Schizophrenia is a mental condition that is characterized by abnormal behavior, and the inability of the patient to understand reality. Some of the common signs and symptoms of this disease include abnormal behavior, hallucination, false belief, apathy, visual hallucinations, untrue beliefs, incoherent thinking, auditory hallucinations, and so on. Other symptoms displayed by people affected by this disease include anxiety, depression, substance abuse and so on. These symptoms tend to start in childhood, but then progresses until adulthood, and can last till for a long time. The exact cause of this disease is not known yet. However, it has been observed that it might be due to environmental and genetic factors. Other factors that could contribute to this disease include the use of infections, use of marijuana, poor nutrition during pregnancy, and so on. Also, genetics also plays a role in the development of this disease. Schizophrenia does not have a cure. Although it can be managed through several means such as medications, counseling, rehabilitation and so on. Some of the drugs used include typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs. Voluntary admission is considered for those that are likely to harm themselves or others. Stem cell therapy is a potential treatment for this disease. An experiment was carried out on sample animals with schizophrenia. The animals recovered to full health after a few weeks. Exosomes, also known as signaling cells are also effective in the treatment of this disease.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia presents with a lot of different signs and symptoms. Below are some of these symptoms;
- Delusions: This describes the kind of belief patients have, even though they’re not real. As an example, they might think that they own the bank, or the big shopping mall in their street when this is clearly not true. There are different kinds of delusions. Examples include the delusion of grandeur, and so on.
- Hallucinations: This can be described as a condition in which people see or hear things that are not reality. This is common among people affected by schizophrenia. The things they hear or see looks very real to them. They would never believe they were not real. In other words, they tend to believe in false reality. The things they see or hear carries so much force, and impact, just like that of a normal Patients often experience both visual and auditory hallucinations. However, auditory hallucinations are more commonly experienced.
- Poor organization skills: People are suffering from schizophrenia usually have a deterioration in their ability to organize and make good This is usually more evident when they have to make some executive decisions. They do make reckless decisions, no matter how hard to make sense. Also, they gradually become very rigid with their opinion and do act weirdly.
- Distorted thinking: People affected by schizophrenia do have disorganized This tends to reflect in their speeches. They’d sometimes find it difficult putting words that are meaningful together.
- Negative symptoms: This describes the inability of the individual to act normally. The patient might not be able to maintain personal contact with people. Also, they tend to neglect their hygiene, and also present with apathy. Also, they tend to withdraw from social activities and might lack the ability to enjoy themselves.
These signs and symptoms usually start from childhood and progress as they age. Most of the symptoms are seen in adulthood. However, children also experience some symptoms. They are as follows;
- Children affected by this disease might find it difficult to sleep.
- This disease might also reflect in their academics. Most affected children to perform poorly in school. This can be attributed to their disorganized thoughts and poor social and communication skills.
- Children affected by this disease usually find it difficult socializing. Even when they attend social gatherings such as parties, they tend to isolate themselves.
- They are very sensitive, and easily gets annoyed.
As compared to adults, teenagers might not present with symptoms such as delusions, and visual hallucinations.
What Are The Causes Of Schizophrenia?
As earlier mentioned. This disease is caused by an interplay of two factors, which are genetic and environmental factors. Other factors that could contribute to this disease include the use of infections, use of marijuana, poor nutrition during pregnancy, and so on. Also, genetics also plays a role in the development of this disease. Below are some of the most important factors;
- Environmental factors: These factors are associated with the development of the disease. This includes the environment of the patient, what the patient takes in, such as drug abuse and so on. Other factors that could contribute to the development of this disease include maternal stress. Childhood trauma, the loss of a parent or sibling, and being bullied all increases the risk of developing this kind of mental disorder. Some other factors that contribute to this include isolation, immigration that is connected to social adversity, racial discrimination, unemployment and so on.
- Genetics: It has been observed that over 80% of schizophrenia cases are due to heredity. People that have a first degree relative with this disease have a high risk of developing this disease. Also, an individual whose both parents suffered from this disease has a 50% of developing schizophrenia.
Treatment Of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia requires lifelong treatment, even when the signs and symptoms have reduced. Although, medications and other forms of treatment can help to manage the disease. Schizophrenia has no cure. Apart from medications, the treatment team has to consist of a psychiatrist that has some experience in treating the disease. Also, a psychologist, a nurse, and a social worker have to be on the treatment team. This kind of team may be present in clinics that are specialized in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Stem Cell Therapy And Schizophrenia
An experiment was performed on some rats affected by schizophrenia. Stem cells were transplanted to these patients, and they were restored to their normal healthy state after some weeks. The stem cells were essentially remodeled to repair and replace the abnormal cells in the brain. Researchers hope that this would be successfully replicated in humans in the nearest future.
References
DeLisi, L. (2007). The Concept of Progressive Brain Change in Schizophrenia: Implications for Understanding Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 34(2), pp.312-321.
Marcatili, M., Marsoner, F., D’Agostino, A., Karnavas, T., Bottai, D., Scarone, S. and Conti, L. (2016). Establishment of an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from a patient with Clozapine-responder Schizophrenia. Stem Cell Research, 17(3), pp.630-633.
ROLE OF GLIA IN SCHIZOPHRENIA. (2012). Schizophrenia Research, 136, p.S61.
Wright, R., Réthelyi, J., and Gage, F. (2014). Enhancing Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Schizophrenia. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(3), p.334.
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