What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophenia is a mental disorder that generally appears in late adolescence or early adulthood, however it can emerge at any time in life. It is one of many brain diseases that may include delusions, loss of personality (flat affect), confusion, agitation, social withdrawal, psychosis, and bizarre behavior.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people throughout history. Those affected may hear voices. They may believe that others are trying to read their minds, control their thoughts, or are plotting to hurt them in some way. This can terrify sufferers and make them withdrawn or very agitated. They have trouble holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for assistance.

My deceased brother-in-law was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. As long as I knew him he was affected. He would hear voices and think that others were talking about him when they were not. He suffered from delusions and paranoia. It is a heart-wrenching disease when one has to watch a loved one endure it. He was diagnosed early in life with childhood schizophrenia.

There is often a phase leading up to the disease, called premorbid or prodromal. This phase is more pronounced in children than adults. In children, the premorbid impairments include: language impairments, motor (movement) effects, and social deficits. Experts think that causes include genes, environment, and different brain structure and chemistry. It affects about 1% of the population.

Schizophrenia is difficult to diagnose. There is no one test to determine it. It takes a psychiatrist or psychologist to analyze the person to determine whether there is psychosis present.

Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, movement disorders, flat affect, speaking very little, lack of pleasure in everyday life, cognitive symptoms.

Treatments include antipsychotic medications such as Thorazine, Haldol, Trilafon, Prolixin, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Geodon, Abilify, and Invega. When working on a case with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, be sure to look for these medications in the medical records to confirm whether your client is being treated for the disease.

For further information, check out the National Institute of Health, The BBR Foundation, The Breakaway Study, and the Mayo Clinic.