Schizophrenia
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects your emotions, thoughts, and behavior.
What increases my risk for schizophrenia?
Healthcare providers do not exactly know what causes schizophrenia. Providers believe that it is caused by brain chemicals not being balanced. The following may increase your risk:
- A family history of schizophrenia
- Being male or younger than 30 years
- Exposure to certain toxins or a virus before you were born that affected how your brain developed
- Use of certain mind-altering drugs when you were an adolescent or young adult
What are the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?
Stress, lack of sleep, or alcohol or drug use may trigger symptoms. This is called a psychotic episode. Signs and symptoms may come and go, or get worse over time:
- Delusions are false ideas. You may believe that someone is spying on you, or that you are someone famous.
- Hallucinations are things you see, hear, feel, taste, or smell that seem real but are not.
- Disordered thinking and speech is moving from one subject to another in a way that does not make sense. You may make up your own words or sounds.
- Disorganized or abnormal movement can include a lot of movement or movement that is not necessary.
- Lack of drive or initiative includes avoiding family and friends, not keeping jobs, and not being able to function well.
How is schizophrenia diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will examine you. Your provider will ask if you have a history of psychological trauma, such as physical, sexual, or mental abuse. Your provider will ask if you were given the care that you needed when you needed it. Tell your provider if you have a history of alcohol or drug use. Your provider will ask if you want to hurt or kill yourself or others. Tell your provider about your hobbies and goals, the people in your life who support you, and how you feel about treatment. The answers to these questions help healthcare providers plan your treatment.
How is schizophrenia treated?
Treatment usually includes both medicines and therapy:
- Medicines may be used to decrease psychotic episodes, severe agitation, or depression. Some medicines may help you feel more calm during psychotic episodes.
- Therapy is used to help you and your family learn to manage schizophrenia. You will learn how to handle symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. You may learn ways to interact with other people more effectively. Therapy may also be used to place you in a job that fits your skills to encourage independence and self-confidence.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
What can I do to manage schizophrenia?
The following may help you prevent or manage psychotic episodes:
- Do not stop taking your medicines. Tell your healthcare provider or psychiatrist if you have any problems with or questions about your medicines.
- Do not stop your therapies. Tell your provider or psychiatrist if you are not comfortable or have questions about your therapies.
- Get regular sleep. Try to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Tell your provider or therapist if you are not able to sleep, or if you are sleeping too much.
- Do not drink alcohol or use cannabis (marijuana). Alcohol interacts with medicine used to treat schizophrenia. Marijuana can trigger or worsen a psychotic episode.
How do I find support and more information?
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington , VA 22203
Phone: 1- 703 - 524-7600
Phone: 1- 800 - 950-6264
Web Address: http://www.nami.org
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda , MD 20892-9663
Phone: 1- 301 - 443-4513
Phone: 1- 866 - 615-6464
Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) or have someone call if:
- You think or talk about killing yourself or someone else.
When should I call my doctor or therapist or have someone call?
- You are having signs or symptoms of schizophrenia.
- You are not able to sleep well, or are sleeping more than usual.
- You cannot eat or are eating more than usual.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.© Copyright Merative 2024 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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