Schizophrenia

Definition
Schizophrenia is a group of serious disorders of the brain, in reality is interpreted in unusual ways. Schizophrenia causes hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia from the people and activities in the world around them, retreat into an inner world of psychosis.

Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not the same as a split personality or multiple personality. While the word “schizophrenia” does not mean “split mind”, it refers to a disturbance of the normal balance of emotion and thought.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease which is life-long treatment. But thanks to new medications, the symptoms of schizophrenia can often be managed by people with the condition to lead productive, enjoyable life.

Symptoms
There are different types of schizophrenia, so signs and symptoms vary. In general, schizophrenia symptoms are:

■ beliefs not on reality (delusions), such as the assumption that there is a conspiracy against you
■ see or hear things that do not exist (hallucinations), especially voices
■ incoherent speech
■ neglect of personal hygiene
■ Lack of emotions
■ emotions inappropriate to the situation
■ Angry outbursts
■ catatonic behavior
■ A persistent feeling observed
■ problems in school and the functioning of labor
■ Social isolation
■ Clumsy, uncoordinated movements
Schizophrenia ranges from mild to severe. Some people may be to function well in daily life, while others need specialized, intensive care. In some cases, schizophrenia symptoms appear suddenly. Other times, schizophrenia symptoms appear gradually over several months, and they may not be noticeable at first.

Over time it will be difficult to function in daily life. You may not be able to go to work or school. You may have difficult relations, partly because of the difficulty reading the instructions, or other social ‘emotions. You lose interest in activities you once enjoyed. It may be in distress or upset or fall into a trance state and is not on others.

In addition to the general symptoms of schizophrenia, symptoms are often used in three ways to help in the diagnosis and treatment:

Negative signs and symptoms
Negative signs and symptoms of a loss or decrease in the emotions or behavioral abilities. They may include:

■ Loss of interest in daily activities
■ obviously lack emotion
■ Reduced ability to plan projects or activities
■ The neglect of hygiene
■ social withdrawal
■ Loss of motivation
Positive signs and symptoms
Positive signs and symptoms are unusual thoughts and perceptions, often with a loss of contact with reality. These symptoms may come and go. They may include:

■ hallucinations, or sensing things that are not real. In schizophrenia, hearing voices is a common hallucination. This voice seems you instructions on how to act, and sometimes they can cause harm to others.
■ Delusions, or beliefs, which has no basis in reality. For example, you may believe that television is the leadership that your behavior or outside forces to control your thoughts.
■ thinking, or difficulty speaking and organizing thoughts, such as the setting in midsentence or jumbling together meaningless words, sometimes referred to as “word salad”.
■ movement disorders, such as repeated movements, clumsiness or involuntary movements.
Cognitive Symptoms
Cognitive symptoms have problems with memory and attention. These symptoms can be disabling in schizophrenia because they are with the ability to perform everyday tasks. These include:

■ problems making sense of information
■ Difficulty attention
■ Memory Problems
Causes
It is not known what causes schizophrenia. But the researchers believe that an interplay of genetics and environment can lead to schizophrenia. Problems with certain naturally occurring brain chemicals, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate, may also contribute to schizophrenia. Neuroimaging studies show differences in the structure of the brain and central nervous system of people with schizophrenia. While the researchers are not yet fully certain about the significance of these changes, they support evidence that schizophrenia is a brain disease.

Risk Factors
Schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the population. For people who are close relatives with schizophrenia, the illness is much more common – about 10 percent. In men, schizophrenia symptoms typically begin in adolescence or 20s. In women, schizophrenia symptoms typically begin in the 20s or early 30s.

Although the exact causes of schizophrenia is unknown, the researchers found that certain factors seem the risk of developing schizophrenia or trigger, including:

■ A family history of schizophrenia
■ Exposure to viruses, while in the womb
■ malnutrition in the womb
■ stressful circumstances
■ Older paternal age
■ The psycho-active drugs in adolescence
If medical advice
If you have any symptoms of schizophrenia, medical assistance as soon as possible. Schizophrenia is not better on their own, and in fact, usually worsens without treatment. However, if you like some people with schizophrenia, you may not realize that you need help or if you have symptoms. Family and friends, or people at work or school, those who initially recommend you seek help. Try to listen to them as your best interests at heart.

Initial treatment of mental health providers with experience in schizophrenia, you can learn how to manage your symptoms so that the best way to continue with a productive and happy life. If you are reluctant to seek treatment, try, the courage to trust in someone, whether it is a friend or lover, a doctor, a faith leader or someone else you trust. They can help you make the first steps for a successful treatment.

Help for someone who may be schizophrenic
If you have a loved one think you can mask the symptoms of schizophrenia, an open and honest discussion about your concerns. Many people with schizophrenia do not believe that they need help because they, delusions and hallucinations are real. You may not be able to search for someone to seek professional help, but you can offer encouragement and support and help, your loved ones to find a qualified doctor or mental health.

If your love is a danger to themselves or someone else, you need to the police or other emergency responders for assistance. In some cases, emergency hospitalization may be necessary. Laws governing the involuntary commitment to mental health treatment, depending on their condition.

Suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts and behavior among people with schizophrenia. If you are considering suicide, and have the legal means available, talk to someone now. The best choice is to 911 or your local emergency number. If you simply do not want, for whatever reason, you have other opportunities for contact with someone who:

■ Contact a family member or friend
■ Consult a doctor, mental health or other health care professionals
■ Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community
■ Go to your local hospital emergency room
■ Call a crisis center or hotline
Tests and diagnosis
When doctors suspect someone has schizophrenia, they typically have a number of medical and psychological tests and examinations. These can be from other problems, the cause of your symptoms, just a diagnosis and also for any related complications. These tests generally include:

■ Physical examination. This may include measuring height and weight, checking vital functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, listening to the heart and lungs, and examining the abdomen.
■ Laboratory tests. These may include complete blood count (CBC), screening for alcohol and drugs, and imaging studies, such as an MRI or CT scan.
■ Psychological Assessment. A doctor or mental health provider talk about your thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. He or she will ask, delusions or hallucinations and verify that signs of psychosis. You can also fill out psychological self-assessments and questionnaires. You may be asked about substance or alcohol abuse. And with your permission, family members or close friends are invited to submit information about your symptoms.
Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, you must meet the criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This guide is supported by the American Psychiatric Association and is supported by the mental health providers to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies for the treatment to be reimbursed.

Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are:

■ presence of at least two of these: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, or the presence of negative symptoms
■ Significant impairment in the ability to work, to school or normal daily tasks
■ signs for the last six months at least
■ Other mental disorders were excluded
You can use the diagnosis of one of the five subtypes of schizophrenia, although not all people easily in a specific category. The five subtypes are:

■ Paranoid
■ catatonic
■ disordered
■ Production of
■ Residual
Talk to your doctor about which type of schizophrenia you have so that you can learn more about your specific situation and its treatments.

Complications
If untreated, schizophrenia can lead to severe emotional, behavioral, health, and legal and financial problems that affect all areas of your life. Complications that can cause schizophrenia, or in connection with included:

■ Suicide
■ Self-destructive behavior like self-injury
■ Depression
■ The abuse of alcohol, drugs or medication
■ Poverty
■ Homelessness
■ Family Conflict
■ The inability to work or school
■ Health Problems of anti-psychotic drugs
■ As the perpetrators or victims of violent crime
■ Heart disease, often associated with heavy smoking
Treatments and drugs
Schizophrenia is a chronic disease which is life-long treatment, even in times when you feel better and your symptoms subsided. Treatment with medication and psychosocial therapy can help you take control of your condition and become an active and informed participants in their own care. During times of crisis or times of severe symptoms, hospitalization may be necessary for your safety and to ensure that you always proper nutrition, sleep and hygiene.

Schizophrenia Treatment is usually by a psychiatrist experienced in treating the condition. But you may have other people in your team and treatment, including psychologists, social workers and psychiatric health and nursing, because the state can rely on so many areas of your life. You can also use a case manager to ensure that you always all of the treatment you need and that your care is coordinated between all of your health care provider.

Drugs
Drugs are the cornerstone of treatment of schizophrenia. But since drugs for schizophrenia can cause serious but rare side effects, you may be reluctant to it. Work with your psychiatrist and other health care providers for a drug that the government is working for you, with the fewest side effects.

Anti-Psychotic drugs are the most commonly prescribed medicines for the treatment of schizophrenia. They are thought to mask the symptoms caused by the brain neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. There are basically two types of anti-psychotic medication:

■ Conventional or typical antipsychotics. These drugs have traditionally been very effective in managing the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. These medications have frequent and potentially serious neurological side effects, including the possibility of tardive dyskinesia, involuntary movements or collisions. This group of medications includes:
■ Haloperidol (Haldol)
■ thioridazine
■ Fluphenazine
The typical antipsychotics are often cheaper than new partners, especially the generic versions, which are an important factor in long-term treatment is required.

■ New generation, including atypical antipsychotics. These newer anti-psychotic medications are effective in the management of both positive and negative symptoms. These include:
■ Clozapine (Clozaril)
■ risperidone (Risperdal)
■ olanzapine (Zyprexa)
■ Quetiapine (Seroquel)
■ Ziprasidone (Geodon)
■ Aripiprazole (Abilify)
■ Paliperidone (INVEGA)
Risperidone (Risperdal) is the only atypical anti-psychotic medication, which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia in children aged 13-17 Atypical anti-psychotic medication risk of metabolic side effects, including weight gain, diabetes and high cholesterol.

What medication best for you depends on your individual situation. Es kann mehrere Wochen nach dem ersten Start eines Medikaments auf eine Verbesserung in Ihrem Symptome. In general, the goal of treatment with anti-psychotic medication is an effective control of signs and symptoms at the lowest possible dose. Other medications can be helpful, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.

If a drug is not good for you or intolerable side effects, your doctor may recommend that the medication, switching to another medication or adjust your dosage. Do not stop, your medication without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. You may have a relapse of psychotic symptoms when you stop taking your medication. Moreover, anti-psychotic medication has tapered out, rather than abruptly stopped to withdrawal symptoms.

Be aware that all anti-psychotic medications have side effects and possible health risks. Certain anti-psychotic medication, for example, may increase the risk of diabetes, weight gain, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Clozaril can cause dangerous changes in the white blood cells. Certain anti-psychotic medications can cause serious health problems in some older adults and should be avoided.

Make sure you speak with your doctor about all possible side effects and monitored for health problems, while these drugs. Anti-Psychotic drugs can also interact with other hazardous substances. Your doctors should know about all medications and over-the-counter substances you, including vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements.

Psychosocial Treatments
Although the drugs are the cornerstone of schizophrenia treatment, psychotherapy and other psychosocial treatments are also important. These treatments may include:

■ Individual therapy. Psychotherapy with a qualified mental health provider, you can learn how to cope with the challenges of the daily life of schizophrenia. Therapy can help you improve communication skills, relationships, your ability to work and your motivation, your treatment plan. Information about schizophrenia can help you better understand it, with persistent symptoms, and understand how important it is to your medication. Therapy can also help you deal with the stigma surrounding schizophrenia.
■ Family Therapy. You and your family may benefit from that therapy provides support for families and education. Your symptoms are a better chance to improve when your family understand your illness, can recognize stressful situations that might trigger a relapse, and can help you with your treatment plan. Family therapy can also help you and your family better with each other to understand and familial conflicts. Family therapy can also help families cope with their despair about your condition.
■ Rehabilitation. Training in social and vocational skills to live independently is an important part of recovery from schizophrenia. With the help of a therapist, you can learn such skills as good hygiene, cooking and better communication. Many municipalities have programs to help people with schizophrenia with jobs, housing, support groups and crisis situations. If you do not have a case manager to help you with these services, ask your doctor a question. Today there are fewer people with schizophrenia a long hospital stay, because effective treatments are available.
Treatment Challenges
If you have a proper treatment and your treatment plan, you have a good chance to lead a productive life and functioning in daily life. But be prepared for the challenges with the treatment.

For one thing, it is often difficult for people with schizophrenia, in their treatment plans. You may think you do not need any medication or other treatment. Even if you’re not thinking clearly, you can forget to take your medication or to go to therapy appointments. Talk to your doctor about tips to your treatment plan, like a drug that in a long-lasting injectable form. Even with a good treatment, you may have a relapse. Do you have a plan to get a relapse.

Many people with schizophrenia smoke, often heavily. If you smoke, you may need a higher dose of anti-psychotic medication nicotine interferes, because with these drugs.

In a similar way, with alcohol and drugs can mask the symptoms of schizophrenia worse. If you have a problem with alcohol or drug abuse, can benefit from treatment programs, which care for schizophrenia and drug abuse.

Prevention
There is no safe way to prevent schizophrenia. But early treatment can help the symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may contribute to the long-term prospects. Bonding with your treatment plan can help to relapses or worsening of symptoms of schizophrenia. In addition, the researchers hope that learning more about the risk factors for schizophrenia may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment sooner.

For people with an increased risk for schizophrenia, proactive measures such as avoiding the consumption of illicit drugs, less stress, insufficient sleep and anti-psychotic medication as soon as may be necessary to minimize the symptoms or prevent them from worsening.

Lifestyle and home activities
Schizophrenia is not a disease that you can handle on your own. But you can get some things for themselves, the strengthening of your treatment plan:

■ Take your medications directed. Even if you feel comfortable, resist any temptation to skip your medications. If you stop treating the symptoms of schizophrenia are coming back.
■ Pay attention to warning signs. You and your supervisor may be things that trigger symptoms of schizophrenia may be a relapse or prevent you from carrying out your daily activities. Make a plan so that you know what to do if the symptoms return. Contact your doctor or therapist if you have any changes in symptoms or how you feel. Involvement of family members or friends in just for warning signs. Dealing with schizophrenia symptoms early to prevent the situation may not worsen.
■ Avoid drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and illicit drugs can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia and the efficacy of drugs.
■ Check first, before other drugs. Please contact your doctor, you for the treatment of schizophrenia, before using the medication prescribed by another doctor or before taking OTC medicines, vitamins, minerals or supplements. These can be with your schizophrenia medication.
Coping and support
Dealing with a disease as serious as schizophrenia can be a challenge. Medications can have undesirable side effects, and you feel angry or upset about a condition that requires lifelong treatment. In times when you feel better, you may be trying to stop the treatment, which can trigger a relapse. Here are some ways to cope with schizophrenia:

■ Learn more about schizophrenia. Education about your condition and you can motivate you in your treatment plan.
■ Join a group. Support groups for people with schizophrenia can help you look at other similar challenges.
■ Stay focused on your goals. Recovery from schizophrenia is an ongoing process. Stay motivated by your recovery goals in mind. Remember that you are responsible for managing your illness and the work on your goals.
■ Find healthy. Discover a healthy way to energy, such as hobbies, sports and leisure activities.
■ Learn relaxation and stress management. Try techniques such as stress, such as meditation, yoga or Tai Chi.
■ structure your time. Plan your day and activities. Try to stay organized. You may find it helpful to view a list of daily tasks.