Chronic paranoid schizophrenia: a brief explanation

Paranoid schizophrenia is a mental illness that psychically affects different areas of life. Generally, it usually appears more or less abruptly during late adolescence to early adulthood.

Thus, when speaking of schizophrenia, it can be divided into three groups depending on the symptoms:

  • Positive symptoms: delusions and hallucinations…..
  • Negative symptoms: listlessness, apathy, lack of interest, lack of initiative…
  • Cognitive symptoms: lack of attention, lack of concentration or lack of memory.

To make a diagnosis of schizophrenia it is not necessary that all these symptoms appear.

How does schizophrenia manifest itself?

The clinical manifestations are very different, and vary greatly depending on the stage of the disease. However, a general profile can be made, and it shows that they are quiet people, who may have tendencies to isolate themselves, and sometimes are peculiar or eccentric.

In early stages, the schizophrenic may have more disorganized behaviors, and sometimes even aggressive, although these are produced by a feeling of attack or feeling persecuted. In those stages of decompensation, the patient has to disorganize his thinking, and hallucinations are usually aggravated.

Does the manifestation of schizophrenia usually occur with outbreaks?

Depending on the patient, the disease is different. Although in most cases it is stable and the negative symptoms are the predominant ones, sometimes schizophrenia manifests itself in the form of more acute outbreaks in which delirious ideas and auditory hallucinations usually stand out.

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These outbreaks are usually due to medication withdrawal, high stress or substance abuse.

Who is affected by schizophrenia?

In principle, there are no differences in terms of race, sex or nationalities, although schizophrenia generally affects more young men.

If a person habitually consumes intoxicants, it can accelerate the development of the disease. It can also be said that people with a family history of schizophrenia are at greater risk of developing it.

Diagnosis is not particularly complicated, especially in cases where the disease is fully developed. It is more difficult to diagnose in early cases.

What treatment should be followed?

Pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia is basic, although it is not the only treatment option.

Usually, medication is combined with others: psychotherapy, occupational therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, occupational rehabilitation….

In some cases, there are signs of decompensation that can be overlooked, although this is rare. In these cases, it is the immediate family members who notice the changes of decompensation.

It must be said that, if schizophrenia is well controlled, a full and satisfying life can be maintained.

For further information, please consult a specialist in Psychiatry.