Schizophrenia
Outline
What is schizophrenia?
Complications of this illness
History
Treatment
Where it is found in the
Prevention
world
Schizophrenia in Pakistan
Causes
and how they function in
What are the Symptoms?
hospitals and institutions
How they come to the
diagnosis
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder of a
type involving a breakdown in the relationship
among thought, emotion, perception and behavior,
leading to problems.
History
The word Schizophrenia comes from the Greek
roots Schizo (split) and phrene (mind).
The history of schizophrenia is complex and not
easy to characterize in a linear historical narrative,
although attempts have been made.
• Some ancient Greek and Roman literature indicates
that they probably had an awareness of psychotic
disorders but there was no condition that would meet
the modern diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in
these societies.
The written documents that identify Schizophrenia can be
traced to the old pharaonic Egypt, as far as the second
millennium before Christ. Depression, dementia as well as
disturbances that are typical in schizophrenia are described
in detail in the books of the time.
The first time this disease was identified as a mental
illness was by Dr.Emile Kraepelin in 1887.
In 1911 Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term
“Schizophrenia”. He was also the first to describe the
symptoms as “ positive” or “ negative”.
causes
Genetic factors
Biochemical factors
Family relationships
Stress
Alcohol and other drug use
Biochemical factors
Certain biochemical substances in the brain are believed to
be involved in schizophrenia, especially a neurotransmitter
called dopamine.
One likely cause of chemical imbalance is the person’s
genetic predisposition to the illness.
Complications during pregnancy or birth that cause
structural damage to the brain may also be involved.
Alcohol and other drug use
Harmful alcohol and other drug use, particularly cannabis
and amphetamine use, may trigger psychosis in people
who are vulnerable to developing schizophrenia. While
substance use does not cause schizophrenia, it is
strongly related to relapse.
Symptoms
Positive
Negative
Delusions
Lack of insight
Hallucination
Social withdrawal
Thought disorder
Loss of interest in
everyday actives
the negative symptoms are represented by cognitive
disorders probably having their origin in the disorders of
associations of thoughts, combined with emotional blunting
and small or missing production of hallucinations and
delusions
the positive symptoms are characterized by the presence
of hallucinations and delusions
the division is not quite strict and lesser or greater mixture
of symptoms from these two groups is possible
Thought disorder
Thought disorder means a difficulty with speaking
and organizing thoughts.
Lack of insight
Delusions and hallucinations are real for people with
schizophrenia and they are not aware that they are ill. This
lack of awareness then can lead to refusal of treatment.
diagnosis
Diagnosing schizophrenia is based on observing patients’
actions. But doctors use certain tests to make sure nothing
else is at the root of the symptoms.
If someone has experienced symptoms that suggest
schizophrenia, it’s very important to get advice from a doctor
right away. That person will need to see a psychiatrist to rule
out or diagnose schizophrenia. The symptoms may indicate
another illness that needs to be treated. If the diagnosis is
schizophrenia it is very important to begin treatment as soon
as possible in order to make the best recovery.
In order to diagnose schizophrenia, a doctor will perform a
variety of interview and psychological tests to determine the
patient’s current beliefs and symptoms as well as the history
of the patient.
Complications of this illness
Left untreated, schizophrenia can result in every emotional,
behavioral and health problems, as well as legal and financial
problems that affect every area of life. Complications that
schizophrenia may cause or be associated with include:
Suicide
Self-destructive behavior, such as self-injury
Depression
Abuse of alcohol, drugs or prescription medications
Poverty
Homelessness
Family conflicts
Inability to work or attend school
Health problems from antipsychotic medications
Being a victim or perpetrator of violent crime
Heart disease, often related to heavy smoking
How Schizophrenia is treated
1.
There is not yet a cure for schizophrenia, although scientists
are working on one. Today, the basic goals of treatment for
schizophrenia are to:
Control the symptoms of schizophrenia
2.
Improve and maintain the patient’s emotional well-being
3.
Help the patient function in roles in such groups as family,
school, work and social groups
4.
Antipsychotic medicine
Who is at risk for this illness
Men and women have an equal chance of
developing this mental illness across the lifespan,
although the onset for men is often earlier.
Men have a higher tendency of suffering from brain
injuries or brain damage, because men engage in
physically active sports which increase the
possibility for head injuries or brain damage.
How is it prevented?
There is no sure way to prevent schizophrenia. However, early
treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious
complications develop and may help improve the long-term
outlook. Sticking with the treatment plan can help prevent
relapses or worsening of schizophrenia symptoms. In addition,
researchers hope that learning more about risk factors for
schizophrenia may lead to earlier diagnosis and earlier
treatment.
For people at increased risk of schizophrenia, taking
proactive steps such as avoiding illegal drug use, reducing
stress, getting enough sleep and starting antipsychotic
medications as soon as necessary may help minimize
symptoms or prevent them from worsening.
Schizophrenia and Pakistan
Some institutions and hospitals are working with
schizophrenia patients.
There are a lot of patients who suffer from
schizophrenia but they never come in contact with
psychiatric professional care, because 70% of
population live in rural areas.
If anyone has this disorder they always attribute it to
magic or possession of spirit or demon.
Instead of they going psychologist or psychiatrist they
will go to Shaman or religious lead who will gave the
holy water or sanctified ointment.
Some people believe that marriage is the best
remedy for schizophrenia.
Activity in hospitals and in
institutions
Art and music therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy
Social skill training
Family therapy
Antipsychotic medicine
Conclusion
As all we health professionals know, at this moment
we do not have appropriate medication to cure
schizophrenia but maybe we will have it in the future.
We know schizophrenic persons are rejected by their
own societies, families and friends. We as
professionals are ready to provide them an
environment like a family and look after them like a
friend. Are we willing to become their family and
friend in a health care professional way and give
them the same human dignity as any other healthy
human has?
Thank you very much for
listening to me.
PowerPoint made by;
Fayyaz