$Unique_ID{BRK01585}
$Pretitle{Mental and Emotional Conditions}
$Title{The Real Truth About "Schizophrenia"}
$Subject{schizophrenia types treatment}
$Volume{E-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


The Real Truth About "Schizophrenia"


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QUESTION:  I need to know all I can find out about the mental disease called
"schizophrenia"?  Everything I have ever heard about it was bad, but I need to
need the real truth.  From what I have already learned I think it is a
frightful disease.

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ANSWER:  It can be.  More people are hospitalized because of schizophrenia
than either heart disease, cancer, or arthritis, yet, in many ways, it is
still an unknown and feared disease.
     Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is accompanied by delusions,
hallucinations, disturbances in thinking and communication, and deteriorating
social functioning.  It is not a "split personality", although it is often
referred to in this manner.  Basically, a schizophrenic cannot tell the
difference between what is real and what is not real.  Many schizophrenics may
think they are being persecuted and plotted against, and may react
accordingly.  This reaction may appear irrational, but it makes sense within
the schizophrenic's version of reality.
     Several types of schizophrenia exist, including paranoid schizophrenia,
where the person has delusions, hallucinations, and feels persecuted.  Other
schizophrenics are catatonic, which means unresponsive.
     Schizophrenia usually starts to show up between the ages of 15 and
25.  The person's personality may change and they may start acting or
talking irrationally.  They may start having hallucinations and hear
voices that "tell" them to do things.  Their senses may start to become
distorted.
     For many years, no one knew the causes of schizophrenia but research is
starting to uncover some possibilities.  There is some evidence that this is a
genetic disorder, since a tendency towards schizophrenia appears to run in
families.  Another theory holds that it may be caused by a slow-acting virus
that takes years to show its effects.  Research has also shown that
schizophrenics have an excess of a chemical called dopamine in their brains.
At the same time, scientists now know that schizophrenia is not caused by
improper upbringing or an emotional crisis, although such a crisis may bring
on the disorder in a susceptible person.
     Sometimes the presence of this condition makes it more difficult to treat
other conditions that may be affecting the patient.  Many schizophrenics are
suspicious about their medications, and will refuse to take them in a regular
and effective way.  This same reluctance also affects the way they take the
medications used to treat the mental disorder itself.
     Schizophrenia can be treated in several ways, but unfortunately, there is
no cure.  The basic treatment is medication, which can control symptoms such
as delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations.  However, the side
effects of these medications, which are all in a class called phenothiazines,
can be unpleasant.  Psychotherapy is also extremely useful in helping a
patient learn the difference between real and unreal.  The patient's family
may also benefit from therapy to help understand and deal with the patient,
and with their newly gained understanding of the disease, reduce this
frightening disease into something that can be dealt with.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
