Female: Schizophrenia is a complicated psychiatric disorder affecting nearly three million Americans. However, once diagnosed, many of the symptoms of this illness are treatable.
Male: Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling psychiatric disorder that affects about 1% of all people. Among symptoms of the disease, hallucinations, delusions and phantom voices can be scary for both patients and their loved ones. Treatment is available and many people with the disorder now live relatively main stream lights. The symptoms associated with schizophrenia are divided into two categories. Positive symptoms, which are those symptoms that schizophrenic patient demonstratively exhibit and negative symptoms which have the normal emotions and behaviors lacking in schizophrenics. Positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and bizarre behavior. Negative symptoms include flat emotional responses, limited speech, loss of pleasure in life and low energy. Many schizophrenics also suffer from substance abuse, which can exacerbate symptoms. In contrary to popular belief, people with schizophrenia are not especially prone to violence preferring in fact to be left alone. Positive symptoms like hallucinations or disorganized speech are the easiest to spot. These symptoms are rarely seen in healthy people and usually involve a loss of contact with reality. Negative symptoms may be more difficult to detect. The person could be simply or introverted and schizophrenic. Also negative symptoms, like factness of affect, or lack of interest in life are not always easy to distinguish from depression. Treatments for schizophrenia focus on eliminating symptoms. Anti-psychotic drugs are most effective in eliminating positive symptoms. There are numerous anti-psychotics available. Thorazine, and Haldol being the classicals. Although often effective, these medications can have some serious side effects. Involuntary movement of the mouth and tongue, which can be irreversible is one side effect feared with these drugs.
New medications called atypical anti-psychotics like Zyprexa are also effective in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia. They do not typically have the motor side effects. Of course, they are not withhold their own problems. Everyone response differently to anti-psychotics, but agitation and hallucinations usually improve within days and delusions within a few weeks. Medication should be combined with psychosocial therapies to address the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. If you or a loved one shows signs of schizophrenia, contact the mental health professional to determine treatment.
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