What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder that causes individuals to hallucinate and have extremely disordered thinking. The symptoms associated with schizophrenia can be debilitating for those who live with it. Treatment can help schizophrenia patients integrate better into society and function normally but is usually lifelong and is most beneficial when started early on.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia causes various problems associated with cognition, behavior, and emotions. Common symptoms include:

Delusions or false beliefs
Hallucinations that can be visual or auditory
Disorganized thinking and speech
Abnormal motor behavior

What causes schizophrenia?
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. A combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors typically contribute to the diagnosis. Abnormalities in brain chemicals such as dopamine and glutamate likely contribute to schizophrenia. Brain scans show different structures in the brains of patients with schizophrenia when compared to the brains of those who do not have the disease. These findings tell us that schizophrenia is a brain-related issue. Other risk factors for schizophrenia include a family history of schizophrenia, psychoactive drugs during teen years and early adulthood, and pregnancy complications such as malnutrition and toxin exposure. Schizophrenia can also lead to other mental health conditions such as suicidal ideations, anxiety, and depression.

How do you treat schizophrenia?
Treatment for schizophrenia involves antipsychotic medications and different forms of therapy. Doctors may prescribe either first-generation or second-generation antipsychotic medications to patients with schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia will need to be on medications for their entire life, and adhering to medications can be challenging given the side effects that they typically cause. Psychotherapy can help patients with schizophrenia identify thought patterns and adhere to treatment. Family therapy is a helpful resource for families who are dealing with schizophrenia. Social counseling is another great option for patients with schizophrenia since it can help with communication and other social skills to help schizophrenia patients with daily activities.

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