Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Though schizophrenia isn’t as common as other major mental illnesses, it can be the most chronic and disabling. People with schizophrenia often have problems doing well
in society, at work, at school, and in relationships. They might feel frightened and withdrawn, and could appear to have lost touch with reality. This lifelong disease can’t be cured but can be controlled with proper treatment. Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not a split or multiple personality. Schizophrenia involves a psychosis, a type of
mental illness in which a person can’t tell what’s real from what’s imagined. At times, people with psychotic disorders lose touch with reality. The world may seem like a jumble of confusing thoughts, images, and sounds. Their behavior may be very strange
and even shocking. A sudden change in personality and behavior, which happens when people who have it lose touch with reality, is called a psychotic episode. How severe schizophrenia is varies from person to person. Some people have only one psychotic episode, while others have many episodes during a lifetime but lead relatively normal lives in between. Still others may have more trouble functioning over time, with little improvement between full-blown psychotic episodes.
Schizophrenia symptoms seem to worsen and improve in cycles known as relapses and remissions. The condition usually shows its first signs in men in their late teens or early 20s.
It mostly affects women in their early 20s and 30s. The period when symptoms first start and before full psychosis is called the prodromal period. It can last days, weeks, or even years. It can be hard to spot because there’s usually no specific trigger. You might only notice subtle behavioral changes, especially in teens. This includes: In this case, the word positive doesn’t mean good. It refers to added thoughts or actions that aren’t based in reality. They’re sometimes called psychotic symptoms and can include: These are positive symptoms that show that the person can’t think clearly or respond as expected. Examples include: The person will have trouble: The word "negative" here doesn’t mean "bad." It notes the absence of normal behaviors in people with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include: The exact cause of schizophrenia isn’t known. But like cancer and diabetes, schizophrenia is a real illness with a biological basis. Researchers have uncovered a number of things that appear to make someone more likely
to get schizophrenia, including:
Who Gets Schizophrenia?Anyone can get schizophrenia. It affects people all over the world, from all races and cultures. While it can happen at any age, schizophrenia typically first appears in the teenage years or early 20s. The disorder affects men and women equally, although symptoms generally appear earlier in men. The earlier the symptoms start, the more severe the illness tends to be. Children over the age of 5 can have schizophrenia, but it’s rare before adolescence. How Is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?If symptoms of schizophrenia are present, the doctor will perform a complete medical history and sometimes a physical exam. While there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose schizophrenia, the doctor may use various tests, and possibly blood tests or brain imaging studies, to rule out another physical illness or intoxication (substance-induced psychosis) as the cause of the symptoms. If the doctor finds no other physical reason for the schizophrenia symptoms, they may refer the person to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interviews and assessment tools to evaluate a person for a psychotic disorder. The therapist bases their diagnosis on the person's and family's report of symptoms and their observation of the person's attitude and behavior. A person is diagnosed with schizophrenia if they have at least two of these symptoms for at least 6 months: One of the symptoms has to be
During the 6 months, the person must have a month of active symptoms. (It can be less with successful treatment.) Symptoms should negatively affect them socially or at work, and can’t be caused by any other condition. How Is Schizophrenia Treated?The goal of schizophrenia treatment is to ease the symptoms and to cut the chances of a relapse, or return of symptoms. Treatment for schizophrenia may include:
Note: Clozapine is the only FDA-approved medication for treating schizophrenia that is resistant to other treatments. It’s also used to lessen suicidal behaviors in those with schizophrenia who are at risk.
Popular books and movies often depict people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses as dangerous and violent. This usually isn’t true. Most people with schizophrenia are not violent. More typically, they
prefer to withdraw and be left alone. When people with mental illness do take part in dangerous or violent behaviors, it’s generally a result of their psychosis and the fear that they’re being threatened in some way by their surroundings. Drug or alcohol use can make it worse. On the other hand, people with schizophrenia can be a danger to themselves. Suicide is the top
cause of premature death among people with schizophrenia. What Is the Outlook for People With Schizophrenia?With proper treatment, most people with schizophrenia can lead productive and fulfilling lives. Depending on how severe the condition is and how well they get and stick with treatment, they should be able to live with their families or in community settings rather than in long-term psychiatric hospitals. Ongoing research on the brain and how brain disorders happen will likely lead to more effective medicines with fewer side effects. Can Schizophrenia Be Prevented?There’s no known way to prevent schizophrenia. But early diagnosis and treatment can help avoid or ease frequent relapses and hospitalizations, and help cut the disruption to the person's life, family, and relationships. What is the name for brain surgery in which the objective is to reduce symptoms of a mental disorder?What is the purpose of a lobotomy? Lobotomies have been used as a radical therapeutic measure intended to calm patients with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
What is the name for brain surgery?Craniotomy. A piece of the skull is removed to give doctors access to the brain to remove a brain tumor, abnormal tissue, blood, or blood clots; relieve pressure after an injury or stroke; repair a brain aneurysm or skull fractures; or treat other brain conditions.
What part of the brain controls mental illness?The amygdala, which is centrally involved in the brain's response to threats, is thought to play an important role in anxiety. So are other major components of the limbic system, the hippocampus (critical for memory and fear learning) and the hypothalamus (which controls the release of hormones).
What is open brain surgery?Awake brain surgery, also called awake craniotomy, is a type of procedure performed on the brain while you are awake and alert. Awake brain surgery is used to treat some brain (neurological) conditions, including some brain tumors or epileptic seizures.
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