Schizophrenia is a debilitating brain disorder that affects approximately 1% of the US population and 5% of the population worldwide. Researchers are still in the dark as to the exact cause or causes, but they suspect it’s a combination of genetic, biochemical and environmental factors at play. In this schizophrenia overview, we’ll look at some of the criteria doctors look at to make a schizophrenia diagnosis, some new tests being explored and what a patient can expect following their diagnosis.
Prior to arriving at a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the sufferer is given a standard physical examination that includes recording height, weight, heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and the functionality of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Tests like an MRI, a complete blood count, and drug and alcohol screening are sometimes able to eliminate other causes for the symptoms. Subsequently, a mental health practitioner will speak with the individual about his or her behavior, thoughts and feelings. The indicators of schizophrenia include substantial difficulty with the ability to do your job or carry out daily routines, symptoms that continue for 6 months or more, and also the existence of catatonic behavior, delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior and/or disorganized speech.
Once a schizophrenia diagnosis is made, the doctor will look to see which subtype the patient has. Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common variety, which is characterized by delusions and/or hallucinations, and feeling as though others are “out to get them” or spying on them. Catatonic schizophrenia occurs when a person does not speak for extended periods of time, stares vacantly, has trouble speaking and expresses little to no emotion. Disorganized-type schizophrenia is characterized by restlessness, inappropriate emotional responses, grimacing, inability to experience pleasure, lack of emotion and eccentric behavior. Undifferentiated-type is when the patient doesn’t fit into any one category and residual-type occurs in a period following the appearance of psychotic symptoms.
The National Institute of Mental Health is presently funding more scientific studies to find out if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide a way of diagnosing schizophrenia. Still other researchers state that they have established diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia inside images resulting from brain scans. The diagnosis for this condition is believed to be 91% correct with MRI equipment. The research indicates that there are distinctive patterns that can be utilized to diagnose patients with schizophrenia. It appears as if there’s decreased volume in certain regions of the brain related to learning, memory and motivation.
There are several questions a patient should ask his or her doctor following a schizophrenia diagnosis. First, “Why are you considering a diagnosis of schizophrenia?” Since there are no easy blood or DNA tests to diagnose this disorder, it’s good to know what factors led to this conclusion. Secondly, “Can I get a second opinion?” Look for someone whose expertise is in mental illness. Thirdly, “How do you propose we treat this?” Schizophrenia almost always involves the prescription of anti-psychotic medications, so it’s important that you understand the possible risks and side effects of treatment. Lastly, “Are there support programs for family members?” Sometimes family members do more harm than good if they don’t learn more about living with a schizophrenic.
If you know anyone who exhibits the symptoms of schizophrenia, or if you are having some of these symptoms yourself, a visit to the doctor needs to be scheduled as soon as possible. This way the appropriate schizophrenia treatment can be started before the problem gets worse. Click here to learn more about schizophrenia disorder.
