What Kind Of Symptoms Might People With Schizophrenia Have
People with schizophrenia may have a number of psychotic symptoms. These symptoms can come and go in phases, or they can happen only once or twice in a lifetime. When the illness begins, psychotic symptoms are usually sudden and severe.
During psychotic phases, the person may still understand parts of reality. He or she may lead a somewhat normal life, doing basic activities such as eating, working and getting around. In other cases, the person may be unable to function. Symptoms during psychotic phases include:
- Seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling things that are not real .
- Having strange beliefs that are not based on facts . For example, the person may believe that people can hear his or her thoughts, that he or she is God or the devil, or that people are putting thoughts into his or her head.
- Thinking in a confused way, being unable to make order out of the world, shifting quickly from one thought to the next.
- Having emotions, thoughts and moods that do not fit with events.
People with schizophrenia also may:
- Have a lot of energy or be overly active, or become “catatonic,” a state in which the body becomes rigid and cannot be moved.
- Talk in sentences that do not make sense.
- Not wash or groom.
- Cut themselves off from family, friends and the outside world.
- Be unable to function in school, work, or other activities.
- Lose interest in life.
- Be very sad or have mood swings.
- Have dulled emotions.
The Most Common Early Warning Signs Include:
While these warning signs can result from a number of problemsnot just schizophreniathey are cause for concern. When out-of-the-ordinary behavior is causing problems in your life or the life of a loved one, seek medical advice. If schizophrenia or another mental problem is the cause, getting treatment early will help.
Forgotten Diagnosis Borderline Pd
i have been looking into hospital papers since the beginning of my record .7 years ago i was hospitalized the first time, they dz me with psychotic episode and borderline personality disorder. I ignored the second dz and everybody did too.
last year i became aware of it , but my therapist dismissed it like it was nothing. now im again trying to figure out whats my true diagnosis, so i can get better help.
the problem is that my city has terrible psychiatrists. they are worse then me, they are burned and spaced out.
i am trying to accept my borderline, i think it fits me, but its hard.anybody is diagnosed with BPD? Can you recommend any books on it?
I hate you dont leave me.
I had a doctor give it to me as a teenager in the psych ward. Are you afab? I feel like a ton of girls and women get the borderline diagnosis automatically because the doctors are lazy men. Ive seen dozens of pdocs over the years, and none of the female doctors have ever suggested borderline, about a good portion of the male doctors have made comments about it. It doesnt fit me at all, only barely did when I was a depressed, psychotic, angtsy teenager.
Anyways, if you feel like it does for for you then maybe bring it up again. But its mostly therapy work, so I would find a therapist to work with and just skip the pdoc.
No. im 100% Real man. a manly man
i cant be that unlucky lol
and im a man so i think they thought about keeping or not the diagnosis quite a bit
She was crazier than I was!
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Can Children Outgrow Schizophrenia
COS is not likely to go away without treatment and is generally a chronic condition. But the right combination of medication and mental health services, particularly early identification and intervention, can help, Dr. Klinger says. The goal is to get the person diagnosed early and involved in an out-patient program that offers individual therapy, medical management, and group therapy with peers as well as with multiple families facing the challenges together, he says.
Patients Are Commonly Misdiagnosed With Schizophrenia
A retroactive review of patients referred to a psychiatric consultant found that most patients left with a different diagnosis.
Russell L. Margolis, MD
Schizophrenia may have become a trigger-happy diagnosis.
A retroactive analysis of patients referred to a psychiatry consultation clinic with an initial schizophrenia diagnosis found that about half of all such diagnoses were inaccurate upon further review.
The study, from the Johns Hopkins Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic , reported that a multitude of factors may influence a physician too readily diagnosing a patient with schizophrenianot the least of which being a desire to treat the chronic psychiatric condition with speed and efficacy.
Early detection of schizophrenia is very important, so the patient can get the correct pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic care they need to stay on the best possible path of their life, study author Russell L. Margolis, MD, told MD Magazine®.
The investigators conducted a retroactive chart review of 78 patients who has been referred to EPIC with an early psychosis diagnosis. Of the 78 observed patients, 43 had a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder at the time of their referral. Among those 43 cases, 22 concluded with a different diagnosis following the consultation, and 18 were not diagnosed with any form of primary psychotic disorder.
There can be an overreaction to mental health conditions, he explained.
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Medical Conditions In Older Persons With Schizophrenia
Until recently, a topic that has arguably received inadequate attention is comorbid medical conditions in people with schizophrenia, including adequacy of medical care and the prevalence of comorbid conditions. Medical comorbidity is even more pertinent to older persons with schizophrenia, given the increase in age-related disorders. A series of articles by Druss and colleagues compared the care that, patients with schizophrenia received after suffering a myocardial infarction with the care received by persons with no mental illness., Using the proportion of patients who undergo cardiac catheterization post-MI as a measure of quality of care they reported that, compared with patients with no mental illness, patients with schizophrenia were 60% less likely to undergo a cardiac catheterization after an MI. A second report found that these same patients had a 30% greater 1-year mortality than non-mentally ill patients. Approximately half of this increased mortality was due to a lack of quality medical treatment after the MI.
Unrecognized or poorly managed comorbid medical illness is a significant source of excess disability and mortality in older persons with schizophrenia. The organization and delivery of care in a coordinated manner may be a challenge. All these are important directions for new research.
Why Support And Treatment Are Key
While it may be tempting for someone with schizophrenia to think they dont need support or treatment, facing this diagnosis alone is not a good idea. Dr. Nelson cited studies that show, in fact, that one of the best protective factors for living well with the diagnosis is to be married, possibly because this close support can help to ensure that the condition is managed well.
Given the symptoms of this diagnosis, Dr. Nelson recommended that professional and long-term supportive case management or other services be on board to help a patient live at their best. He noted that if a person with schizophrenia has mild symptoms and practices good self-care, they may find the disruptions to their life are relatively minor. On the other hand, though, a patient with severe symptoms and no insight or management of their illness will not do well and will often be unwilling to participate in services that could benefit them.
As with any life issue, it is always best to have a good support system, Dr. Nelson said. The same trusted advice might be given to a family facing another serious medical condition.
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What If I Am A Carer Friend Or Relative
It can be distressing if you are a carer, friend or relative of someone who has schizophrenia. You can get support.
How can I get support for myself?
You can do the following.
- Speak to your GP about medication and talking therapies for yourself.
- Speak to your relatives care team about family intervention. For more information about family intervention see the further up this page.
- Speak to your relatives care team about a carers assessment.
- Ask for a carers assessment.
- Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas.
- Join a carers support group for emotional and practical support. Or set up your own.
What is a carers assessment?NICE guidelines state that you should be given your own assessment through the community mental health team to work out what effect your caring role is having on your health. And what support you need. Such as practical support and emergency support.
The CMHT should tell you about your right to have a carers assessment through your local authority. To get a carers assessment you need to contact your local authority.
How do I get support from my peers?You can get peer support through carer support services or carers groups. You can search for local groups in your area by using a search engine such as Google. Or you can call our advice service on 0808 801 0525. They will search for you.
How can I support the person I care for?
You can do the following.
There is no definition for what high risk means. It could include:
Can Schizophrenia Appear Even Later In Life
While the majority of cases are diagnosed between a persons late teens to early 30s, schizophrenia can still occur later. This is called late-onset schizophrenia.
While research is still limited, more and more people are being diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life. In fact, its believed that a quarter of people with schizophrenia develop it after age 40.
Many researchers currently believe these later diagnoses happen because the person had untreated cognitive obstacles and a small or poor network of support and camaraderie.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Childhood Schizophrenia
Childhood schizophrenia causes symptoms similar to schizophrenia in adults. In many cases, children who have schizophrenia first show social and developmental delays that occur with other conditions, including:
- Disorganized behaviors, including inappropriate outbursts
- Motor skill delays, including a delay in learning to walk
- Poor attention span
- Speech delays or other problems, such as echolalia
Lifestyle And Mental Health Options
Psychotic symptoms and illnesses have been shown to vary quite a bit depending on the environmentthe health of our bodies, our interpersonal relationships, our mindsets. As with any illness, but particularly important in at-risk youth, healthy living is key. Regardless of the severity of prodromal symptoms, Dr. Correll says that your childs outcome can be improved by making sure your kid sticks to a routine that includes:
- Eating well
- Adhering to a regular sleep schedule
- Reducing stress as much as possible
- Staying away from drugsparticularly marijuana, which can interact with prodromal symptoms and increase the risk for psychosis significantly
Also, dont forget to address depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Correll, adults who eventually developed schizophrenia identified a three to five year period during which they experienced depression or anxiety before developing the prodromal symptoms of psychosis and then developed full-blown psychosis.So treating the depression early, he says, might actually interrupt the progression from depression to psychosis in some patients.
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What Risks And Complications Can Schizophrenia Cause
Physical health
Research suggests that people with serious mental illness , such as schizophrenia, have a shorter life expectancy. People with mental illness may die 15 to 20 years earlier than the general population. This may because people who live with SMI are at higher risk of having a range of health issues. Such as being overweight, having heart disease, smoking and diabetes.
Because of these issues, NICE recommends that when you start taking antipsychotic medication, your doctor should do a full range of physical health checks. This should include weight, blood pressure and other blood tests. These checks should be repeated regularly.
Mental health professionals are responsible for doing these checks for the first year of treatment. Responsibility may then pass to your GP. Your doctor or mental health team should offer you a programme which combines healthy eating and physical health checks. You should be supported by a healthcare professional to help stop smoking.
Suicide
The risk of suicide is increased for people with schizophrenia. Research indicates that around 513% of people who live with with schizophrenia die by suicide.
Research has found that the increased risk is not usually because of positive symptoms. The risk of suicide is associated more to affective symptoms, such as low mood.
Key risk factors for suicide include:
- previous suicide attempts,
How Do Doctors Test For Schizophrenia
There are no laboratory tests to diagnose schizophrenia. Instead, a doctor will perform a physical evaluation, review your medical history, and may use various diagnostic tests, such as a blood test, MRI, or CT scan to rule out any other conditions. If there are no physical reasons for the symptoms, the individual is referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, for further assessment. A diagnosis is made based on the symptoms the person is experienced and the psychiatrists observation of their behavior.
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How Is Childhood Schizophrenia Diagnosed
Schizophrenia in children is difficult to diagnose. Many healthy, nonpsychotic children have hallucinations or delusions. For example, a young child may talk to an imaginary friend.
Also, other psychiatric illnesses can cause symptoms that may be mistaken for schizophrenia. These conditions include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
No one test can tell whether a child has schizophrenia. To make a diagnosis, a doctor must rule out other diseases or conditions, and consider other psychiatric illnesses, developmental disorders or drug toxicity.
Doctors diagnose childhood schizophrenia with a combination of mental and physical tests. To check for physical causes, your doctor may use:
- Magnetic resonance imaging : This test uses radio waves and strong magnetic fields to help doctors see whether there are any abnormalities in the brain.
- Positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography : A radioactive chemical called a tracer is injected into the bloodstream to allow the doctor to see blood flow in the brain.
Comparing Delusions And Obsessions
Scientists have long studied the relationship between OCD and schizophrenia, as a great many of their symptoms overlap. Doctors can often differentiate the disorders by the delusions seen in schizophrenia and the obsessions seen in OCD.
- Delusions are defined as false thoughts that are held to be true despite evidence to the contrary. Often times, the affected person will feel that they possess special powers, is being persecuted, or has an extraordinary connection to events, people, or objects that dont exist. Moreover, persons experiencing a delusion will usually not recognize the irrationality of their thoughts.
- Obsessions, by contrast, are similar in that they are also irrational but are more related to concepts of uncleanliness, disorder, or asymmetry. And, unlike schizophrenic delusions, persons experiencing an obsession are usually aware of their irrationality and are simply unable to control it.
While this is not always the case, of course, it does provide a framework by which psychiatrists can individually identify and treat the two co-existing conditions.
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Early Warning Signs And Symptoms
Usually, a person with schizophrenia has gradual changes in their thoughts and perceptions. Families are often the first to see early signs of psychosis and schizophrenia in a loved one.
Before the first episode of psychosis, you go through what is known as a premorbid period. This is the 6 months before the first symptoms of psychosis. During this period, you might experience gradual changes.
Although sleep disturbances are not included in the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, people with the condition consistently report them.
Early warning signs include:
Planning For The Future
Relapse prevention plan
A relapse is when, after you recover from an episode of psychosis, your symptoms return and you experience another episode.
A relapse prevention plan is a powerful tool for staying well and avoiding a worsening of your mental health issue. Making a plan involves:
- identifying your triggers: what events or situations could set your symptoms off?
- identifying your warning signs: what changes in your thinking, emotions and behaviour signal the early signs of psychosis?
- planning responses: what will you do to cope or seek help when you experience triggers & warning signs?
- listing support people: who will you call when you experience triggers & warning signs?
Having a relapse prevention can make you and the people who care for you feel more secure, even if you never have to use it.
You can read more about relapse prevention plans at Orygen and Here to Help.
Advance care directives
Because of the way schizophrenia affects thinking, feeling and behaviour, if your symptoms worsen at some time in the future, you may not be able to make good decisions about your care. It can also be hard for the people around you to know whats best for you when the situation is intense and confusing.
An advance care directive is your instructions for what you want to happen if you cant make your own choices, and who you authorise to make decisions for you.
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Finding Mental Health Services
There are a few different options available for clinical treatment. Your choice will depend on cost, severity of your symptoms and convenience, but not all services are available everywhere. For people in rural and remote areas, treatment options can be reduced, involve long travel, or alternatively can be delivered through telehealth services. Ask your GP for advice about the best options available for you.