Schizophrenia

Description

Schizophrenia or chronic impaired reality perception .Psychic disorder which is characterized by distorted interpretation of the reality which results in hallucinations, delusions, incoherent thinking and unpredictable behavior. On the contrary to common belief, schizophrenia does not mead split personality. If it is not treated, this disease can cause severe emotional, healthy, legal and financial problems. Lifelong therapy, which provides normal and productive life to many patients, is needed. This is a serious mental disorder and about 10% of the patients comit suicide. The illness usually manifest for the first time in teenage years.

Symptoms

Symptoms begin gradually, worsen over the time and include: problems with sleeping, alienation from the family and friends, unusual motoric behavior, less reactions on the environment (catatonic behavior), wrong beliefs and thoughts (delusions), voices in the head, visions (hallucinations), and incoherent thoughts.

Overview

The medical history is taken, followed by a physical and psychological examination. Abuse of substances (drugs) can cause similar symptoms. Analysis may be done to exclude other causes of the symptoms such as disease of the thyroid, biochemical imbalance, side effects of the medications.

Tests

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Psychological tests

Additional analyses

Toxicological screening of blood and urine, thyroid tests.

Specialists

Psychiatry, Clinical psychologist

Therapy

Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and includes antipsychotic drugs, psychiatric and psychologic therapy and/or hospitalization.