What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that causes disruptions in how a person thinks, behaves, and feels. It can also lead to psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, alterations in thinking, delusions, and changes in emotional response.
Though the degree of symptoms can vary, schizophrenia is considered a severe and disabling mental health disorder.
What are schizophrenia symptoms?
Schizophrenia symptoms generally appear between the ages of 16 and 30, although they sometimes develop during childhood. There is a division of symptoms into three categories:
Positive symptoms
The positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia include psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and unusual thinking.
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms include those that affect emotions and behavior, such as flat affect, decrease in feelings of pleasure, or reduction in verbal communication.
Cognitive symptoms
Cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia can vary and may include difficulty paying attention, poor understanding of information, or memory changes.
The symptoms can vary in type and severity, and some symptoms may even go into remission.
What causes schizophrenia?
Researchers are still investigating the cause of schizophrenia but theorize it may develop due to a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors. Certain factors may increase your risk of schizophrenia:
- Family history of schizophrenia
- Autoimmune disease
- Complications during pregnancy (malnutrition, exposure to toxins)
- Use of mind-altering drugs during adolescence
The development of schizophrenia can have several precipitating factors. These factors include problems with brain development before birth or during adolescence, as well as an imbalance in brain neurotransmitters.
How is schizophrenia treated?
Because there are so many unknowns surrounding schizophrenia, treatment generally revolves around managing symptoms. Traditional treatment includes antipsychotic medication, psychosocial therapy, or coordinated specialty care.
Finding an effective medication is essential for any other treatments to work.
Are schizophrenia clinical trials available?
Stedman Clinical Trials determines if you or a loved one can participate in a schizophrenia clinical trial during an initial consultation. Clinical trials include specific eligibility criteria, such as age, sex, diagnosis, family history, stable living condition, and willingness to participate in all aspects of the study, which may include spending a set amount of time each week with the researchers.
If you or your loved meet the eligibility criteria, a review of the specifics of the clinical trial takes place with you. The clinical trials for schizophrenia may focus on learning more about the mental health disorder or finding an effective treatment, such as a medication that is FDA-approved for another condition but may benefit those with schizophrenia.
To schedule a consultation to discuss schizophrenia clinical trials, call Stedman Clinical Trials today or click the online booking button.
