What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that is known to have a high incidence rate among teens and adults. It is believed that one in every 100 people suffers from schizophrenia. Most of the cases are treated by medication, but for those who cannot tolerate medication; their symptoms can be managed through other means.

There are a number of factors that influence the development of schizophrenia and it is possible to control some of these factors to make the symptoms of schizophrenia less severe.

Causes:

Schizophrenia is one of the mental illnesses that are known to have a genetic component. It has been found that genes play a significant role in determining the development of schizophrenia and it is a proven fact that there are multiple genes associated with the development of schizophrenia. The genes that have been identified so far are NRG1 and DISC1.

One of the risk factors that are associated with schizophrenia is having a family history of the condition. It is also believed that schizophrenia is associated with certain events that are happening in the person’s life.

Symptoms:

Schizophrenia is characterized by several symptoms including delusions, hallucinations and disorganized thinking. There are different types of schizophrenia and the symptoms of each type can vary.

Delusions:

Delusions are a kind of false belief that is related to the nature of the illness. A person suffering from schizophrenia may have a false belief that is not associated with the reality. It is also common for the person to think that someone is making fun of him/her or that he/she is being persecuted by others.

Hallucinations:

Hallucinations are a false perception of the senses. It is common for a person with schizophrenia to hear strange noises and see things that are not there. Some people with schizophrenia may also hear voices that are not there.

Disorganized Thinking:

Disorganized thinking is the inability to make sense of the events that happen around. There are times when the person with schizophrenia will make random statements or can’t remember certain events that happened in the past.

Schizophrenia Treatment:

Treatment of schizophrenia involves various methods including medication and counseling. Many people find it difficult to manage their symptoms, but there are certain medications that can help. Medication for schizophrenia can be used in conjunction with counseling and treatment.

Counseling:

Counseling is a form of treatment where a therapist helps a person to deal with the symptoms of schizophrenia. Therapy can be done in person or online. There are many benefits of counseling in the treatment of schizophrenia and it is very helpful in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Medication:

It is essential that the person with schizophrenia takes medication to control his/her symptoms. There are different types of medication that can be used in treating schizophrenia. These medications are known to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and they also help in the recovery of the patient.

The following is a list of some of the medications that are commonly used to treat schizophrenia:

Psychostimulants:

Psychostimulants are a class of drugs that are known to increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. The use of these drugs is known to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. They are also known to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and they can also be used in the treatment of other conditions.

Antipsychotics:

Antipsychotics are a class of drugs that are known to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. Antipsychotics can be used as a first-line therapy or as a second-line therapy for schizophrenia.

Clozapine:

Clozapine is an antipsychotic drug that is used to treat schizophrenia. Clozapine is a powerful drug and it is the only antipsychotic drug that can be used in the treatment of schizophrenia. Clozapine is also known to be the only antipsychotic drug that can be used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Atypical Antipsychotics:

Atypical antipsychotics are a class of drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia. They are also known to be used in the treatment of other conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder and mania.

Side Effects:

Though there are many benefits of using medication in the treatment of schizophrenia, there are certain side effects that can occur while taking these medications. It is very important that the patient should discuss with his/her psychiatrist in Indore about the side effects of the medication so that he can make an informed decision. Some of the most common side effects of these medications include drowsiness, insomnia, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain and so on.