| Schizophrenia
At first glance, schizophrenia may seem like a great
puzzle. Its causes are still uncertain; its symptoms, variable.
Striking most often in the 16 to 30 year age group, affecting
an estimated one person in a hundred, it is youth's greatest
disabler.
But if it is a puzzle, it's one that is slowly being solved.
New pieces are continually falling into place. Consider what
we have learned about its symptoms.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia often starts slowly. When the symptoms first
appear, usually in adolescence or early adulthood, they may
seem more bewildering than serious.
In the early stages, people with schizophrenia may find themselves
losing the ability to relax, concentrate or sleep. They may
start to shut long-time friends out of their lives. Work or
school begins to suffer; so does their personal appearance.
During this time, there may be one or more episodes where
they talk in ways that may be difficult to understand and/or
start having unusual perceptions.
Once it has taken hold, schizophrenia tends to appear in
cycles of remission and relapse.
When in remission, a person with schizophrenia may seem relatively
unaffected and can more or less function in society. During
relapse, however, it is a different story. People with schizophrenia
may experience one or all of these main conditions:
- delusions and/or hallucinations,
- lack of motivation,
- social withdrawal,
- thought disorders.
Delusions are false beliefs that have no basis in reality.
People with schizophrenia may think, for example, that someone
is spying on them, listening to their thoughts, or placing
thoughts in their minds.
Hallucinations most often consist of hearing voices that
comment on behaviour, are insulting or give commands. Less
often, people with schizophrenia may see or feel things that
aren't there.
Disorganized thinking makes some people with schizophrenia
feel mixed up. In conversation, they may jump randomly from
one unrelated topic to another. Depression and anxiety frequently
accompany these feelings.
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to
person, from mild to severe. A specialist is needed to make
the diagnosis, especially because there are no diagnostic
tests.
Theories about the causes of schizophrenia
We know that schizophrenia is a biological disorder of the
brain. The causes are not yet known, but there are several
theories.
There is strong evidence of important inherited factors.
Many researchers are looking for genetic causes of schizophrenia
that runs in families. Success may become more likely as genes
for complex illnesses are found.
The characteristics of schizophrenia, along with its tendency
to ebb and flow in cycles, make it similar to auto-immune
diseases.
New technology has provided some recent clues to the causes
of schizophrenia.
Computer images of brain activity show that the part of the
brain that governs thought and higher mental functions behaves
abnormally in persons with schizophrenia.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, has shown that the same
area in the brain of some people with schizophrenia appears
either to have deteriorated or not to have developed normally.
Computed Axial Tomography (popularly known as CAT scans)
show that the fluid-filled spaces within the brains of people
with schizophrenia tend to be larger than those in people
without the illness.
Even the treatments physicians use today are giving scientists
much-needed pieces to the puzzle. For example, some people
with schizophrenia respond well when they are given medication
that interferes with their body's production of the brain
biochemical dopamine. This fact is leading researchers to
speculate that either an over-production of dopamine or an
over-sensitivity to it has something to do with the illness.
Treatments
A number of medications have been found that help bring biochemical
imbalances in many people with schizophrenia closer to normal.
These medications can help a great deal in lessening hallucinations
and delusions, and in helping maintain coherent thoughts.
But, they usually have serious side effects contributing to
non-compliance with medication and relapse.
Psychotherapy for individuals, groups or families is possible,
and can mean a lot to people with schizophrenia and their
loved ones. Psychotherapy can offer understanding, reassurance,
insights and suggestions for handling the emotional aspects
of the disorder and providing less stressful living situations.
Families can be a big help. Working closely with health care
professionals, family members can learn about the illness.
Families can also provide useful information to the health
care professionals. They can find ways to support people with
schizophrenia and provide a nurturing environment that encourages
communication.
To the future
With proper and improved medication, extensive community
support (especially in housing) and skilled psychotherapy,
many people with schizophrenia will be able to function in
the community. With these resources to draw from, many people
with schizophrenia could live independently, work, enjoy family
and friends. The search for a cure continues with hope for
success increasing every day.
Helpful Links
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada
www.schizophrenia.ca
The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (A family-based support
organization)
www.schizophrenia.on.ca
Information from the National Institute on Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/schizoph.cfm
The Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation (Information on Orthomolecular
Medicine)
www.orthomed.org
The World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
www.world-schizophrenia.org
Schizophrenia Digest
http://www.szdigest.ca/
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