Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others.
Causes of Schizophrenia
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown, but research suggests that a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make people more likely to develop the condition.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia generally are divided into three categories — positive, negative and cognitive. Delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder, and disorganized behavior are the positive symptoms. Negative symptoms are loss of interest in everyday activities, appearing to lack emotion, and loss of motivation. Cognitive symptoms are difficulty paying attention and memory problems.
Treatment
Because the causes of schizophrenia are still unknown, treatments focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease. Treatments include antipsychotic medications and various psychosocial treatments.