What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that results from an imbalance of brain chemical systems. Schizophrenia is not synonymous with a split personality.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop gradually, although they may appear suddenly. Friends and relatives are often the first to meet them.
Symptoms include delusions (the belief that people are plotting against us), hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there), disorganized behavior, changes on how to react to the surrounding environment The lack of expression or emotion, concentration problems, a short speech devoid of detail, the difficulty of planning to achieve goals, memory problems, confusion in terms of reflection and speech difficulty holding a conversation, repetitive movements (back and forth) and foolish behavior.
Affected individuals may become depressed or suffer from mood swings, as is the case with bipolar disorder. They also have an increased risk of suicide.
Causes
The causes of schizophrenia are still unknown. This disease appears to result from a combination of problems, involving a certain vulnerability and genetic factors in the environment. The risk of suffering from schizophrenia are higher in cases where a family member is affected.
Who is affected?
This disease affects men and women in equal proportions. The first symptoms occur in men between 16 and 25 and women between 16 and 35 years.
Preventing and treating schizophrenia
Early treatment is crucial. The chances of full recovery or are almost complete and increased. Effective treatments are now available, whether antipsychotics, psychotherapy, training focuses on skills, family support and education. To prevent relapse, it is important to follow the prescribed treatment and receiving adequate psychosocial support.
People with schizophrenia are they violent?
Most people with schizophrenia are not violent. Instead, they are rather folded in on themselves and prefer to stay alone. Substance abuse or the presence of paranoid and psychotic symptoms may increase the risk of violence.