Frequently Asked Questions About Schizophrenia

Imagine a life where what you believe is not true, what you see does not exist, and what you hear is nothing but the voices in your head. Sounds scary, right? This is how over 20 million people with Schizophrenia live world over. 

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that distorts a person’s world view, language, emotions, and behavior. It fundamentally changes the way patients and their families live forever.  

Even though it affects so many lives, so severely, not many people are aware of what the condition is all about. Why? Well, the media industry and the stigma surrounding the condition is to blame here.

As an effort to end the stigma and be better informed about Schizophrenia, we have put together a few commonly asked questions. These FAQs will give you a holistic view of what the disorder is all about and how it can be tackled better. 

Read on to know more. 

• What causes Schizophrenia? 

Despite extensive research scientists and researchers have not been able to pinpoint factors that lead to Schizophrenia. Having said this, there is enough evidence that points towards genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors in the development of the condition.

Additionally, here are a few risk factors, that may heighten the chances of susceptibility and result in Schizophrenia: 

1. Family history of Schizophrenia 
2. Pregnancy-related complications that impede brain development 
3. Consumption of psychoactive or psychotropic drugs during young adulthood 

• How to detect Schizophrenia?

While the condition manifests differently with varying intensity among patients here are common symptoms to look out for:

1. Lack of motivation 
2. Low concentration levels 
3. Blank facial expressions
4. Confused speech 
5. Anxiety 
6. Delusions 
7. Hallucinations 
8. Withdrawal from social life
9. Difficulty in expressing emotions 
10. Depression 

Many patients don’t recognize these symptoms at an early stage, as a result of psychosis. It becomes extremely difficult for a patient to distinguish between reality and fiction. That’s why, most Schizophrenic cases are not identified at the early stages, causing the symptoms to become severe. 

• What is the difference between Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder? 

Over the past few decades, popular media has grossly misrepresented Schizophrenia. The condition has been exaggerated to be a  dangerous, neuropsychiatric disorder. In fact, the cinematic depiction of people ailing with the condition shows them in a very villainous light, making it risky for others to be around them. Thanks to the distorted public perception of the condition — most people assume that Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder are synonymous.  

The main difference between both the disorders is —  a patient with Multiple Personality Disorder has numerous well-defined identities that temporarily appear and disappear, while a  patient with Schizophrenia has only one identity. However, he or she may experience hallucinations, disorientation, delusions, and paranoia. Though to the naked eye, the behavior of a Schizophrenic patient may be similar to a patient with Multiple Personality Disorder —  both are fundamentally two different neurological conditions. 

• Which age group is more susceptible to Schizophrenia? 

Often, symptoms begin to appear between the age of 16 and 30. 

It has been observed that men tend to experience symptoms much earlier than women. Schizophrenia is hard to detect, especially in teenagers, as their behavioral changes are quite similar to the changes seen during puberty. This condition is often referred to as a young person’s disorder — because cases of Schizophrenia developing after the age of 45 are rare. 

• Is childhood abuse and Schizophrenia related? 

Many scientists and scholars have presented hypotheses attributing Schizophrenia to childhood abuse. There’s no doubt, such traumatic experiences cause deep psychological scars, however, research suggests the absence of a link between the two. Though it may seem like a perfectly logical explanation to believe, it is a myth. 

• Do patients with Schizophrenia have to be institutionalized?

Not necessarily. It depends from case to case — as the symptoms and severity may vary. The doctors base their decisions on whether the patient can take care of themselves or not. Many times, patients do get hospitalized for a short period of time when their symptoms are uncontrollable However, it has been observed that with early intervention institutionalization can be avoided. Several people are known to have led normal lives with medication and therapy. 

• Can  Schizophrenia be cured? 

No, there’s no cure — but it is certainly treatable. Contrary to the popular belief (that people with Schizophrenia cannot lead a normal life), the reality is much more hopeful as the disorder can be easily managed with an advanced neuropsychiatric disorder treatment plan. Often the doctors take a three-pronged approach to help the patients. 

1. Medications

Doctors recommend antipsychotic and anti-tremor medication that subsides the symptoms and gives patients mental and physical stability. These drugs work with brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin to ease delusions and hallucinations. In some cases when the medication fails to show results, the doctors use Electoconvolusive Therapy (popularly known as Shock Therapy) to improve the situation.   

2.            Supporting therapies 

Another big part of the neuropsychiatric disorder treatment are therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Individual Therapy, social skill training, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and rehabilitation services. These therapies train the brain’s neural pathways to follow desired behavioral patterns, help patients communicate their needs effectively, and empower them to get back on their feet. 

3.            Self-help 

Social support plays a crucial role in recovery. It helps patients adhere to the treatment plan and stay on the right path. Doctors also suggest lifestyle changes with regards to diet and physical activities to help manage symptoms.

As the disorder is episodic in nature, certain coping mechanisms can reduce the frequency of these episodes, and avoid hospitalization. Most times, a combination of the above three interventions help patients tread on the path towards recovery, live and work independently, and build meaningful relationships along the way. 

• How important is Occupational Therapy for Schizophrenia treatment? 

Very. Medication alone cannot help patients recover. For long-term results, therapeutic intervention is a must to manage symptoms. And Occupational Therapy is one of the widely used therapies in neuropsychiatric disorder treatment. 

This intervention loosely focuses on four things, depending on the need of the patient: 

1. Sensory integration to improve a patient’s ability to perform everyday functions.

2.            Group activities to help in community functioning. 

3.            Social skill training to equip patients with appropriate social behaviors. 

4.            Living skill training to develop the skills required to support themselves.