe environment with support and reassurance from dedicated staff and doctors.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that can have not one but a combination of reasons for its onset. A patient who suffers from schizophrenia is prone to dwell in their own imagination and have difficulty differentiating reality from others.
The major symptoms that are experienced by schizophrenic patients are confusions, delusions, hallucinations, physical inability, abstract thoughts, unable to process information, etc. The symptoms of this disorder can be identified in kids at an early age. But the full length and intensity of the disorder can take effect mostly in the late teens or early adulthood.
Those with schizophrenia need special medical and psychological attention and care. These patients are not harmful in most cases and do not cause injury to themselves or others. They are often quiet, secluded, and unable to have a normal life due to their constant battle with their mind. This also makes them inefficient at school, college or work and therefore renders them dependent on their family/friends.
Symptoms of schizophrenia include the following traits:
- Occurrence of delusions and hallucinations
- Having a hard time telling reality from imagination
- Not able to focus or concentrate on anything
- Poor performance at school/work
- Impaired motor skills – twitching, unstable body posture, rapid movements
- Seclusion and/or changing friends often
- Very irritable with unstable emotions
- Not be able to have a proper chain of thoughts or follow through instructions
- Impulsive and rash decisions causing difficulty in relationships
- Lack of/Odd/ Improper emotional response to situations
These are some of the symptoms of Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia symptoms and the disorder as such will not go away or recover by itself in time. Schizophrenic patients require medical assistance and psychiatric treatment throughout their lifetime to help them ease their mental state and be able to manage their behavior and emotions effectively.
Suggested Treatment methods for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be controlled, if not healed with proper psychiatric treatments. The earlier the symptoms are realized and diagnosed, the easier it is to help the individual in coping with this mental disorder. For schizophrenic patients, there are dedicated facilities to help them rehabilitate and treat, such as specialist mental health institutions, rehab centers, and psychiatric hospitals.
Schizophrenia Treatment includes the following methods:
- Complete patient analysis with patient history, behavior at school/work, family details, etc
- Medical investigation with blood work, scans, MRI, and physical examination
- Psychometric assessments to understand where the patient currently stands
- Diagnosis and rehabilitation with medicines, psychotherapy, counseling, and vocational therapy
There are no sure reasons why some of us develop this rare disorder but the reasons may be a combination of family genetic history, extreme stressful work or environment, brain-related disorders, or mind-altering drug abuse.