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Schizophrenia

What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which causes significant distress for the individual, their family members and friends. If left untreated, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be persistent and disabling. However, effective treatments are available. When delivered in a timely, coordinated, and sustained manner, treatment can help affected individuals to engage in school or work, achieve independence, and enjoy personal relationships.

What causes schizophrenia?
Genetics: Schizophrenia sometimes runs in families. However, it is important to know that just because someone in a family has schizophrenia, it does not mean that other members of the family will have it as well. There has been no single gene identified which causes the disorder by itself. It is not yet possible to use genetic information to predict who will develop schizophrenia.

Environment: Scientists think that interactions between genetic risk and aspects of an individual’s environment may play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Environmental factors that may be involved include living in poverty, stressful surroundings, and exposure to viruses or nutritional problems before birth.

Brain structure and function: Scientists think that differences in brain structure, function, and interactions among chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters) may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. For example, differences in the volumes of specific components of the brain, in the way regions of the brain are connected and work together, and in neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, are found in people with schizophrenia. Differences in brain connections and brain circuits seen in people with schizophrenia may begin developing before birth. Changes to the brain that occur during puberty may trigger psychotic episodes in people who are vulnerable due to genetics, environmental exposures, or the types of brain differences mentioned above.

What are some symptoms of schizophrenia?
The symptoms and behavior of children and adolescents with schizophrenia may be different from those of adults with this illness. The following symptoms and behaviors can occur in children and adults with schizophrenia. While it’s rare to see schizophrenia in young children, it can appear in late adolescence and early teens. If you or your child are experiencing any of the symptoms below, please reach out to your provider for more assistance.

  • Seeing things and hearing voices which are not real (hallucinations)
  • Odd and eccentric behavior and/or speech
  • Unusual or bizarre thoughts and ideas
  • Confusing television and dreams with reality
  • Confused thinking
  • New academic problems
  • Extreme moodiness
  • Personality changes
  • Ideas that people are out to get them or are talking about them (paranoia)
  • Severe anxiety and fearfulness
  • Difficulty relating to peers and/or keeping friends
  • Withdrawal and increased isolation
  • Worsening personal grooming

 

Can schizophrenia be treated?
The causes of schizophrenia are complex and not fully understood, and so current treatments focus on managing symptoms and solving problems related to day-to-day functioning. Treatment might include some of the following:

  • Medications
  • Individual therapy
  • Family or group therapy
  • Psychosocial treatments
  • Family education and support
  • Coordinated specialty care; for school or work

 

Who suffers from schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed in the late teen years to the early thirties and tends to emerge earlier in males (late adolescence – early twenties) than females (early twenties – early thirties). A diagnosis of schizophrenia often follows the first episode of psychosis, when individuals first display symptoms of schizophrenia. Gradual changes in thinking, mood, and social functioning often begin before the first episode of psychosis, usually starting in mid-adolescence. Schizophrenia can occur in younger children, but it is rare for it to occur before late adolescence.

Other Common Co-occurring Conditions

 

Schizophrenia – not to be confused with Schizoaffective Disorder

For more information about Schizoaffective Disorder visit www.NAMI.org.

 

Transportation
If you need assistance with nonemergency transportation for medical and behavioral appointments (Apple Health [Medicaid]), please visit: HCA.WA.Gov/Transportation-Help.