Schizophrenia

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is an often misunderstood chronic mental health condition that affects a person’s thinking, emotions, and behavior. People with schizophrenia may experience a distorted reality, leading to symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and unusual or severely disordered behaviors. 

Schizophrenia can impact daily functioning and make it difficult to manage relationships, work, or self-care. It’s estimated to affect around 1% of the population globally, with symptoms often appearing in late adolescence or early adulthood.

What causes schizophrenia?

The exact causes of schizophrenia aren’t fully understood, but research indicates it results from a combination of the following:

Genetics

Genetics plays a significant role; people with a family history of schizophrenia have a higher risk. 

Environmental factors

Environmental factors such as prenatal exposure to stress, malnutrition, infections, or drug use during adolescence can also increase the risk. 

Brain chemical imbalances

Brain chemicals, particularly dopamine and glutamate, contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia. Brain structure abnormalities have also been observed in individuals with schizophrenia, but these findings vary and are still under study.

What are the signs of schizophrenia?

Signs of schizophrenia typically fall into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. 

Positive

Positive symptoms include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs, such as paranoia or grandiosity), and disorganized thinking or speech. 

Negative

Negative symptoms refer to a loss of function, such as reduced ability to experience pleasure, social withdrawal, and limited speech or motivation. 

Cognitive

Cognitive symptoms include memory issues, difficulty focusing, and problems with executive functions, which impact the ability to organize or make decisions.

How is schizophrenia treated?

At Barbosa Psychiatry, schizophrenia treatment usually involves a combination of medication, therapy, and support services. Antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment, helping to reduce or control symptoms by targeting brain chemistry. 

Psychosocial therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), social skills training, and family therapy, can help manage symptoms, improve daily functioning, and maintain social relationships. In some cases, supervised housing or vocational training may be beneficial. 

Long-term, coordinated care that includes mental health professionals, family support, and community services can help individuals with schizophrenia lead fulfilling lives.

To learn more, call or book an appointment at Barbosa Psychiatry today.