Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that interferes with the way an individual acts, thinks and feels. It frequently causes problems determining what is real and what is imaginary. This results in the individual being prone to false, delusional beliefs about themselves or others. Schizophrenia may also make it difficult for an individual to concentrate, maintain attention spans, organize thoughts or develop normal motivations. The disorder can affect the ability to experience normal emotions, causing an individual to become unusually anxious, unresponsive or withdrawn in social situations.
Facts about Schizophrenia
How is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?
- Schizophrenia typically includes a cluster of symptoms, some of which overlap with other mental illnesses (like depression or bipolar disorder). Due to the overlap, diagnosis by a mental health professional is based on symptoms persisting at least six months. Individuals with schizophrenia may have episodes of positive or negative symptoms, while others have long lasting, rather than episodic symptoms.
How Common Is Schizophrenia?
- The National Institutes of Health estimates approximately 1.1% of American adults will be diagnosed with Schizophrenia sometime in their lifetime.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
- While no one knows for sure what causes schizophrenia, researchers believe it is a combination of genetics and environmental influences. Evidence also suggests that changes in body chemistry during puberty may also play a role.
- Researchers have recently theorized that there is a link between schizophrenia and brain development problems that occur in fetuses when the pregnant woman contracts certain viruses (influenza, toxoplasmosis and rubella). Genital or reproductive infections present in the mother during conception may also increase the baby’s future risk of developing schizophrenia. However, brain injuries occurring after birth and poor parenting are not causes of Schizophrenia.
How is Schizophrenia Treated?
- Individuals generally respond quickly to antipsychotic drugs, with hallucinations improving within days to weeks and delusions improving within several weeks. For some individuals, however, positive and negative symptoms may persist, despite appropriate medications.
At Pasadena Villa, we treat issues with Schizophrenia with the most advanced and effective methods available, always making sure the resident’s needs are the number one priority.