Schizophrenia : Causes, Complications, Prevention and More

Quick Information

1. Introduction
2. Symptoms
3. Symptoms in teenagers
4. Causes
5. Risk factors
6. Complications
7. Prevention
8. When to call a doctor

Introduction –

Schizophrenia is one of the mental disorders that is characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. It may result in some combination of delusions, hallucinations, and extremely disordered behavior and thinking, which harms your life. If any individual is suffering from this mental disorder, then requires lifelong treatment. But early treatment may help in getting symptoms under control before serious complications develop.

Symptoms –

This mental disorder involves several problems with behavior, emotions, and thinking (cognition). The signs of schizophrenia may vary and usually involves disorganized speech, delusions, and hallucinations. There are some of the symptoms that are related to Schizophrenia are given below –

• Hallucinations
• Abnormal behavior and extremely disorganized
• Delusion
• Disorganized thinking (speech)
• Negative symptoms

The signs of this mental disease may vary in type and severity for a long time and periods of worsening of symptoms. The symptoms of Schizophrenia start in the early to mid-20s in men and in women, start in the late 20s. This mental disease is rare for children to be diagnosed and also uncommon for older than the age of 45.

Symptoms in teenagers –

The symptoms of Schizophrenia are the same as adults but the condition can be more difficult to recognize. Several early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are common for typical development during teenagers are given below –

• Problem in sleeping
• Lack of motivation
• Withdrawal from close family members and friends
• Depressed mood
• Irritability
• Low performance at school

There are also recreational or amusing substances including methamphetamines, marijuana or LSD may cause similar symptoms in teenagers. The symptoms of this mental disease are compared with adults, teens may be

• More possibility to have visual hallucinations
• Fewer chances to have delusions.

Causes –

The causes of schizophrenia are not known but researchers believe that a combination of brain chemistry, the combination of genetics, and the environment is responsible for the development of this mental disease. The problems with several natural brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters known as glutamate and dopamine are responsible for this mental disease. As per studies, it shows differences in the central nervous system and brain structure of people who have a problem with schizophrenia. Scientists are not sure about the importance of these changes and signal that schizophrenia is a mental disorder or brain disease.

Risk factors –

There are some of the risk factors to increase the risk of this mental diseases are given below –

• Several cases of birth and pregnancy complications including exposure to viruses or toxins or malnutrition may harm brain development and are responsible for a mental disorder such as schizophrenia.
• The use of psychotropic drugs during young adulthood, and childhood that may increase the risk of mental disease.
• Having a family history of this mental disease.

Complications –

This mental disease may create several problems and effects your life. There are some of the complications of schizophrenia are given below –

• Depression
• Inability to attend school
• Social isolation
• Increase the risk of suicide attempts.
• Being victimized
• Aggressive behavior
• Thoughts of suicide
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety disorders
• Financial problems
• Health problems
• Abuse of alcohol or other drugs such as nicotine
• Live alone
• Not attend in the family gathering religious functions or friends gathering parties

Prevention –

There is no information about the prevention of schizophrenia but sticking by the treatment plan. The treatment of this mental disease may prevent worsening or relapses of symptoms in teenagers and adults. As per researchers, they hope that studying about risk factors for this mental disease that may lead to previous diagnosis and treatment. If any child is suffering from this mental disease, then parents should care with love that may lower the symptoms of schizophrenia.

When to call a doctor –

Suicidal thoughts are one of the common signs of schizophrenia. If your loved one is suffering from this mental disease that may increase the chances of suicide then immediately call to your doctor for medical help.