Schizophrenia is not a “split personality” disorder but rather a disorder of fragmented mental processes. It is a major psychotic mental illness. Show
What is Schizophrenia?Many people who have schizophrenia have suffered the symptoms of psychosis for at least six months before seeking help. Sufferers experience deterioration in interpersonal relationships and daily functioning at school or work. Although it can affect anyone at any age, its onset is usually in adolescence or young adulthood. Schizophrenia affects men and women equally. Symptoms of SchizophreniaA person who is suffering from schizophrenia may present positive and/or negative symptoms. Positive symptoms reflect a distortion or exaggeration of functions that are normally present, whereas negative symptoms reflect a deficiency of a mental function that is normally present. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include:
Negative schizophrenia symptoms include:
Types of SchizophreniaThese are the five recognised types of schizophrenia, and each type has different symptoms:
Treatment for SchizophreniaThe goals of conventional treatment include helping patients toward normal interactions with others, enabling patients to live in the community, and controlling the illness through the smallest effective dosage of medication. A combination of medication and psychotherapy is usually required. Untreated psychosis can cause considerable suffering, distress and bafflement to the person who has the condition and those around him. In addition, people with untreated psychosis are at a higher risk of suicide, aggression and drug abuse. Seeking professional help early is important. Medication For SchizophreniaMedication remains the main treatment method. As schizophrenia is often due to abnormal biochemical balances in the brain, medication can help to normalise these imbalances. This type of medication is known as antipsychotics or neuroleptics. They can relieve the hallucinations, delusions and thinking problems associated with schizophrenia. These antipsychotic medicines are also important in reducing or eliminating the chances of relapse. Clozapine, approved in the US in 1990, has been helping many people unresponsive to other antipsychotic medications without causing a side effect known as tardive dyskinesia (TD), which triggers involuntary facial movements. It does, however, cause a serious decline in white blood cells in one percent of patients, so weekly blood tests are required. A new drug, risperidone, appears to be able to relieve symptoms without this complication. Other new drugs, olanzapine and quetiapine, have been approved to treat this disabling disorder. Psychotherapy for SchizophreniaBesides medication, another effective form of schizophrenia treatment is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy helps the person make sense of his illness, can take various forms and can be conducted on a one-to-one basis or in a group setting. Issues that may need to be dealt with include: the person’s feelings about the illness, his/her experience of medication, denying the illness, the impact that the illness has on the person’s self-esteem, interpersonal relations and other aspects of his/her life. Rehabilitation and CounsellingRehabilitation and counselling help the individual to function in society. Social skills training, provided in the group, family or individual sessions, helps build social relationships and independent living skills. Related: Psychiatric Nursing Homes Specialised Programme for Early Detection of SchizophreniaThe Early Psychosis Intervention Programme (EPIP) at the Institute of Mental Health emphasises early detection and treatment. This team works closely with private doctors, polyclinics and social agencies to help spot the early signs of mental disorders amongst 18 to 40. EPIP also works with educational institutions and youth workers to identify the onset of psychosis amongst the young. These partners help to refer patients to IMH or, if applicable, jointly assess them. At EPIP, every outpatient is assigned a case manager, who will manage his overall needs. Psychosis can be treated with medication, medical support and good family care. For more information on EPIP, please call 6389 2972. Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips. Read these next:
Which antipsychotics treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia?Two second-generation antipsychotics, amisulpride and clozapine, were believed to have a superior effect on negative symptoms than other atypical antipsychotics.
What is the main drug used to treat schizophrenia?Haloperidol, fluphenazine, and chlorpromazine are known as conventional, or typical, antipsychotics and have been used to treat schizophrenia for years.
How are negative symptoms managed in schizophrenia?Pharmacologic Treatment. Antipsychotic medication is the cornerstone of treatment for acute psychotic episodes, improving symptoms of schizophrenia in 81% of patients with first episode schizophrenia on average and improving symptoms of chronic schizophrenia in 51% of patients.
Which class of medication treat positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?ANTIPSYCHOTICS. Antipsychotic agents are the first-line treatment for patients with schizophrenia. There are two general types of antipsychotic drugs: first-generation (typical) and second-generation (atypical) agents.
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