What is Schizophrenia?
A severe disturbance of the brain’s functioning caused by:
- Changes in the chemistry of the brain
- Changes in the structure of the brain
- Genetic factors
- Usually strikes young men 16-20 years, women between 20 - 30
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state in which thought and perception are severely impaired. Persons experiencing a psychotic episode may experience
- hallucinations
- delusional beliefs (e.g., paranoid delusions)
- demonstrate personality changes and exhibit disorganized thinking (see thought disorder)
- lack of insight into the unusual or bizarre nature of such behavior
- difficulties with social interaction
- impairments in carrying out the activities of daily living. A psychotic episode is often described as involving a “loss of contact with reality”
How does Psychosis Differ from Schizophrenia?
Psychosis is considered by mainstream psychiatry to be a symptom of severe mental illness, but is not a diagnosis in itself. Although it is not exclusively linked to any particular psychological or physical state, it is particularly associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression) and severe clinical depression. There are also detectable physical pathologies that can induce a psychotic state, including brain injury or other neurological disorder, drug intoxication and withdrawal (especially alcohol, barbiturates, and sometimes benzodiazepines) lupus, electrolyte disorder in the elderly (such as urinary tract infections) and pain syndromes.
Who is Affected by Schizophrenia?
- It affects one in 100 people at some point in their lives
- It affects people in all cultures, races and social classes
- In Canada, about 290,000 people suffer from schizophrenia
- In British Columbia, approximately 36,000 people are afflicted
- In the Capital Health Region, about 3,000 people are coping with the disorder
- About 70 new patients are diagnosed each year in the CHR
What are Some of the Major Symptoms?
- Hallucinations such as hearing voices
- Delusions such as false beliefs
- Paranoia and suspiciousness
- Thought disorders
- Social and emotional withdrawal
- Passivity and lack of motivation
How Does Schizophrenia Impact on Persons and Families?
- They suffer from the stigma that is attached to this disorder
- The families and individuals go through immense pain and grief and loss
- Many families struggle with the emotional, social and economic challenges of care-giving for their loved ones
What are the Treatment Options?
- There is no cure yet for schizophrenia, but it can be successfully treated
- Continuous use of anti-psychotic medication combined with therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation programs will reduce relapse and long-term disabilities
- With early treatment, about 30 per cent of patients will recover, another 30 per cent will have several relapses but are able to cope and improve the quality of life, but the rest of the persons with this illness will suffer long-term disabilities
- The earlier a person receives treatment the better the long-term prognosis
- Information, education, family involvement and support are essential in helping people to comply with their treatment
Some Myths and Misconceptions about Schizophrenia:
- Schizophrenia is not “split personality” or “multiple personality”
- It is not caused by bad parenting or childhood trauma
- People with schizophrenia do not commit more violent crimes than others
- Street drugs do not cause schizophrenia
- If a person is predisposed, drugs may trigger a psychotic episode or relapse
- Use of drugs may be ’self-medication’ to cover up symptoms
