Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (split personality disorder)is a chronic, severe, debilitating mental illness. It is one of the psychotic mental disorders and is characterized by symptoms of thought, behaviour, and social problems.

Symptoms and signs

General

  • Catatonic behaviours
  • Delusions
  • Disorganized behaviours
  • Lack of speech
  • Disorganized speech
  • Inhibition of facial expressions
  • Lack of motivation
  • Hallucinations

Specific—

Paranoid schizophrenia

  • one or more delusions
  • many auditory hallucinations

Disorganized

  • disorganized speech
  • disorganized behaviour
  • flat or inappropriate affect

Catatonic

  • difficulty moving
  • resistance to moving
  • excessive movement
  • abnormal movements
  • repeating what others say or do.

Undifferentiated

  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorganized speech or behaviour
  • Catatonic behaviour

Residual

  • Withdrawal
  • Disinterest
  • Not speaking

Treatment

  • Medication
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  • Psychosocial interventions
  1. Assertive community treatment (ACT)
  2. Substance abuse treatment
  3. Family psycho-education
  4. Social skills training
  5. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)  
  6. Weight management
  7. Yoga

Leave a Comment