Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects people’s life dramatically. People who are diagnosed with Schizophrenia usually interpret reality abnormally, it can also result in some complications like hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling and distressing.

Schizophrenia is treatable but requires lifelong treatment, early treatment may help get some of the symptoms under control, however, if it is left untreated it may cause persistent and disabling symptoms. 

In this article, we will discuss the meaning of Schizophrenia, its symptoms, and the reasons behind this mental disorder, and how it can be treated. 

What is Schizophrenia? 

As mentioned above, Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects a person’s thoughts and behaviors, it is characterized by a range of symptoms from delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal ways of thinking. 

Schizophrenia is well known for involving psychosis which is the complete loss of connection with the real world. Psychosis may include hearing false voices or seeing untrue things. 

Symptoms

Schizophrenia’s signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involves the following: 

•  Problems with thinking (cognition).
•  Abnormal Behavior and Emotions. 
•  Delusions (false beliefs). 
•  Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that don’t exist in real-world).
•  Muddled Speech. 

Symptoms of Schizophrenia in teenagers

Usually, symptoms of Schizophrenia in teenagers are similar to those in adults, but it might be more difficult to recognize, it may include the following symptoms: 

• Problem in sleeping 
• Lack of motivation
• Withdrawal from Social life and friends and family.
• Causes and reasons:

Although it is unknown for researchers the reasons and the cause of schizophrenia, they believe that there are some factors that may be the reason behind the appearance of the mental disorder, and from those reasons: 

Genetic Problems 

Brian Chemistry

Surrounding Environment  

Also, there are some risk factors that may cause schizophrenia and from these risk factors: 

• History of schizophrenia in the family 
• Pregnancy and birth complications
• Drug addiction during the teen years

Schizophrenia Treatment

Medications and therapy can help to manage to control the symptoms of this mental illness, but the treatment needed to be a lifelong one. In severe cases, the person needs hospitalization. 

Medications

Medications are the core of schizophrenia treatment, especially antipsychotic medications. 

Medications are thought to control symptoms, as they are affecting the brain chemicals. 

Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy may help the patient to cope with the symptoms like stress. It can also help in gaining some social skills and improving communication with others. 

Hospitalization

In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary to ensure the safety of the patient and his family and friends.

Electroconvulsive therapy

For some cases, ECT is needed and might be helpful. 

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