A severe and long-lasting mental illness that alters thoughts, emotions, and behaviour is schizophrenia. A variety of symptoms, including delusions (false beliefs), emotional withdrawal, disorganized speech and thought patterns, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there), and impaired social functioning, are what define it.
A variety of symptoms, including:-
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disordered Thinking
- Reduced Social Functioning
- Emotional Withdrawal, are used to diagnose schizophrenia.
It's a severe mental illness that usually manifests in early adulthood or late youth. Professionals in mental health diagnosis entail a comprehensive assessment that considers the patient's medical history, symptoms, and exclusion of other potential reasons.
i. Schizophrenia with paranoia: Delusions and hallucinations are common, frequently involving themes of grandeur or persecution.
ii. Incoherent Schizophrenia: characterized by inappropriate emotional reactions along with chaotic speech, behaviour, and thought processes.
iii. Schizophrenia in Catatonia: The main characteristics are disturbances in behaviour and movement, such as excitation or catatonic stupor.
iv. Distinctive Schizophrenia: The symptoms match the broad criteria for Schizophrenia but do not fall into any particular subtype.
v. Schizophrenia with residual symptoms: Some have a history of Schizophrenia, although their symptoms are not as severe at the moment.
- Genetic Elements: Although a hereditary component exists, no single gene is to blame.
- Biochemical Aspects: Neurotransmitter imbalances, including those involving glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin, as well as structural alterations in the brain, are implicated.
- Environmental Elements: Substance abuse, particularly cannabis usage, early life stressors, maternal illnesses, and prenatal problems can all be factors.
- Psychosocial Elements: Such as urban life, social isolation, childhood trauma, and socioeconomic position.
⮚ Hallucinations: Erroneous impressions, usually of sound.
⮚ Delusions: Extended periods of mistaken belief.
⮚ Disorganized Thinking: Need help keeping words and ideas in order.
⮚ Social Dysfunction: Difficulties in social interactions and relationships.
⮚ Emotional Withdrawal: The individual experiences a reduction in emotions.
⮚ Negative Symptoms: Decreased enjoyment and motivation.
Pharmacological treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), peer support, and career counselling are all critical components of schizophrenia recovery. Early intervention, family support, and healthy lifestyle choices are crucial to controlling symptoms and achieving well-being.
⮚ Availability: gives people with limited mobility or living in distant locations access to mental health care.
⮚ Practicality: removes obstacles like transportation and scheduling difficulties, enabling people to attend therapy sessions more easily.
⮚ Continuity of Treatment: reduces the chance of recurrence by enabling regular follow-up sessions and medication management.
⮚ Personal space: provides a private and comfortable space for therapeutic sessions, protecting the privacy of people discussing delicate subjects.
⮚ Support Networks: Provides a supportive environment for the individual by allowing family members or caregivers to participate in therapy sessions.
