What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders all over the world. Living with schizophrenia is not very easy for both the patient and their family.


Since this condition is both persistent as well as disabling, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. This is a condition that could affect people at all ages, but especially those who are between the ages of 16-30. The incidence of schizophrenia is rather high.


It affects 1 person in every 100 and it is common among both men and women. This condition is often mistaken for split personality, but both of these are extremely different from one another.

In its milder form, schizophrenia can be managed and the symptoms can be controlled to a large extent. However, schizophrenia is essentially incurable. Some of the symptoms of this condition include an exaggerated belief in one’s own abilities. They also have delusions of persecution. They may have certain hallucinations as well.

Types of Schizophrenia    

While schizophrenia is a single psychological condition, there are many different types of it.

• Paranoid Schizophrenia: This is a condition which is characterized by hallucinations as well as delusions. Though there is normal intellectual functioning, there are paranoid delusions and beliefs that the person suffers from.

• Disorganized Schizophrenia: This is a condition which is characterized by abrupt changes in speech as well as behavior. The emotions are either flat or inappropriate. This behavior may abrupt all normal behavior and activities.

• Catatonic Schizophrenia: This is a condition in which there are a lot of disturbances of normal movement. People suffering from this condition may become totally immobile for long periods of time.

• Undifferentiated Schizophrenia: This is a condition in which there are no particular symptoms. Bipolar schizophrenia is one of these conditions.

• Residual Schizophrenia: This is a condition in which a person does not have any particular positive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, this is a transition from one episode to a complete remission. Residual Schizophrenia  is quite rare in people.

What causes schizophrenia?    

There are three main causes for schizophrenia, they are the genetic causes of schizophrenia and the environmental causes of schizophrenia and the other is anomalous brain chemistry. Schizophrenia usually runs in families. While there are strong genetic links that can be passed on from a schizophrenic to their children, the environment plays a very important role as well. A child, who is placed in an environment where there is a schizophrenic around them, tends to develop the tendencies as well. Imbalances in the chemical reactions in your brain can also cause schizophrenia. The exact chemicals and the nature of these imbalances are not yet known. However, what is known is that the imbalances may be asymptomatic at first and the symptoms become apparent after some time.

Treatment of Schizophrenia    

There are many ways to treat depression and some of the treatments are useful for schizophrenia as well. The doctor would first perform a schizophrenia test after which, the treatment is decided. There is a combination of medications and therapy that can help control the symptoms and keep them in check. Treatment for depression and anxiety may not always work for schizophrenia. A lot of people with this condition may require institutionalization.

A lot of people attempt natural treatment for schizophrenia, but it must be known that these treatments are not likely to help you deal with the condition. Medical help is absolutely necessary for those suffering from schizophrenia. Different people have varied needs and the therapies for them will also be different. Those suffering from severe schizophrenia may have to get Electroconvulsive Therapy. However, this is solely based on the discretion of the therapist.