Schizophrenia

If you’re living with schizophrenia, you may experience delusions and hallucinations that disrupt your life and relationships. While there’s no cure for schizophrenia, Edewor Osevwe, PMHNP-BC, and the team at Solid Foundation Psychiatry in Phoenix, Arizona, Portland, Oregon, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pearland, Texas, offer customized treatments and care to help you manage your condition and lead a healthy and productive life. Call or schedule a telehealth consultation online today. 

What is schizophrenia?

There’s a common misconception that schizophrenia cause “multiple” or “split” personalities. In reality, schizophrenia is a complex and misunderstood brain disorder that causes hallucinations, disordered thinking, and an inability to identify reality. People with schizophrenia aren’t dangerous; in most cases, with proper care and treatment, people with schizophrenia can lead active and fulfilling lives.

Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the United States population and is slightly more common in men than women. The condition is usually diagnosed in early adulthood. It’s a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment to manage and control the symptoms.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Schizophrenic symptoms range from mild to severe and vary from person to person. Some common schizophrenic symptoms include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Distorted perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors
• Confused or disordered thoughts and speech
• Impaired cognition, memory, and concentration
• Decreased ability to express or experience emotions

Schizophrenia can also lead to harmful and destructive behaviors and other complications that can create challenges and obstacles in your life. For example, if you have schizophrenia, your chances of developing a substance abuse problem are increased. Other potential complications include:

• Depression and anxiety
• Inability to go to work or school
• Social isolation
• Legal and financial problems
• Self-harm or suicide
  
  

What causes schizophrenia?

The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but research indicates that a chemical imbalance in your brain is linked to the condition. Psychiatrists and medical researchers have completed neurological imaging studies that show differences between the brains of people with and without schizophrenia.

Like many mental health disorders, there are risk factors that increase your chances of developing the condition, including:

• Family history of schizophrenia and other mental health disorders
• Autoimmune disorders
• Malnutrition or exposure to certain toxins during gestation, birth, and infancy
• Abuse of psychoactive drugs during adolescence and early adulthood
  
  

How is schizophrenia treated?

Following a comprehensive assessment, the team at Solid Foundation Psychiatry provides patient-focused care to help you or your loved one manage schizophrenia and maintain a healthy and active life.

Treatment plans often incorporate a combination of medication, individual and group therapy, and occupational and vocational rehabilitation. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, you can live a normal life, hold down a job, and have successful relationships with appropriate treatment.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, call or make a telehealth appointment online today.