Understanding Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which can be distressing for them and their family and friends. The symptoms of schizophrenia can make it difficult to participate in usual, everyday activities, but effective treatments are available right here in Fresno. Many individuals receiving treatment at Vitalize find they can actively participate in school or work, attain independence, and foster meaningful personal relationships.
Signs & Symptoms of Schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia are usually diagnosed between the ages of 16 and 30, after the first episode of psychosis—a state where a person’s thoughts and perceptions are significantly impaired, causing detachment from reality.
Schizophrenia symptoms can differ from person to person, but they generally fall into three main categories:
- Psychotic: Changes in how a person thinks, acts, and experiences the world. These involve disrupted thoughts and perceptions, including hallucinations (seeing/hearing things not real), delusions (strong false beliefs), and thought disorders (unusual thinking patterns).
- Negative symptoms: These include loss of motivation, social withdrawal, emotional difficulty, and reduced ability to plan or engage in daily activities.
- Cognitive symptoms: These include problems with attention, concentration, and memory, making it hard to learn or process information.
Risk Factors for Schizophrenia
Several factors may contribute to a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia, including genetics, environmental factors, and brain structure and function.
- Genetics: Schizophrenia sometimes runs in families, suggesting a genetic component. However, just because one family member has it does not mean that other members of the family will also have it. Studies suggest no one gene causes the disorder by itself, multiple genes likely contribute to the risk.
- Environmental: Factors like poverty, stressful environments, exposure to viruses, or nutritional issues before birth may interact with genetic predispositions and increase the risk.
- Brain structure and function: Research shows that people with schizophrenia may be more likely to have differences in the size of certain brain areas and connections between brain areas. More research is needed to better understand how brain structure and function may relate to schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia Treatment
Current treatments for schizophrenia focus on helping people manage their symptoms and improve their day-to-day functioning. These methods include:
- Medication
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Behavioral skills training
- Cognitive remediation interventions
- Education and support
If you have concerns about your mental health or someone you know, contact Vitalize in Fresno to schedule an appointment with our mental health clinicians. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to manage symptoms and enhance your daily life.
Note: The information on this page is provided in part by the National Institute of Mental Health. For more up-to-date information,click here.
