Schizophrenia

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric illness that involves serious problems with thinking, feelings, and behavior.

What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia?

The symptoms of schizophrenia include:

delusions (false beliefs)
paranoia
hallucinations (hearing or seeing things)
extremely disconnected speech or thinking
lack of speech
lack of feelings
feelings that don't match the situation
social isolation
being unable to function at home, work or school
lack of interest or initiative
lack of energy
problems with hygiene or grooming
odd behavior
overreactive senses
pacing, rocking, catatonia (being unable to move) or very disorganized behavior
strong feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, or unreality
excessive concerns about one's body.

The symptoms that represent being out of touch with reality are called psychotic symptoms.

What causes Schizophrenia?

The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. There may be different causes for different people. Schizophrenia is not caused by a poor upbringing or an unhappy childhood. Most cases of schizophrenia are probably caused by problems in the brain related to a chemical imbalance, genetic inheritance, an autoimmune brain disease, an environmental toxin, or injury to the brain.

What happens to people who have Schizophrenia?

The course of schizophrenia varies from person to person, although it is usually a long illness. One out of four people diagnosed with schizophrenia eventually have a full recovery. Half recover at least partly, and one out of four requires long-term care. At this time it is impossible to predict any individual's course. During stressful times of life, symptoms may become more of a problem. These periods of increased symptoms, called relapses, may be severe enough to make hospitalization necessary. After a relapse, there is usually a gradual return to the previous level of wellness although frequent relapses have been associated with further deterioration and make treatment more difficult.

What is the treatment for Schizophrenia?

Treatment consists of therapy, medicines and skills training. The medicines most often used to treat schizophrenia are the antipsychotics. Depending on a person's exact symptoms, antipsychotic medicines may be combined with other kinds of medicine, such as mood stabilizers, antianxiety medicines or antidepressants.

Therapy is most helpful when the patient and therapist work together to learn about the illness, work on the patient's goals, and manage everyday problems that arise. Group therapy is a place for patients to learn more about relationships with other people. When family members or friends are a part of the patient's everyday life, they can help by learning about the illness and ways to provide support.

In skills training, patients are taught how to deal with everyday situations like meeting people, grooming, hygiene, managing money, grocery shopping, making conversation, cooking, and so on.

What can I do to help get my Schizophrenia under control?

Take your medicines exactly as prescribed and keep your appointments for treatment.
Accept that you have the illness.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Make clear, realistic goals.
After a relapse, go slowly and gradually back to your responsibilities.
Plan a regular, consistent, predictable daily routine. Write out a daily schedule every day. Remember to include things you enjoy.
Make your home as quiet, calm and relaxed as you can.
Identify and reduce stress. Make only one change in your life at a time.
Watch for the earliest signs of relapse. Make your own early warning list.
Spend time with people you're comfortable with, who are helpful and understand you.
Avoid street drugs and alcohol.
Eat a healthy diet.
Get enough sleep.
Get regular exercise.
If you're not sure whether you're behaving okay, ask someone you trust or compare your behavior with others.

What can I do if the symptoms come back after I've gotten them under control?

During a well period, the patient and the health care provider and a friend or family member should make a plan for what steps to take if signs of relapse appear. The plan should include what specific symptoms are important warnings of relapse. An agreement should be made to call the therapist immediately when those specific symptoms occur, and to notify friends and family members who can help decrease stress and stimulation. Concrete ways to limit stress and stimulation should be planned during a well period, as should details for increasing the amount of daily structure during periods of risk for relapse.

Where can I get more information about Schizophrenia?

There are several good books about schizophrenia:

Xavier Amador. I am Not Sick: I Don't Need Help. 2000.

Patricia Backlar. The Family Face of Schizophrenia, 1994.

Richard Keefe and Phillip Harvey. Understanding Schizophrenia: A Guide to the New Research on Causes and Treatments, 1995.

Kim T. Mueser and Susan Gingerich. Coping with Schizophrenia: A Guide for Families. 1994.

Lori Schiller. The Quiet Room. Warner Books, 1994.

John F. Thornton and Mary V. Seeman. Schizophrenia Simplified. Hogrefe and Huber, 1991.

E. Fuller Torrey. Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual For Families, Consumers, and Providers, 4th edition. Harper Collins, 2001.

The following organizations can provide help, information and support:

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). An international support and information-giving organization for people with psychiatric illness and their family members. For information about NAMI membership and availability of local meetings, call 1-800-950-NAMI, or reach them online at www.nami.org.

Recovery, Inc.
A self-help group for people with nervous problems. The purpose of Recovery, Inc. is to help prevent relapses in former mental patients and to forestall chronicity in nervous patients by training people in a systematic method of self-help aftercare based on the system of self-help principles described in the work of the late Abraham A. Low, M.D. Recovery, Inc. has local meetings throughout the United States. For information about local meetings, call 1-312-337-5661 or reach them online at www.recovery-inc.com.

Mental Health Association
A confidential source of information and referral. Also sponsors social clubs and other programs for people with mental illness. Many counties have their own mental health association. For the location nearest you, call the National Mental Health Association at 1-800-969-NMHA or reach them online at www.nmha.org.