Schizophrenia

How common is schizophrenia?

• About 1 in every 100 person has it to some degree.
• Anyone can develop it, but it tends to run in families.
• Typically starts as early as 15 – 25 years old
• Men and women are equally susceptible.

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia?

Positive Symptoms:

Unusual feelings and thoughts, which many people may experience from time to time without them being problematic, but in the presence of schizophrenia, they become strong, disturbing, and prevent the person from performing their duties and living normally. These symptoms represent a change from the person's nature prior to developing schizophrenia.

Hallucinations are sensations of things that do not exist in reality and are only perceived by the patient. These include auditory hallucinations, which involve hearing noises or speech, visual hallucinations, which involve seeing clear or unclear images of objects or lights, and olfactory hallucinations, which involve smelling scents that do not exist. The most common type is auditory hallucinations.

Delusions refer to false beliefs held by the patient that do not align with reality. There are different types, such as persecutory delusions, where the patient believes they are being watched by individuals or organizations, or feels persecuted by superiors at work, for example. Another type is delusions of control, where the patient believes that certain people or entities are controlling them or their body and actions. There are also delusions of grandeur, where the patient believes they are someone of importance, have special abilities, or are connected to important people.

Negative Symptoms:

• Loss of motivation and drive to work and be productive.
• Loss of interest and desire to engage in activities that the person with schizophrenia previously cared about.
• Inability to carry out tasks and feeling tired, fatigued, and unenthusiastic.
• Difficulty concentrating and becoming easily distracted.
• Neglect of personal hygiene, infrequent bathing, neglecting haircuts and nail trimming, and not changing clothes.
• Social withdrawal and feeling uncomfortable around people.

When should an individual or family consult a doctor?

If an individual feel, or a family notices in one of its members, all or some of the symptoms mentioned earlier, they should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Studies have shown that early therapeutic intervention at the onset of schizophrenia increases the likelihood of treatment response and reduces the severity and likelihood of symptom recurrence.

How can I live with my schizophrenia?

• Ask your doctor about the signs and symptoms that may indicate an impending relapse.
• Take the prescribed medications as directed by your treating physician.
• If you have difficulty attending the hospital for doctor appointments and medication refills, the hospital has a community mental health section. The community mental health team can visit you at home (this service is currently available to residents of Dubai and Sharjah) to follow up on your condition and provide you with treatment. For more details on how to obtain this service, please ask the hospital reception or your treating physician.
• Talk to someone close to you about the obstacles and challenges you may face, and do not hesitate to seek help from family and friends. Discuss any social and family problems you may have with your doctor, who will contact the hospital's social services department. The social workers there can help you overcome the problems you face.