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If you have schizophrenia, you have a brain disorder that affects how you think, feel and act. It’s a serious condition that can have a dramatic impact on all aspects of your life, including your career and relationships.
Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes schizophrenia, but genes and factors in the environment seem to play a role. What they do know is that it’s a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment.
Did you know?
• Schizophrenia is often incorrectly used to describe a person with a “split personality”.
• Schizophrenia usually appears at an early age (late teens, early twenties). However, any person can develop the disorder at any age.
• It’s estimated that 1% of the population may suffer from schizophrenia.
• The condition is more prevalent in families where schizophrenia has previously been diagnosed.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Schizophrenia symptoms are divided into positive, negative and cognitive categories.
Positive symptoms include:
• Delusions (false beliefs that are not based in reality)
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that don’t exist)
• Disorganised speech and/or behaviour
Negative symptoms include:
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of motivation
• Emotional blunting
• Lack of energy
Cognitive symptoms include:
• Difficulty with attention, concentration and memory
How schizophrenia is treated
Schizophrenia is a serious condition that needs proper treatment and care. The good news is that once the acute symptoms have been treated, there’s no reason why you cannot have a successful career and an active social life. The earlier the condition is detected and treated, the better.
Treatment includes:
• Medication in the form of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and, possibly, omega-3 supplements.
• Psychoeducation. This is aimed at helping both you and your loved ones to understand the condition and to recognise and treat symptoms at an early stage.
RED ALERT!
Call a doctor or mental-health professional without delay if you, a friend or family member exhibit behaviour that suggests loss of contact with reality, or if any other symptoms suggestive of psychosis develop.
Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes schizophrenia, but genes and factors in the environment seem to play a role. What they do know is that it’s a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment.
Did you know?
• Schizophrenia is often incorrectly used to describe a person with a “split personality”.
• Schizophrenia usually appears at an early age (late teens, early twenties). However, any person can develop the disorder at any age.
• It’s estimated that 1% of the population may suffer from schizophrenia.
• The condition is more prevalent in families where schizophrenia has previously been diagnosed.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Schizophrenia symptoms are divided into positive, negative and cognitive categories.
Positive symptoms include:
• Delusions (false beliefs that are not based in reality)
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that don’t exist)
• Disorganised speech and/or behaviour
Negative symptoms include:
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of motivation
• Emotional blunting
• Lack of energy
Cognitive symptoms include:
• Difficulty with attention, concentration and memory
How schizophrenia is treated
Schizophrenia is a serious condition that needs proper treatment and care. The good news is that once the acute symptoms have been treated, there’s no reason why you cannot have a successful career and an active social life. The earlier the condition is detected and treated, the better.
Treatment includes:
• Medication in the form of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and, possibly, omega-3 supplements.
• Psychoeducation. This is aimed at helping both you and your loved ones to understand the condition and to recognise and treat symptoms at an early stage.
RED ALERT!
Call a doctor or mental-health professional without delay if you, a friend or family member exhibit behaviour that suggests loss of contact with reality, or if any other symptoms suggestive of psychosis develop.
