Below, you’ll find must-know information about schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by an abnormal perception of reality. It may result in delusions, abnormal behaviors and thinking, and hallucinations that impede the ability to function normally.
Schizophrenia is not a particularly prevalent disease, but it can be severe and chronic. Approximately 1% of the global population is diagnosed with schizophrenia and 1.2% of Americans (3.2 million) are affected.
Schizophrenia can be incapacitating. The person is also unable to focus on the task at hand and their speech is disorganized. People with schizophrenia experience hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there.
They may believe that these voices are talking to them or are arguing with them. This can cause them to become unpleasant, rude, or even violent.
It has also been found that some people who suffer from schizophrenia have a different brain structure compared to people who do not.
They often have trouble controlling the production of certain chemicals in their brain, which is critical to the pathways of nerve cells.
While the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, it is believed that genetics and environmental factors contribute to the condition. The loss of connections between different areas of the brain could also be one of the possible causes.
Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, it can be managed through treatment.
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from person to person. It’s important to seek medical help as early as possible as the symptoms may progress quickly.
Early detection and intervention are vital for a better diagnosis of this mental disorder.
Below are the various schizophrenia symptoms and signs you need to know about.
10. Delusion
Delusion is a mental state in which an individual believes in something that is not true. The cause of delusion in schizophrenia is unknown. However, it is possible that genes play a role due to the fact that the prevalence of the condition is higher in families where other members suffer from schizophrenia or delusional disorder.
It is also possible that abnormalities in the parts of the brain that control perception and thought are to blame for the delusional symptoms.
9. Hallucinations And Illusions
Hallucinations and illusions are two different types of episodic experiences that occur when the brain is overexcited by external stimuli. Hallucinations are a distorted perception of internal stimuli and illusions are a misperception of real external stimuli.
Chemical reactions in the brain or abnormalities can cause hallucinations and illusions. They can also result from substance use or neurological problems. In some cases, hallucinations can be triggered by negative emotions.
8. Disordered Thinking
Disordered thinking (TD) is a condition in which a patient’s thoughts, behavior, and personality are disrupted. It manifests in the form of delusions, hallucinations, and poor judgment, and can cause a patient to lose their emotions, irritate others, or experience paranoia.
People with disordered thinking may have problems staying focused and may use words that do not relate to the topic. They may also jump from topic to topic without making a transition. This makes it difficult for them to maintain a consistent conversation.
7. Disordered Behavior
Disordered behavior is a condition where an individual’s behavior is inappropriate and disruptive. These behaviors may also include defiance, belligerence, dishonesty, and aggressiveness.
Such behaviors may be caused by an imbalance in the brain where there is a change of levels in neurotransmitters specifically serotonin and dopamine. It may also be caused by the body’s sensitivity to the two neurotransmitters.
6. Flat Affect
Flat affect is another symptom of schizophrenia where the patient shows no emotional expression. Researchers have found that flat affect in patients with schizophrenia is associated with abnormalities in emotion processing.
They also found that patients with schizophrenia exhibited decreased levels of activation in the limbic system. These findings suggest that flat affect in schizophrenia may be associated with abnormal levels of amygdala activation, a brain region involved in the expression of emotions.
5. Inappropriate Affect
Inappropriate affect is a symptom of schizophrenia and may indicate underlying mental or physical problems. This particular symptom can make it difficult for the patient to communicate effectively with a loved one or to make new friends.
As a result, the patient may withdraw from social settings and even become a hermit. It can feel like talking to someone with schizophrenia is like pulling teeth. While the exact cause of inappropriate affect is not known, a study shows that patients with manifesting this symptom have a deficit in the immediate and hierarchical processing of negative emotional information
4. Agitation
Agitation is a common symptom of schizophrenia. It is typically caused by a combination of environmental and psychological factors. Patients are particularly vulnerable to psychomotor agitation. These patients experience episodes of depression, mania, or both at once.
While agitation is not the same as aggression, it can be dangerous for patients with schizophrenia. The symptoms can be caused by a person’s inability to control emotions and threatening behavior. It is important to identify the signs of agitation and seek medical care as soon as possible.
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