Around 1% of people in the United States are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Because schizophrenia can present a range of symptoms, it is important to seek a diagnosis from mental health experts. The providers at Rochester Regional Health’s Adult Mental Health Program help everyone in need and will help you find a personalized schizophrenia treatment.
Schizophrenia is a type of mental illness that can cause hallucinations and delusions. Sometimes a person with schizophrenia cannot easily tell what is real from what is illusory. This can cause the world to be a jumble of confusing images, sounds, and thoughts, and contribute to impaired social skills and engagement in activities of daily living.
Schizophrenia often appears in the teenage years and twenties. Treatment requires a psychiatric evaluation and medication management. People with schizophrenia also benefit from Psychiatric Rehabilitation, available in Rochester Regional Health’s PROS programs. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, extensive research is helping us find increasingly innovative and safe treatment options. By studying genetics, conducting research, and using specialized imaging to look at the brain’s function and structure, the mental health community is hopeful that new and more effective therapies will continue to be found.
There is no known cause of schizophrenia. Stress can trigger and worsen symptoms, but it does not cause schizophrenia; neither does parenting style or a family life factor. Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain, and it is believed it develops from a mixture of factors including:
As research and technology continue to improve, it is possible that we’ll understand more about what causes schizophrenia.
There are a variety of symptoms a person with schizophrenia may have. Symptoms often come and go in phases. People are encouraged to seek the assistance of a doctor if they have the following experiences:
People with schizophrenia may also:
If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of psychosis or schizophrenia, it may be time to speak with a mental health provider.
Your mental health provider will perform both a complete medical history and a thorough physical examination if symptoms of schizophrenia are present. They may also use various diagnostic tests, like an MRI, a CT scan, or blood tests, to rule out physical illness as the cause of your symptoms.
If no physical reason is found, your mental health provider will use specially-designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate you for schizophrenia. Your diagnosis will be based on your reported symptoms, as well as their observation of your attitude and behavior.
Schizophrenia is typically treated with counseling and medicines to lessen and cope better with psychotic symptoms. Medicines are able to control psychotic symptoms in most people, and they can:
Medications and counseling can help people with schizophrenia resume control of their lifestyle and activities. It is imperative that medicines be taken regularly, even after symptoms are gone. Do not stop taking your prescribed medicine without the advice of your mental health provider.
