While there is no cure for schizophrenia, research is leading to new, safer treatments. Experts also are unraveling the reason of the disease by studying genetics, conducting behavioral research, and by using advanced imaging to look at the brain’s structure and function. These approach hold the assure of new, more effective therapies.

The complexity of schizophrenia may help explain why there are misconceptions about the disease. Schizophrenia does not mean split personality or multiple-personality. Most people with schizophrenia are not unsafe or violent. They also are not homeless nor do they live in hospitals. Most people with schizophrenia live with family, in group homes or on their own.

Research has shown that schizophrenia affects men and women about similarly but may have an earlier onset in males. Rates are similar in all ethnic groups approximately the world. Schizophrenia is considered a group of disorders where reason and sign vary considerable between individuals.

Symptoms

When the disease is active, it can be characterized by episodes in which the patient is not capable to distinguish between real and unreal experience. As with any illness, the severity, duration and frequency of sign can vary; however, in persons with schizophrenia, the incidence of severe psychotic indication often reduce during a patient’s lifetime. Not taking medications as prescribed, use of alcohol or illicit drugs, and stressful condition tend to raise symptoms. Symptoms fall into several categories:

• Positive psychotic symptoms: Hallucinations, such as hearing voices, paranoid delusions and exaggerated or distorted perceptions, beliefs and behaviors.
• Negative symptoms: A loss or a decrease in the capability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion or find pleasure.
• Disorganization symptoms: Confused and disordered thinking and speech, trouble with logical thinking and sometimes bizarre behavior or abnormal movements.
• Impaired cognition: Problems with awareness, concentration, memory and declining educational performance.

Symptoms regularly first appear in early adulthood. Men often experience sign in their early 20s and women often first show signs in their late 20s and early 30s. More subtle signs may be present earlier, include troubled relationships, poor school performance and compact motivation. It is rarely diagnosed in children or adolescents. Before a diagnosis can be made, however, a psychiatrist should conduct a thorough medical examination to rule out substance misuse or other medical illnesses whose symptoms mimic schizophrenia.

Risk Factors

Researchers believe that a amount of genetic and environmental factors contribute to causation, and life stresses may play a role in the disorder’s onset and course. Since multiple factors may contribute, scientists cannot yet be specific about the exact reason in individual cases. Since the term schizophrenia embraces several different disorders, variation in reason between cases is expected.

Treatment

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Treatment can help many people with schizophrenia lead highly productive and rewarding lives. As with other chronic illnesses, some patients do extremely well while others continue to be symptomatic and need support and assistance.

After the sign of schizophrenia are controlled, various types of therapy can continue to help people manage the illness and improve their lives. Therapy and supports can help people learn social skills, cope with stress, identify early warning signs of relapse and prolong periods of remission. Because schizophrenia typically strikes in early adulthood, individuals with the disorder often profit from rehabilitation to help develop life-management skills, complete vocational or educational training, and hold a job. For example, supported-employment programs have been found to help persons with schizophrenia obtain self-sufficiency. These programs give people with severe mental illness with competitive jobs in the community.