Schizophrenia means splitting of the mind and it is described as a fragmented pattern of thinking. Schizophrenia is mental disorder characterized by a deficit in thought processing, emotional responsiveness and perception.
Common symptoms
Delusions - A strong feeling about something that won’t change their mind even if you prove them wrong with evidence.
Hallucination - Lack of any sensation be it visual or auditory.
Disorganized speech - words they perceive will be processed in an unorganized way.
Disorganized behavior - They exhibit bizarre behavior which is out of context and it doesn’t seem to have a purpose.
Symptoms at the beginning
Schizophrenia can be characterized at an earlier stage, if the person exhibits
1. Difficulty in starting or doing an activity
2. Lack of emotions
3. Speech lacking content and form
Cognitive symptoms
These symptoms are subtle and less noticeable.
1. Affecting memory
2. Unable to comprehend or understand
3. Difficulty in learning new things
Three phases of schizophrenia
1. Prodromal phase: The affected lacks motivation in doing even the most regular and basic stuff. They often socially distance themselves and prefer staying by themselves.
2. Psychotic phase(acute): Involves delusions and perpetual disturbances along with a disordered thought process and compromised comprehension and retention skills.
3. Residual phase (chronic): Occurs between episodes of psychosis, marked by emotionally disturbed mood, odd thinking and variable behavior.
Treatment
It is important to be treated as early as possible to prevent the disease from getting severe and to prevent the occurrence of relapse.
Patient who exhibits acute symptoms should be given Intensive treatment or hospitalization as it is required to treat several other conditions such as hallucinations delusions suicidal inclinations and inability to care oneself.
Programs for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is a treatment programs that makes person live on their own. It yield best results. (Pact) are always providing good home support, reaching out to the homes of the previously affected and providing treatment on their levels of difficulty, to help them cope with the disease at a pace suitable to the stage of the disorder.
Antipsychotic drugs
Injectable medications that can lasts up to 3 months. It can be used frequently or less depending on the person’s condition.
Some common medications for schizophrenia:
1. Risperidone (Risperdal)
2. Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
3. Quetiapine (Seroquel)
4. Ziprasidone (Geodon)
5. Clozapine (Clozaril)
6. Haloperidol (Haldol)
Speech therapy:
The aim of speech language therapy is focused on increasing the patient's verbal communication using a combination of traditional and non-traditional speech and language therapy methods. speech and language therapy can contribute to the understanding and management of schizophrenia and other adult psychiatric disorders.
Written By- Pratthiksha Shree A
Edited By- Tushna Choksey
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