Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others.
Some common symptoms of schizophrenia are:
- Hallucinations – seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or feeling things that are not there.
- Delusions – strongly held false beliefs.
- Confused thinking – thoughts do not make sense, are jumbled, or are racing or too slow.
- Changes in feelings and behaviors – changes in mood, not caring for oneself, or doing things that don’t make sense.
- Difficulty feeling and expressing positive emotions – lack of motivation to start and complete goals and activities, reduced range of emotional expression (such as limited facial expressions or poor eye contact).
- Cognitive symptoms – trouble concentrating or paying attention, poor memory, or slow thinking.
Research suggests that schizophrenia may have several causes. It is caused by a complex interplay of genetics and environmental influences. These may include malnutrition before birth, obstetric complications, poverty, and early parental loss or separation. The onset of schizophrenia can be triggered by stressful life events or may happen gradually. Schizophrenia can also be triggered by drug use.
While there is no single physical or lab test that can diagnosis schizophrenia, a health care provider who evaluates the symptoms and the course of a person’s illness over six months can help ensure a correct diagnosis. The assigned health care provider must rule out other factors such as brain tumors, possible medical conditions and other psychiatric diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder.
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must have two or more of the following symptoms occurring persistently in the context of reduced functioning:
- Disorganized speech
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior
Delusions or hallucinations alone can often be enough to lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Identifying it as early as possible greatly improves a person’s chances of managing the illness, reducing psychotic episodes, and recovering.
Any person who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia should work with a healthcare professional that understands his or her cultural background and shares the same expectations for treatment.
There is no cure for schizophrenia, but it can be treated and managed in several ways.
- Psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy, assertive community treatment, supportive therapy, etc.)
- Self-management strategies and education