What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is not a very common condition. In individuals who have this disease, it affects their mental health and hinders their ability to feel emotion, think properly, or behave normally. Their thoughts are disoriented, and they lose touch with reality. Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling disease if not treated.
Schizophrenia occurs equally in men and women; there is no gender bias in the incidence of this disease. It might start as early as the late teenage years. People in their late 30s are also prone to this disease. This disease’s symptoms are observed earlier in males compared to females. If the symptoms appear early, then the severity of the disease increases.
Schizophrenia Myth vs Fact
Most people confuse a split personality disorder with schizophrenia. In truth, they are entirely different disorders. In split personality disorder, the person behaves as two entirely different individuals during stressful times or triggers. But in the case of schizophrenia, the person does not behave in this manner. They may sometimes show a lack of emotion or engage in conversations with imaginary individuals.
In schizophrenia, the person will not be able to differentiate between what is real and what is imaginary. In most cases, their imagination bleeds into their reality to such an extent that they believe that it is real. This condition is called psychosis.
Schizophrenia is frequently associated with significant distress and impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, and other important areas of life.
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Types of Schizophrenia:
- Paranoid Schizophrenia:
This form is the most common type, characterized by delusions and paranoia.
- Disorganized Schizophrenia:
The condition is characterized by disorganized thoughts, speech, and behavior.
- Catatonic Schizophrenia:
A serious mental illness that involves catatonia, a condition that can involve stupor and immobility.
- Residual Schizophrenia:
A condition where someone has a history of psychosis but no longer displays prominent symptoms.
- Undifferentiated Schizophrenia:
A condition where someone exhibits symptoms of schizophrenia that don’t fit neatly into other subtypes
What Causes Schizophrenia?
The causes of schizophrenia have not yet been identified properly. But through history, scientists have found few of the causes for schizophrenia as
1. Genetics
In a study conducted by Sullivan et al. on the heritability of schizophrenia, it was found that genetics accounts for 81%. Ng et al. conducted another study on families and twins, which yielded the following results.
- 2% chance if great-grandparents were affected.
- 27% chance in children whose both parents are affected.
- 50 % chance in identical twins
2. Changes in the Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemical signals produced by the brain and the neurons to convey impulses to another nerve or sense organ. Some of the neurotransmitters involved in schizophrenia are
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
- Glutamate
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Of these, dopamine plays an important role in schizophrenia. Dysregulation of dopamine in certain areas of the brain leads to symptoms of schizophrenia.
3. Abnormalities In The Brain
In schizophrenia patients, brain imaging shows physical and functional changes in certain areas like memory centre, limbic pathway, prefrontal cortex, etc.
4. Environmental Conditions
Environmental conditions trigger schizophrenia in individuals who are susceptible to this disease due to their genetic makeup. Some of the environmental conditions are
- Viral infections
- Drugs
- Smoking
- Childhood trauma
- Malnutrition
- Vitamin D deficiency
5. Hormonal Changes
The exact involvement of the hormones in triggering schizophrenia is yet to be studied
extensively. But it is found in most individuals that the imbalance of estrogen and testosterone causes this disease.
6. Neuroinflammation
Neuroinflammation is the inflammation or swelling of the nerve tissues and the central nervous system. This inflammation can cause an imbalance in the neurotransmitters’ production and signaling; thus, it might lead to schizophrenia.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The symptoms of schizophrenia are varied. The disease is more severe if symptoms appear early. There is a gap between the onset of symptoms and the first episode of psychosis; this interval is called the prodromal period. This period is difficult to identify, as there will be no symptoms. This period can last up to weeks, months, or years. The subtle changes that can be observed during this period are
- Drop in grades
- Difficulty sleeping
- Change in behaviour
- Getting angry easily
- Trouble concentrating
1. Positive Schizophrenic Symptoms
- Delusion: A person has odd beliefs based on false ideas or errors and won’t accept they’re wrong, even when shown facts.
- Hallucination—here, people often see someone or hear, feel, or smell something that is not present. People usually speak to this imaginary person.
- Catatonic—during this, the person usually stops interacting with others, and their body is frozen in one position for a long period of time.
- Disorganized thinking and speech
- Disorganized or unusual behavior
2. Negative schizophrenic symptoms
In this context, “negative” refers to the absence of basic normal behaviors that define a person as human. For example,
- Lack of emotions: They do not feel pain, joy, or anger.
- Lack of motivation
- Lack of energy
- Social withdrawal: isolating oneself from others and avoiding social situations.
- Apathy: lack of interest or concern for things that are usually important.
3. Cognitive Schizophrenic Symptoms
- Problems with Attention and Concentration.
- Memory Impairment
- Impaired Executive Functioning
- Disorganized Thinking
This affects a person’s ability to work consciously. For example,
They have trouble understanding any information and using it to make a decision.
They have difficulty paying attention to any work or conversation.
The severity of the symptoms depends on the age at which schizophrenia onset occurs. Symptoms are highly variable from person to person. Some have one psychotic episode in their lifetime, while others have many. Some can lead a normal life in the period in between their episodes, while others might find it difficult. The symptoms of schizophrenia may worsen and then get better. This process is a cycle of relapse and remission.
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Treatment for Schizophrenia
In general, treatment for schizophrenia consists of
- The treatment involves the use of medications, mainly antipsychotic drugs. These medications maintain balance in neurotransmitters of brain and lessen symptoms like hallucinations and delusions
- Coordinated Special Care (CSC)—the main aim of this treatment method is to treat schizophrenia when the first symptom appears. It is a team approach where the family and friends are involved from the start. It includes medicines, employment, and educational interventions.
- Hospitalization is for people who can be harmful to themselves or those who can harm others.
How to Treat Schizophrenia Naturally?
To hasten recovery and lead a happier and healthier life, natural remedies along with the use of antipsychotics may help. Natural remedies have no proven impact on treating schizophrenia but can act as an adjunct to medications.
Some of the natural treatments are
1. Vitamin B Supplements
A study conducted at the University of Manchester in 2017 concluded that the use of vitamins B6, B12, and B8 at a high dose, along with traditional medicines, can significantly reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia.
2. Diet and Schizophrenia: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Diet plays a significant role in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia. An anti-inflammatory diet is recommended for people with this condition, as it reduces neuroinflammation, which is one of the causes. This diet is rich in antioxidants like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found to benefit people with schizophrenia. It was found to reduce the severity of psychotic episodes in teenagers who are in the prodromal phase of the condition.
Food to Eat:
- Omega-3 fatty acids—Found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, as well as flaxseeds and walnuts.
- Berries, oranges, leafy greens, and bell peppers are excellent antioxidant choices to reduce inflammation.
- Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and other probiotic-rich foods that support gut health.
- Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole wheat for energy.
- Legumes like beans & lentils and nuts like almonds, which offer essential nutrients, healthy fats, and fiber.
Foods to Avoid:
Furthermore, people with schizophrenia should avoid foods that worsen symptoms or interfere with medications, like
- Coffee, tea, and energy drinks, which interfere with sleep and increase anxiety or agitation.
- Processed foods, added sugars, and preservatives can worsen inflammation.
- Saturated fats found in red meat, butter, and full-fat dairy also contribute to inflammation.
- Alcohol and recreational drugs must be avoided, as they can interact negatively with medication and worsen mental health symptoms.
3. Melatonin
Sleep is necessary for reducing stress, and people suffering from schizophrenia have difficulty falling asleep due to the constant thoughts that continuously run in their brains. Melatonin is a hormone promoting sleep. It is naturally produced in the body. The use of melatonin helps to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia by regulating sleep and reducing stress.
4. Relaxing and Stress Management
Stress is one of the triggers for schizophrenia. Therefore, managing stress is crucial. Some of the techniques that help in reducing stress and relaxation are
- Meditation
- Breathing exercise
- Yoga
- Exercise
Conclusion
Schizophrenia is a disabling mental condition if left untreated. Most people suffering from this disease will find it difficult to lead a normal life. They are not as dangerous as depicted in some of the movies. During a psychotic episode, controlling them can be difficult and might need a medical attention There is always a chance for self-harm with these people; suicide is a leading cause of premature death among individuals with this condition.
With the early diagnosis of the condition and prompt treatment, the patients live a normal life. Some lifestyle changes can reduce the severity of the symptoms, such as destressing, relaxing, taking vitamin B supplements, and shifting to an anti-inflammatory diet.
Family members, friends, and associates have to be considerate of the person’s suffering and support them. They can encourage them to keep a journal to identify the triggers. Such an approach might help in the elimination of the triggers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder. It is a chronic disorder that affects how a person thinks, behaves, perceives things, and interacts with others. It also affects their ability to perform day-to-day activities.
- Are people suffering from schizophrenia dangerous?
No, they are not dangerous. It is against the general belief, but it is the truth. People with schizophrenia live in their imaginary world. At times, they may require additional support during a psychotic episode.
- Will an anti-inflammatory diet help in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia?
An anti-inflammatory diet reduces inflammation in the body. One of the causes of schizophrenia is neuroinflammation. Thus, an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce inflammation and help improve schizophrenia symptoms.
- What are the causes of schizophrenia?
The causes of schizophrenia are genetics, changes in the neurotransmitters, abnormalities in the brain, environmental conditions, hormones, and neuroinflammation.
- What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
The main symptoms of schizophrenia are delusion, hallucination, difficulty understanding things, difficulty in making decisions, losing interest in social interactions, behavioral changes, and lack of emotion and energy.