| Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong brain disorder. | | | | involved. |
| Approximately 1 percent of the population | | | | Antipsychotic medication shortens the duration of |
| develops schizophrenia during their lifetime – | | | | psychosis in Schizophrenia, and prevents |
| more than 2 million Americans suffer from the | | | | recurrences (but psychotic relapses can still occur |
| illness in a given year. People with schizophrenia | | | | under stress). Rehabilitation emphasizes social and |
| sometimes hear voices others don’t hear, | | | | vocational training to help people with |
| believe that others are broadcasting their | | | | schizophrenia function more effectively in their |
| thoughts to the world, or become convinced that | | | | communities. Psychotherapy is also widely |
| others are plotting to harm them. In men, | | | | recommended and used in the treatment of |
| symptoms usually start in the late teens and early | | | | schizophrenia. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) |
| 20s. They include hallucinations, or seeing things, | | | | is used to reduce symptoms and improve related |
| and delusions such as hearing voices. For women, | | | | issues such as self-esteem. People respond |
| they start in the mid-20s to early 30s. Symptoms | | | | individually to antipsychotic medications, although |
| of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories. | | | | agitation and hallucinations usually improve within |
| Positive symptomsare unusual thoughts or | | | | days and delusions usually improve within a few |
| perceptions, including hallucinations, delusions, | | | | weeks. Social rehabilitation (e.g., club-houses, |
| thought disorder, and disorders of movement. | | | | supervised social activities) and sheltered |
| Schizophrenia is found all over the world. Negative | | | | volunteer employment are also essential. |
| symptoms delineate a loss or a decrease in the | | | | Schizophrenia Treatment Tips |
| ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or | | | | 1. Illness Management Skills active role in managing |
| find pleasure in everyday life. Cognitive | | | | their own illness. |
| symptoms(or cognitive deficits) are problems with | | | | 2. Psychotherapy is also widely recommended and |
| attention, certain types of memory, and the | | | | used in the treatment of schizophrenia. |
| executive works that allow us to plan and | | | | 3. Social rehabilitation and sheltered/volunteer |
| organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to | | | | employment are also essential. |
| recognize as part of the disorder but are the | | | | 4. Rehabilitation emphasizes social and vocational |
| most disabling in terms of leading a normal life. | | | | training to help people with schizophrenia function |
| The severity of the symptoms and long-lasting, | | | | 5. Cognitive behavioral therapy is useful for |
| chronic pattern of schizophrenia often cause a | | | | patients with symptoms that persist even when |
| high degree of disability. The first signs of | | | | they take medication. |
| schizophrenia often appear as confusing, or even | | | | 6. Self-help groups for people with schizophrenia |
| shocking, changes in behavior. Coping with the | | | | and their families are becoming increasingly |
| symptoms of schizophrenia can be especially | | | | common. |
| difficult for family members who remember how | | | | |