Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to misperceptions, inappropriate behaviors, and feelings. Katrina Zlataric, PMHNP-BC, at KZ Psychiatric Services in Barnhart, Missouri, understands that those with schizophrenia can withdraw from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion. She's committed to providing the most effective treatments and therapies available for schizophrenia patients. To learn more, call the office or request an appointment online today. 

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects the way you think, feel, and behave. Many people with schizophrenia suffer a departure from reality that causes them to hear voices that aren't there or see things that aren't there. In severe cases, schizophrenia can make people think they're in danger when they aren't. This disorder can even impact your ability to keep up with school, hold down a job, or form personal connections with friends and family.

Who is at risk of schizophrenia?

Symptoms of schizophrenia typically start between the ages of 16 and 30. Most people don't develop this disorder after the age of 45. Men often develop symptoms at a younger age than women. While schizophrenia can affect anybody, some of the most common risk factors include:

• Genetics
• Having a close relative with schizophrenia
• Chemical imbalances in the brain

Scientists also believe environmental factors, such as exposure to viruses, malnutrition before birth, or birth complications, also raise your risk of schizophrenia.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Experts typically break schizophrenia symptoms into three separate categories:

Positive symptoms

Positive symptoms are characterized by psychotic thoughts or behaviors, including:

• Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there)
• Delusions (untrue beliefs)
• Difficulty organizing thoughts
• Strange body movements

Negative symptoms

Negative symptoms make it difficult to show emotions and to function properly. The most common symptoms include:

• Reduced expression (flat voice or facial expressions)
• Speaking less than before
• Difficulty completing activities
• Minimized feelings of pleasure
• Depression
• Feeling withdrawn

Cognitive symptoms

Cognitive symptoms affect your thought process, making it difficult to understand information and make decisions. You may experience trouble concentrating or struggle to use information effectively after learning it.

How is schizophrenia treated?

Katrina typically recommends a combination of counseling and medication to relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia. Some of the most common treatments include:

Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that treats problems and increases happiness by changing dysfunctional behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. This type of psychotherapy helps patients identify negative or harmful thoughts and use strategies to overcome them and change their actions. The primary goal of CBT is to provide patients with real solutions.

Medication

Most experts advise taking antipsychotic medication every day to avoid psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions.

If you're ready to schedule an appointment with KZ Psychiatric Services, call the office or book a consultation online today.