The range of illnesses that afflict people with schizophrenia disproportionately is very wide and includes the more obvious candidates like heart disease, stroke and diabetes but also high blood pressure, some cancers, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis and infectious diseases like HIV, TB and hepatitis3,12.
Compared with the general population, schizophrenia patients are at increased risk of weight gain, abdominal obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.
This can include disorganized thinking, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, agitation, or a loss of interest in activities. These symptoms can affect almost every aspect of a person's life. That's why it's 10/10 important you talk with a healthcare professional if you suspect you or a loved one has schizophrenia.
People with schizophrenia experience psychosis, which means they can have serious problems with thinking clearly, emotions, and knowing what is real and what is not. This can include hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations), and having very strange beliefs that are abnormal or not true (delusions).
Studies show that certain brain chemicals that control thinking, behavior, and emotions are either too active or not active enough in people with schizophrenia. Doctors also believe the brain loses tissue over time.
Patients with schizophrenia may show increased sensitivity to acute pain when compared with healthy controls, but decreased pain sensitization—in other words, high sensitivity to acute pain but low sensitivity to chronic or prolonged pain.
The Brain In Schizophrenia
The fluid-filled spaces (the ventricles) in the interior of the temporal lobes are often enlarged and the temporal lobe tissue diminished. The greater the observed changes the greater the severity of the person's thought disorder and his or her auditory hallucinations.
Schizophrenia affects the way you think and cope with daily life. Someone living with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking and lack motivation for daily activities.
People with schizophrenia often experience human rights violations both inside mental health institutions and in community settings. Stigma against people with this condition is intense and widespread, causing social exclusion, and impacting their relationships with others, including family and friends.
The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into: positive symptoms – any change in behaviour or thoughts, such as hallucinations or delusions. negative symptoms – where people appear to withdraw from the world around then, take no interest in everyday social interactions, and often appear emotionless and flat.
Patients with schizophrenia have decreased walking speed because of a smaller stride length. Reduced muscular power is associated with a reduction in the walking speed in persons without mental disorders.
Peculiar, eccentric or unusual thinking, beliefs or mannerisms. Suspicious or paranoid thoughts and constant doubts about the loyalty of others. Belief in special powers, such as mental telepathy or superstitions. Unusual perceptions, such as sensing an absent person's presence or having illusions.
Simply put, when someone has schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, interacting with the world in a meaningful and socially cognitive way is more than difficult. There's a distinct apathy and flatness that result when you lose control of your mind.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPDs) become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the intensity of their emotions, whether it is joy and elation or depression, anxiety, and rage. They are unable to manage these intense emotions.
Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
People with schizophrenia show increased rates of co-occurring conditions, including various disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system.
Living arrangements
Others may become homeless. These individuals often live with an untreated illness. Research from 2020 reports that schizophrenia can lead to more time alone and fewer social interactions. Symptoms can also make it more difficult to stay focused on tasks or engage in “productive” behaviors.
As a psychotic condition, schizophrenia can cause some very troubling symptoms, like hallucinations and delusions, that make daily life challenging. Without treatment it can lead to isolation, an inability to work or go to school, depression, suicide, and other complications.
Other common symptoms of schizophrenia are problems with low mood and motivation, isolation from family and friends, and feeling cold or emotionless. People with schizophrenia may also have trouble with thoughts, concentration, speaking and memory. In more severe cases, they may have problems with movement.
Cognitive symptoms involve problems with attention and memory, especially in planning and organizing to achieve a goal. Cognitive deficits are the most disabling for patients trying to lead a normal life.
People with disorganized schizophrenia exhibit flat affect, which means that they show little or no emotions in their facial expressions, voice tone, or mannerisms. At times they exhibit affect that is inappropriate to the situation, such as laughing at something sad.
Voices may seem angry or urgent and often make demands on the hallucinating person. Visual hallucinations involve seeing objects, people, lights, or patterns that are not actually present. Visualizing dead loved ones, friends, or other people they knew can be particularly distressing.