How to Recognize Schizophrenia

(Aug. 18, 2003) - A person who suffers from schizophrenia will battle the brain disease for a lifetime. There is no cure, only treatment.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 percent of the world population suffers from schizophrenia in any given year.

That means more than 2 million people in the United States are afflicted. And Flagstaff, Arizona with a population of approximately 56,000, would statistically have approximately 560 people suffering from schizophrenia.

The disease affects men and women equally. But the disease shows up in men earlier than women -- typically between the ages of 16 to 25 for men and 20 to 30 for women.

The causes of schizophrenia are not known, but nearly three decades of research into the disease points toward a combination of genetic and behavioral factors, among others. Some studies are focusing on abnormalities as well as chemical defects in the brain.

Among the symptoms of Schizophrenia are: Delusions -- These are thoughts that are not real. For instance, paranoid delusions are when a person thinks everyone is out to harm them, even loved ones. Distorted thinking -- This is an inability to think straight, or make sense out of the events going on around the sufferer.

Hallucinations -- This is hearing or seeing things that are not real. As many as 75 percent of sufferers hear voices at some point. Emotionlessness -- This is when a sufferer loses the ability to express emotions.

For people to be diagnosed schizophrenic, they must show at least two different types of symptoms over a six-month period of time.

When sufferers begin to show symptoms, their behavior changes dramatically. Once outgoing and personable, they may become emotionless and antisocial.

Other warning signs that a person may be suffering from schizophrenia include:

• Poor personal hygiene
• Depression
• Rigid stubbornness
• Dropping out of activities
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Unexpected hostility
• Bizarre behavior
• Decline in academic or athletic interests
• Inappropriate response

Advocates for the treatment of schizophrenia stress that it takes a licensed physician to distinguish between the disease and teen growing pains or drug and alcohol abuse.

The disease cannot be cured, but it can be treated with medication and other nonmedication treatments, like self-help groups and counseling to help a sufferer cope with the disease.

Medication will not prevent the disease from reappearing, although medication can keep the symptoms from being less severe. Yet, even taking medications are not a guarantee that a sufferer will not have a severe relapse.

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Relapse rates are much higher when the medications are not used, or discontinued. Sufferers of schizophrenia often refuse to accept the fact that they have an illness and refuse to take medications, or discontinue them when they begin to feel better.

"It is critical that people with schizophrenia stay in treatment even after recovering from an acute episode," states information from the Arlington, Va.-based Treatment Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization working to eliminate barriers to treatment of severe mental illness.

Approximately 80 percent of sufferers who stop taking medication will have a relapse with a year. But even if sufferers do stay on medications, there is still a 30 percent chance they will suffer a relapse in a year.

For detailed information about schizophrenia and treatment of schizophrenia, visit the HealthyPlace.com Thought Disorders Community

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