Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects about 1% of the population. It can cause changes in behavior, thinking, emotions, and relationships. It is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and other cognitive difficulties.
What is schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior, confusion in thinking and speech, delusions and hallucinations. It affects about one percent of the world’s population. Symptoms may include hearing voices that are not real. Additionally, there are false beliefs about what is happening or who the person is (delusions). Other symptoms include disorganized thinking, difficulty concentrating, difficulty making decisions, and decreased emotional expression. People with schizophrenia may also experience changes in their physical health, such as fatigue or weight gain/loss due to a lack of motivation to be active and follow a healthy diet.
What is the cause of schizophrenia
The exact cause of schizophrenia remains unknown, but it is thought to be related to genetics as well as environmental factors. It can be severe stress or trauma in childhood or adolescence.
At what age does the disease appear
The age range in which people usually suffer from schizophrenia varies widely. For some, symptoms begin to appear during adolescence, while others may not show symptoms until adulthood. The exact cause of this disease remains unclear, but it appears to be linked to genetic factors combined with environmental influences such as stressors experienced in the early stages of development (e.g., prenatal exposure). Other potential risk factors include drug use and certain infections, such as influenza virus infection during pregnancy, which is associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Thus, young people are most vulnerable to the disease.
How to diagnose schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia may need time to receive an accurate diagnosis because there are no laboratory tests available that can definitively diagnose the condition. Diagnosing doctors are based on interviews, medical history, psychological assessments.
The first step in diagnosing schizophrenia is to evaluate individual symptoms. This includes collecting information from family members or other close people who may have noticed any changes in a person’s behavior over time. The assessment also includes a medical history and exclusion of other possible causes of the symptoms experienced, such as substance abuse or depression.
The second step is to perform tests that help confirm if the person has active psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia, including hallucinations (hearing voices) or delusions (believing things that are not true). Physical examinations are also performed to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing similar psychiatric symptoms (for example, thyroid problems). If necessary, laboratory tests are commissioned to further investigate potential biochemical imbalances associated with schizophrenia.
Treatment of schizophrenia
Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves a combination of medication (antipsychotic) and psychotherapy (including cognitive behavioral therapy). In serious cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Psychiatric hospitals receive patients with severe symptoms or who pose a threat to themselves or others due to psychosis-related behavior. With proper treatment plans, people with schizophrenia can lead fulfilling lives despite their struggles.