Schizophrenia:<br /><br />A chronic and severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. People with the disorder may hear voices that aren't there, or they may believe that other people are trying to harm them. Doctors often describe it as a type of psychosis, meaning that a person may not always be able to distinguish their own thoughts from those that are actually happening.<br /><br />-The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but most experts believe that it is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Certain situations can also trigger the condition (such as stressful life events or medication abuse).<br />-Who is most at risk:<br />Research has shown that schizophrenia affects men and women fairly equally, but it may appear earlier in males.<br />-Symptoms:<br />Symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into:<br />Positive symptoms: Any change in behavior or thoughts (such as hallucinations or delusions).<br />Negative symptoms: People seem to withdraw from the world around them at the time, are not interested in everyday social interactions, and often appear emotionless<br />Positive symptoms:<br />Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that do not exist outside their mind; hearing voices is the most common, and hallucinations are very real to the person experiencing them, even though people around them cannot hear the voices or experience the sensations<br />-Delusions: A belief that the patient holds with complete conviction, even if it is based on a false, strange, or unrealistic point of view (such as being harassed or persecuted), may affect the way the person behaves, and delusions can start suddenly, or they may develop over weeks or months.<br />Confused thoughts (disorder of thought): Difficulty concentrating, and moving from one thought to another.<br />Changes in behavior and thoughts:<br /><br />Negative symptoms:<br />The negative symptoms of schizophrenia can often appear several years before a person has their first acute schizophrenic episode:<br />The person becomes socially withdrawn, increasingly uninterested in their appearance and personal hygiene.<br />Loss of interest and motivation in life and activities.<br />Lack of concentration, not wanting to leave the house, and changes in sleep patterns.<br />Feeling uncomfortable with people or feeling like there is nothing to say.<br />When to see a doctor<br />If you notice symptoms of schizophrenia, see a GP as soon as possible.<br />Complications:<br />If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems affecting every area of ​​life:<br />Inability to function independently<br />Abuse of alcohol or other drugs<br />Side effects of medication: Tardive dyskinesia<br />Suicide, suicide attempts, thoughts of suicide.<br />Violent Behavior<br /><br />-Diagnosis:<br />There is no single test for schizophrenia and the condition is usually diagnosed after an assessment by a mental health professional, who asks about the symptoms and checks that they are not due to other causes (such as drug abuse).<br /><br />-Treatment:<br />There is no cure for schizophrenia, but it can be treated and managed in a number of ways:<br />Medication.<br />Psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy, assertive community therapy, and supportive therapy).<br />Self-management strategies and education.<br />