SCHIZOPHRENIA AND HALLUCINATIONS

SCHIZOPHRENIA is mental disorder that is related to breakdown in relation between thought, emotion and behavior, which leads to a faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from the reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion and a sense of mental fragmentation. 

It can also be known as a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistence or contradictory elements.

CAUSES

The basic factors that cause schizophrenia can also help you to understand what if anything can be done to prevent this lifelong disorder. Those factors are

 *genetics; one of the most significant risk factors for schizophrenia may be genes

*structural changes in brain

*chemical changes in brain

*pregnancy and birth complications

*childhood trauma

*previous drug use

*some environmental factors

SYPMTOMS

The major symptoms of schizophrenia are

*delusion

*hallucination

*disorganized thinking

*extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior

*negative symptoms (blunting of affect, poverty speech and thought, apathy, anhedonia, reduce social drive)

*movement disorders

*trouble concentrating

ASSOCIATION OF HALLUCINATION WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Hallucination is a condition that usually involves the seeing and hearing things that cannot exist. Yet the person that is schizophrenic have a full force impact of a normal experience.

TYPES OF HALLUCINATIONS

*visual hallucination; involves the seeing of non-existing things

*auditory hallucination; hearing things and non-existing voices

*olfactory hallucinations; smelling things

*gustatory hallucinations; tasting things

*tactile or somatic hallucinations; feeling things

DIAGNOSIS

Following diagnosis are suggested by medical health workers

1-    PHYSICAL EXAM; this may be done by examining the sign and symptoms of schizophrenia

2-    TESTS AND SCREENING; it may include test for screening sign and symptoms and also the screening for the use of drugs and alcohol that may also cause schizophrenia.

3-    PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION; this is done by mental health professionals by observing the condition, checking and asking about thoughts, moods, delusions, hallucination, substance use, potential for violence and suicide.

4-     DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA; a doctor or mental care professional may use the criteria in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder.       

TREATMENT AND MEDEICATION

 ANTIPSYCHOTICS are first line treatment for patients with schizophrenia.

TYPES OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS

TYPICAL OR CONVENTIONAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS are “FIRST GENERATION” ANTIPSYCHOTICS. Examples are

*Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

*Fluphenazine (prolixin)

*Haloperidol (haldol)

*perphenazine (trilafon)

*thioridazine (mellari)

*thiothexen (nevane)

*trifluoperazine (stelazine)

The newer one is called “SECOND GENERATION” or “ATYPICAL” ANTIPSYCHOTICS. Examples are

*aripiprazole (abilify)

*aripiprazole lauroxil (aristada)

*asenapine (saphris)

*brexpiprazole (rexulit)

*cariprazine (vraylar)

*clozapine (clozaril)

*iloperidone (fanapt)

*olanzapine (zyprexa)

*ziprasidone (geodon)

*resperidone (resperdal)                                       

SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS

As the first generation ANTIPSYCHOTICS do not cost much but they can have different side effects than second generation ANTIPSYCHOTICS. Few side effects by both types of ANTIPSYCHOTICS are

*weight gain

*sexual problem

*drowsiness

*dizziness

*restlessness

*dry mouth

*constipation

*nausea

*blurred vision

*low blood pressure

*seizures

*low white blood cell count