Schizophrenia a Hallucinating Mental Disorder:

Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Schizophrenia is a word derived from two Greek words, schizein, to divide and phren, mind which together means to divide the mind. Schizophrenia is a mental condition marked by delusion, hallucination and disorganized or distorted speech and behavior. In some cases, the patient avoids themselves from social gatherings and activities. Mostly this condition develops slowly over the years and the patient most of the time is unaware of the disease but in some cases, the disease develops suddenly.

People who have schizophrenia must take lifelong medications. Symptoms aggravate sometimes leading to serious complications if the medicines are discontinued without the psychiatrist’s advice. With medicine, the patient can lead a normal life.

Types:

• Catatonic schizophrenia: this type of schizophrenia is marked by stupor or motor immobility. Excessive purposeless movement and peculiar voluntary movement like posturing.
• Paranoid schizophrenia: the delusion of persecution, jealousy or hallucination or grandiose content marks this type of schizophrenia.
• Residual schizophrenia: this type of schizophrenia is marked by disorganized speech, eccentric or odd behavior, but there is no delusion or any hallucination.

Symptoms:

• Delusions or false beliefs that are not real
• Hallucinations which mainly involves seeing or hearing things that do not exist
• Disorganized and distorted speech and thoughts
• Unpredictable agitation
• Social withdrawal
• Dysfunction in interpersonal relations, at work or education and sometimes even healthcare.
• Anhedonia or inability to feel pleasure.
• Abnormal psychomotor activity
• Confusion
• Loss of insight
• Depersonalization
• Slow reaction time
• Some people drink an excessive amount of water.
• Withdrawal from family and friends.
• Lack of motivation
• Difficulty in sleeping.
• Irritable or depressed, sometimes both.

Causes:

• Genetic factors
• Chemistry of the brain
• Environmental factors.

Risk factors:

• Family history of schizophrenia
• Child of an older aged father
• Complications during pregnancy
• Due to the abuse of psychotropic drugs.

Complications:

• Suicidal tendency
• Self-injury
• Depression
• Anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Abuse of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
• Inability to perform any work or studies
• Social isolation
• Aggressive behavior
• Difficulty to stay in a relationship
• Can get involved in violent crimes
• Lack of personal hygiene causing other complications
• Being victimized

How to reduce the risk of having schizophrenia especially in teens?

• Avoid drug abuse
• Limit the amount of alcohol consumption. Consume alcohol in a moderate amount.
• Avoid staying alone or social isolation
• Avoid abusive or traumatic situations
• Manage stress
• Eat healthily and exercise regularly
• Have a strong social tie with friends and family

How to prevent relapse?

• Avoid alcohol or any other type of drug abuse
• Eat healthy food and exercise regularly
• Learn positive ways to handle stress
• Take medicines regularly as advised by the doctor. Do not stop the medicine without consulting the psychiatrist
• Limit caffeine intake
• Get proper sleep
• Meditate regularly