schezophrenia simple facts

8/17/2019 Schezophrenia Simple Facts

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What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling braaffects about 1% of Americans. It may ca

hear voices, see imaginary sights, or bepeople are controlling their thoughts.

can be frightening and often lead to errhere is no cure, but treatment can usu

most serious symptoms.


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Schizophrenia Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia may inclu

"allucinations ## hearing or seeing im

$elusions ## ildly false beliefs&aranoia ## the fear others are plotti

Some symptoms, such as lac' of en(olife and ithdraal from social activdepression.


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"o Schizophrenia Affects houghts

&eople ith schizophrenia often have athin'ing. hey may have trouble organ

thoughts or ma'ing logical connectionsli'e the mind is racing from one unrela

another. Sometimes they e)perience *ta feeling that thoughts are removed fr

$espite popular belief, schizophrenia iidentity disorder +multiple personality


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"o Schizophrenia Affects -ehavior

Schizophrenia causes a ide range of b

may spea' incoherently or even ma'e may act agitated or appear stone#face

have trouble maintaining basic hygiene

Schizophrenia can also cause repetitivas pacing. In contrast to common stereviolence against others is small.


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Who /ets Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia affects men and omen

and occurs almost e0ually in all ethnicorld. Symptoms usually begin betee

he onset tends to be earlier in men thSchizophrenia rarely begins during chil

45. &eople ith schizophrenia in their higher ris' for the illness.


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What 6auses Schizophrenia?

he e)act cause is not 'non, but scie

genes and environment both play a robrain, levels of the chemical messengglutamate may be out of balance. And

may be abnormal, too. 7or e)ample, b

identical tins sho that the fluid#fillbe larger in a tin ith schizophreniatin ho does not have the illness. Ac

also be higher or loer than normal inschizophrenic brain.


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$iagnosing Schizophrenia

here are no lab tests to detect schizopdiagnosis is usually based on history and

may be ordered to rule out other medicsymptoms. In teenagers, a combination

and certain behaviors can help predict schizophrenia. hese behaviors include social groups and e)pressing unusual su


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edicine for Schizophrenia

&rescription drugs can reduce symptoabnormal thin'ing, hallucinations, an

thought they or' by regulating certand receptors that influence thin'ing

behavior. Some people have troublingincluding tremors and eight gain. S

can also interact ith other medicatiIn most cases, long#term medication

managing schizophrenia


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&sychosocial herapies

6ounseling can help people cope ith

behaviors and thoughts, and improve others. In cognitive behavioral therap

learn to test the reality of their thoug

manage symptoms. 9ther forms of theimprove self#care, communication, ans'ills. hese strategies are not meant

medication, but can help people alreamedication manage everyday challeng


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:ehabilitation

:ehabilitation may include (ob trainingmanagement counseling, and guidance

transportation or shopping for groceriehelp people ith schizophrenia stay em

maintain as much independence as posprograms are particularly effective h

psychotherapy.


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:elapse &revention

&eople ith schizophrenia sometimesmedications because of side effects o

understanding of their illness. his raserious symptoms returning and trigg

psychotic episode. :egular psychosocpeople stay on medication and avoid

need for hospitalization.


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Schizophrenia and the Wor'place

&eople ith schizophrenia often have'eeping a (ob. his is partially becaus

impairs normal thin'ing, concentratiocommunication. -ut it also stems from

symptoms begin in young adulthood, ith education and (ob training. ;oca

help people develop practical (ob s'i


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Schizophrenia and :elationships

:elationships can be a challenge for schizophrenia. heir unusual though

alienate friends, co#or'ers, and faStic'ing to a treatment plan can red

9ne form of therapy focuses on forminterpersonal relationships. In additi

or family therapy can help loved onethe illness.


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Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

&eople ith schizophrenia are much m

general population to abuse drugs or adrugs, including mari(uana and cocain

symptoms orse. $rug abuse can also

treatments for schizophrenia. &atientsproblem may benefit from substance aspecifically designed for people ith s


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Schizophrenia and &regnancy

ost drugs used to treat schizophrenris' for increasing the ris' of birth d

about medication treatment for schipregnancy should be discussed ith y


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ips for 7amily embers

Schizophrenia can be confused ithdisorders so a careful evaluation is '

difficult to convince someone ith shelp. reatment often begins hen

results in a hospital stay. 9nce the pfamily members can help prevent a

schezophrenia simple facts

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