Schizophrenia

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• Disorganized thinking and speech

• Psychotic symptoms – these

  • Hallucinations e.g., seeing, hearing, smelling, or tasting things that are not there.

  • Delusions – having strong beliefs that are not true or maybe irrational to others e.g., believing that they have special powers.

  • Thought disorder -

  • Movement disorder

• Negative symptoms

  • Loss of motivation

  • Loss of interest/enjoyment in daily activities

  • Difficulty showing emotions.

  • Difficulty planning and carrying out activities e.g., grocery shopping.

• Cognitive symptoms

  • Having trouble using information immediately after learning it

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Difficulty processing information to make decisions.

Causes Of Schizophrenia

• Genetics – Research states that many different genes may increase a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia but there is no specific gene that causes the disorder.

• Environment – according to research, a combination of genetic factors and aspects of a person’s environment and life experiences may play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Some of these environmental factors include living in poverty, exposure to viruses or nutritional problems before or after birth, and stressful or dangerous surroundings.

• Brain structure and function – studies have shown that people with schizophrenia diagnosis are likely to have differences in the size of certain brain areas and the connections between brain areas. Researchers are still working to better understand how brain structure and function relate to schizophrenia.

Treatment for Schizophrenia

• Medication – antipsychotic medications can help psychotic symptoms less intense and frequent. These medications are usually taken every day as a pill or in liquid form. Some antipsychotic medications are given as injections once or twice a month. People react differently to medications, so it is important to inform your doctor of any side effects. Some possible side effects from medications include:

  • Weight gain

  • Dry mouth

  • Restlessness

  • Drowsiness

Certain high-dose antipsychotics such as clozapine may require that people take regular blood tests to check for potentially dangerous side effects such as heart failure. Your doctor should inform you of the kind of medication you are taking and its potential side effects.​

• Psychotherapy – psychotherapy can help people manage symptoms and find solutions to everyday challenges. Psychotherapy is often used alongside antipsychotic medication. Studies suggest that people who engage with regular psychotherapy are less likely to have symptoms reoccur or to be hospitalized.

• Treatment for substance misuse – it is common for people with schizophrenia to have problems with alcohol and drugs. So, a treatment program which includes treatment for both schizophrenia and substance use is important for recovery because substance use can interfere with treatment for schizophrenia.

• Self-care

  • Look out for warning signs – symptoms of schizophrenia will vary from person to person so it’s important to know your symptoms. You may notice the following signs when you are becoming unwell:

    • Not sleeping well

    • Feeling stressed or anxious

    • Hearing voices

    • Avoiding other people

    • Difficulty concentrating

​You can notice when you are becoming unwell by:

• Keeping a mood diary – this can help you track changes in your symptoms.

• Asking other people to help – you can ask someone you trust to let you know if they notice any change in your moods.

• Plan for difficult times – if you start feeling unwell you may not be able to seek help so it can be helpful to have a plan in place e.g., calling a crisis helpline.

• Look after your physical health – e.g., with exercise, getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet.

• Cut down on stress.

• Doing things you enjoy.

• Use peer support.

• Keep up with your treatment – to maintain recovery it is important you take your prescribed medication, engage with your psychotherapy, and check in regularly with your doctor.

References

1. Hany, M., Rehman, B., Azhar, Y., & Chapman, J. (2023, March 20). Schizophrenia. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539864/

2. Schizophrenia. (2023, May). National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved March 1, 2024, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia