What to Do with Someone Suffering from Schizophrenia

What to do with someone suffering from Schizophrenia

According to the United States Library of Medicine, Schizophrenia is defined as "a complex mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, think logically, have normal emotional responses, and behave in social situations."( Schizophrenia) Schizophrenia is known to occur in adults as well as in children. The exact known cause of this disorder is still unknown. No known environmental factor is linked to acquiring this mental disorder. However, studies have shown that developing Schizophrenia is linked to genetics.( Gottesman) Although both men and women can develop Schizophrenia, men tend to suffer more severely, while in women it is milder and develops later in life. (Schizophrenia).

Due to the vast complexity of this disorder, there are multitudes of symptoms that one can suffer as well as in severity as well as the time of onset. First one must know that there are three type of Schizophrenia. The three types of Schizophrenia are: Paranoid schizophrenia, Disorganized schizophrenia, and Catatonic schizophrenia.( World Health Organization (WHO)) Symptoms associated with Paranoid Schizophrenia are increased anxiousness along with increased anger. While with Disorganized schizophrenia symptoms are problems with thinking and expressing ideas clearly, childlike behavior, showing little emotion.( World Health Organization (WHO)) Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms include lack of physical activity. muscles and posture may be more rigid, odd facial expressions and does not communicate with people. (World Health Organization (WHO)) Some general symptoms to all type of schizophrenia include: irritable or tense feeling, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating and paying attention, lack of emotion, delusions, hallucinations, problems, bizarre behaviors, and social isolation.

Although this mental disorder is very complex, there is one main type of treatment used to treat the disorder. There is a lack of ability to diagnosis this disorder.( Schizophrenia). Since there are no test to diagnosis it, it is diagnosed through a thorough medical history and ruling out other disorders. The most common and most successful treatment option is to use an antipsychotic medication.( Leucht) The antipsychotic medication changes the chemicals in the body, more specifically the brain. The change in brain chemistry help controls the mental disorder's symptoms. (World Health Organization (WHO)). With this form of treatment comes different prognosis as well as a multitude of side effects. Common side effects are sleepiness (sedation), dizziness, weight gain, increased chance of diabetes and high cholesterol, feelings of restlessness or "jitters", slowed movements, and tremors.( Schizophrenia) The outlook for a person with schizophrenia is difficult to predict. Most of the time, symptoms