One out of every 222 adults has schizophrenia, making it essential to understand the condition and its treatment options. The symptoms of untreated schizophrenia often interfere with an individual’s ability to maintain employment and build positive relationships. People with schizophrenia also experience disorganized thinking and behavior, making it difficult to make decisions and communicate their needs.
Fortunately, medications and psychosocial treatments ease these symptoms, helping individuals with schizophrenia improve their quality of life. Find out what treatments are available and how they work.
Understanding Schizophrenia: Symptoms and Diagnosis
Before you explore treatment options, it’s important to understand what schizophrenia is and what its signs and symptoms are.
What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects the way a person thinks, behaves and feels. Some behavioral changes make it appear as if an individual has lost touch with reality. Left untreated, schizophrenia also interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in many ordinary activities.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia occurs due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes these changes, but genetics seem to play a role, as schizophrenia often runs in families. Environmental factors may also influence the development of schizophrenia in some individuals.
Signs of Schizophrenia
Many people aren’t diagnosed with schizophrenia until they experience a psychotic episode. Such an episode typically causes hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations cause an individual to sense things that aren’t really there. For example, someone with schizophrenia may hear voices telling them what to do.
Delusions are untrue, irrational beliefs. For example, an individual with schizophrenia may believe the government is monitoring their every move or that family members are trying to hurt them. Someone experiencing a psychotic episode may also exhibit signs of a thought disorder, making it difficult to communicate effectively. Thought disorders sometimes cause people to jump from one topic to another or stop speaking in the middle of a sentence.
Schizophrenia also causes behavioral and cognitive symptoms. Someone with schizophrenia may exhibit the following behavioral changes:
- Not showing facial expressions
- Avoiding social interactions
- Behaving in socially awkward ways
- Having difficulty planning social activities
- Lacking motivation in everyday life
- Lacking energy
- Speaking in a dull, monotonous way
Cognitive symptoms interfere with memory, attention and concentration, making it difficult for someone with schizophrenia to communicate effectively and learn new things. Common cognitive symptoms include difficulty processing information, trouble paying attention to conversations and difficulty applying information immediately after learning it.
Antipsychotic Medications
Some people with schizophrenia benefit from taking typical or atypical antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotics help control hallucinations, delusions and other psychotic symptoms. This type of medication alters the amount of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, addressing the chemical imbalance responsible for schizophrenia.
Typical antipsychotics, also known as conventional antipsychotics, have been used for decades. They’re effective, but they can cause some undesirable side effects, including tremors and uncontrollable muscle movements. If an individual takes a typical antipsychotic, they should receive regular monitoring. A health care professional may have to adjust the medication dosage or switch to a different medication to address serious side effects.
Atypical antipsychotics are newer medications that also help control schizophrenia symptoms. Some people with schizophrenia take these medications to avoid the side effects associated with typical antipsychotics. However, it’s important to know that atypical antipsychotics also have side effects. For example, taking these medications increases the risk of diabetes, so it’s important to have regular glucose checks.
Psychosocial Treatments and Therapies
People with schizophrenia also benefit from psychosocial treatments, such as psychotherapy, vocational training and education. Many people participate in cognitive therapy, which helps them develop better coping skills. Therapy doesn’t cure schizophrenia or eliminate its symptoms, but it can help an individual gain more control over their life. Cognitive therapy also helps reduce stress.
An individual with schizophrenia may also benefit from the following psychosocial treatments:
- Social skills training. Schizophrenia makes it difficult for an individual to form positive relationships with others. Social skills training helps participants adjust their behavior, making it easier to engage in social interactions.
- Cognitive rehabilitation. Because schizophrenia causes difficulty paying attention and learning new things, cognitive rehabilitation may help an individual improve their cognitive abilities. This treatment involves completing computer exercises related to memory, attention and problem-solving skills.
- Family education. Some symptoms of schizophrenia make it difficult to maintain positive family relationships. For example, if an individual believes a parent is trying to harm them, it’s difficult to maintain a positive parent-child bond. Family education aims to help people develop positive, respectful relationships with their relatives. Family members also learn effective strategies for communicating with an individual who has schizophrenia.
The Importance of Support Systems
Schizophrenia symptoms may leave an individual feeling isolated and alone. As a result, strong support systems are essential for recovery. Social support makes it more likely that someone with schizophrenia will stick with their treatment plan, resulting in fewer symptoms and increased quality of life.
For example, a single individual with schizophrenia may not be able to drive or take public transportation, making it difficult to get to therapy appointments. If a friend or family member is willing to give them rides, the individual can continue with their treatment instead of stopping before they have a chance to benefit from therapy.
A strong support system also gives an individual with schizophrenia the opportunity to improve their communication skills and ability to participate in social interactions.
Advances in Schizophrenia Research and Treatment
Scientists continue to research schizophrenia to better understand what causes it and develop even more effective treatments. Based on their research, several pharmaceutical companies have developed novel drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia.
These drugs include Ulotaront, KarXT, Ralmitaront, pimavanserin and emraclidine. Each drug aims to address chemical imbalances in the brain. More research is needed to determine if these drugs control schizophrenia symptoms without producing undesirable side effects.
Help Is Available
If schizophrenia symptoms are making it difficult to enjoy life, you’re not alone. Contact Sunlight Recovery to access a team of experienced, compassionate mental health professionals. We offer customized treatment plans to help you manage your symptoms and improve your ability to maintain positive relationships.
