| > | | | | of their lives. Work or school begins to suffer; so |
| Find out about schizophrenia, how to detect it and | | | | does their personal appearance. During this time, |
| how to treat it. Schizophrenia, from the Greek roots | | | | there may be one or more episodes where they talk |
| schizein (Ãǯ¶µ¹½, "to split") and phrn, | | | | in ways that may be difficult to understand and/or |
| phren- (ÆÁ®½, ÆÁµ½-, "mind"), is a | | | | start having unusual perceptions. DiagnosisDiagnosis is |
| psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental illness | | | | based on the self-reported experiences of the |
| characterized by impairments in the perception or | | | | person as well as abnormalities in behavior reported |
| expression of reality, most commonly manifesting as | | | | by family members, friends or co-workers, followed |
| auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions or | | | | by secondary signs observed by a psychiatrist, social |
| disorganized speech and thinking in the context of | | | | worker, clinical psychologist or other clinician in a |
| significant social or occupational dysfunction. More | | | | clinical assessment. There is a list of criteria that must |
| specifically, certain areas of the brain that are rich in | | | | be met for someone to be so diagnosed. These |
| the chemical dopamine seem to be affected most | | | | depend on both the presence and duration of certain |
| often in schizophrenia. The contributing factors | | | | signs and symptoms.Treatment for Catatonic |
| associated with the development of these | | | | SchizophreniaAntipsychotic medication shortens the |
| brain-pathway problems are controversial and are | | | | duration of psychosis in Schizophrenia, and prevents |
| being carefully investigated. Some of the areas of | | | | recurrences (but psychotic relapses can still occur |
| current research include risk-associated genes, | | | | under stress). Usually it takes years before individuals |
| exposure to certain viruses or malnutrition in the | | | | can accept that they have Schizophrenia and need |
| womb, and stressful childhood environments in | | | | medication. When individuals stop their antipsychotic |
| genetically susceptible children. People with catatonic | | | | medication, it may take months (or even years) |
| schizophrenia may also need services, supervision or | | | | before they suffer a psychotic relapse. Most, |
| specialized care particularly when response to | | | | however, relapse within weeks. After each psychotic |
| treatment isn't optimal. People who have | | | | relapse there is increased intellectual |
| schizophrenia may seem different from other people. | | | | impairment.Individual psychotherapy, which can help |
| They may seem to show fewer emotions than | | | | the person better understand his or her illness, and |
| others. They may keep to themselves and withdraw | | | | learn coping and problem-solving skills.Family therapy, , |
| from social contact. At times they may seem slowed | | | | which can help families deal more effectively with a |
| down, as if they don't have enough energy.Causes of | | | | loved one who has schizophrenia, enabling them to |
| Catatonic SchizophreniaCommon Causes and Risk | | | | better help their loved one.Prompt and effective |
| factors of Catatonic SchizophreniaPsychological | | | | treatment can certainly make a difference. |
| problems.Biological ( Early brain development.).Brain | | | | Treatment includes counselling, social support and |
| abnormality.Environmental factors.Signs and | | | | rehabilitation. In addition anti-psychotic medicines are |
| Symptoms of SchizophreniaSchizophrenia often | | | | available to treat the worst symptoms of the illness, |
| starts slowly. When the symptoms first appear, | | | | such as hallucinations, but there is no "cure" at |
| usually in adolescence or early adulthood, they may | | | | present.Researchers are learning more and more |
| seem more bewildering than serious.In the early | | | | about how the brain works. With this information, |
| stages, people with schizophrenia may find | | | | better medicines with fewer side effects can be |
| themselves losing the ability to relax, concentrate or | | | | developed so that people who have schizophrenia |
| sleep. They may start to shut long-time friends out | | | | can live without being limited by their illness. |