Overview of Schizophrenia

      

 

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that inhibits the way a person can distinguish what is reality and what is fictional due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Someone suffering from schizophrenia will often have a difficult time thinking, interacting with others, may have violent tendencies towards themselves or others, and can suffer from hallucinations. Schizophrenia varies from person to person. There are many different subcategories based on the severity of symptoms.

Symptoms of schizophrenia includes social withdrawal, loss of appetite, loss of hygiene, disorganization of speech, and depression. A schizophrenic may not experience all of these symptoms at once since they may occur over a period of time or even in small mild episodes. Diagnosis of schizophrenia include going to a psychiatrists or a mental health professional, patient's medical and family history, and observation. Although there is not a cure for schizophrenia, Antipsychotic medication may be given to reduce the symptoms experienced.

Living with schizophrenia is manageable depending on how severe your illness is. Despite the negative stigma that comes with the illness from society, different treatments such medication, psychotherapy, and behavioral therapy can be used to treat the illness. The key to coping with this illness is to know that you are not alone and to have some type of support. If you know a person or think you may suffer from this illness, contact a psychiatrist so that they can evaluate you.


http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/