Schitzophrenia

Schizophrenia, one of the most well-known and least understood disorders, is a chronic, severe mental illness that is characterized by hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing deceased friends or relatives), delusional beliefs, agitated behavior, and dysfunctional systems of thought. People suffering from schizophrenia may also experience difficulty in paying attention, poor short-term memory, emotional “flatness,” and a reduced ability to experience please in everyday activities.

Schizophrenia typically manifests during the ages of 16 to 30, but it can infrequently occur in children. As a genetic disorder, those who families have had incidence of schizophrenia have a high risk of developing the condition. Researchers believe that there may be other contributing factors, such as malnutrition before birth, exposure to viruses, and psychosocial factors.

Very effective treatment for schizophrenia exists, and those suffering from the disease have access to medication, therapy and specialty care that can enable them to live a stable, productive life. Antipsychotic medications can come in pill or injection form, and can relieve some of the most distressing symptoms of the condition, such as the hallucinations, or delusional beliefs. There even exists an injection that only has to be given four times a year. A diagnosis for schizophrenia requires an initial examination and consultation, so please call us with your questions or concerns. We are here to help.

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