Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is an common chronic and severe personality disorder. All throughout history it's known to be disabling. It affects about 1.1 percent of Americans 18 and older in a year. People suffering from Schizophrenia hear voices, they feel like others are out to harm them, sometimes they even feel like someone is broadcasting their thoughts to the world. This is why it's extremely difficult for them to have relationships with others.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop in men and women in their late teens and early twenties. In rare cases it's found in children. Here are the symptoms:
Hallucinations. A person with Schizophrenia may see, smell or feel something or someone that's not there. Voices, are the most common hallucination. Sometimes they feel these voices are telling them to do things like warn people of coming danger, or hurt others or that someone is about to attack them.
Delusions. People with Schizophrenia have false beliefs and even with presented with logical facts they still stick to those beliefs. They can sometimes have weird delusions like, a neighbor is controlling their thoughts or that there’s aliens on earth. Sometimes they may even feel that someone is trying to poison them or spying on them.
Disorganized thoughts and speech. They have difficulty organizing and connecting their thoughts logically. When they forget something they feel as if someone stole it out of their head. Their speech is sometimes garbled or hard to understand. They even try to make up words.
Treatment
While the exact cause of Schizophrenia is not yet known there is treatment available. Usually with Schizophrenia antipsychotic medications are used. They are the best treatments available. The dosage of it is different for each individual and should only be prescribed by a doctor skilled in handling patients with mental disorders.
Antipsychotic drugs include Clozaril, Risperdal and Zyprexa. Several other antipsychotic drugs are under development. Some Schizophrenia patients don't need medications, sometimes antipsychotic drugs don’t work The category the patient falls in can only be determined by a doctor.
Yes, Schizophrenia is an chronic personality disorder that if not tamed can lead to harmful results. It can also be treated. If you know someone who you think may be suffering from Schizophrenia it's important to get them help because a Schizophrenia patient has an impaired sense of judgment. Do the right thing for them.