Schizophrenia is a mental illness that involves the individual losing touch with reality and with the world around him or her. The individual will suffer from delusions as a result of this with the condition being termed as psychosis. Paranoid schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia where, as the name suggests, the individual will be paranoid about things around him or her. This is not a normal type of paranoia that someone would experience during stressful times. This type of paranoia is extreme and, as with the condition of schizophrenia, detached from reality. Paranoid schizophrenia symptoms are not as bad as other forms of schizophrenia. Through therapy, medication and family support an individual with paranoid schizophrenia symptoms may be able to lead a relatively normal life.
The most common paranoid schizophrenia symptoms are delusions, sudden unexplained anger possibly coupled with violence, paranoia that people might want to kill or hurt you and also hearing things that haven’t actually been said. This problem of hearing voices or noises is most disturbing to the individual as well as others around him or her. Suicidal tendencies tend to be common amongst people who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. The causes of paranoid schizophrenia are rooted in genetic problems as this is a brain disorder. Development issues may contribute to the problem. There is also evidence to suggest that the environment in which the individual has been brought up plays a role in the development of this disease. Patients who have experienced some form of abuse in their life may be more vulnerable to this condition or to other mental conditions. The exact mechanics of this condition continue to be researched and understood.
The treatment for paranoid schizophrenia first begins with accurately diagnosing the condition. The diagnosis of the condition involves various medical tests and also a psychological evaluation of the patient. Often, the diagnosis is done over a period of time as the patient may not display all his or her symptoms during the first evaluation. There is no known cure for paranoid schizophrenia, but there are methods that can be used to control the condition completely. The treatment of paranoid schizophrenia is based on a number of different but connected aspects of the individual’s life. Therefore, one may even form a team of trusted individuals who are responsible for one’s care. This is because it is necessary that the medication consumed by the person suffering from schizophrenia is monitored. Patients themselves may not take their medication. The treatment of this condition is typically driven by anti-psychotic medications. Apart from this, various therapies may be included in the treatment such as family counseling and psychotherapy. Patients may also be given counseling sessions to help them feel relaxed and free from stress. Stressful situations have been known to contribute to the exacerbation of this condition.
The development of paranoid schizophrenia in children can be quite disturbing for the parents. It should be noted that children may display odd symptoms that are consistent with schizophrenia once in a while. This is not considered to be proof that the condition exists. Instead, a doctor who is examining the child must look for consistent symptoms of the problem to prove that it exists in the child. Therefore, a child may not be diagnosed for several months or even years until there is some consistency in the symptoms that have appeared. When this is established, the child may be put on a medication and therapy regime to help control the symptoms, thus effectively controlling the condition. Children may outgrow the condition over time which is why repeated diagnosis may be necessary as the child grows.