CAUSES AND TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

We have explained before the definition and symptoms of schizophrenia, now although the cause of it is unclear we are going to explain the theories that explained causes of it.

1-Genatic: schizophrenia is a genetic mental disorder, so usually the patient with schizophrenia has a relative affected before with the disease, so it is a hereditary disease.

2-environmental events: stressful life events or viral infection is thought to contribute to the development of schizophrenia.

3-hormonal: during the years of puberty and adulthood there are hormonal changes and it is thought to be from the causes of schizophrenia. 

4- chemical: usually the People with schizophrenia have an imbalance in chemicals of the brain which is called neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, through these neurotransmitters the messages of the brain nerve cells are sent to each other.

So when there is an imbalance in this neurotransmitter, the reaction of the person to external stimuli will be affected badly, and this explains to us that the schizophrenic patient may be overwhelmed by sensory information.

Let's now see the treatment of schizophrenia:

If you saw a person who suffers from the symptoms that we explained before about schizophrenia, you shouldn’t wait and you should give the advice to begin treatment rapidly, as it is very important to start treatment early for better prognosis.

The treatment of these cases will include the following:

· Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs: these are programs that are prepared to enable patient to regain his skills such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, socialization, stress management and problem-solving.

· Group therapy: it is a group of patient with mental illness in which every patient is talking about his illness and his feelings and from its benefits is that it provides support to each one in the group.

· Housing programs: that provides 24 hours supervision of patient which will help in preventing risks and offering the appropriate treatment.

· Employment programs: helping the patient to find an appropriate job or helping them to gain skills needed for jobs.

· Therapy/Counseling: this includes talk therapy in groups of patients or patient with his family to help his family to understand his diseases better. Or individually.

Medications:

Off course the patient with schizophrenia need medication to relative its symptoms, the medications will fix biochemical imbalances and prevent relapse, however, any psychiatric medication should be taken under supervision.

There are 2 major types of medications that given to the patient

There are two major types of anti psychotic medication:

· Conventional anti psychotics: it can control the positive symptoms of schizophrenia like delusions and hallucinations.

· “New Generation (also called atypical) anti psychotics: it can be used to treat all positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and also it has fewer side effects than Conventional anti psychotics.

There are also some advice should be given for patient family:

1- Make a daily routine for the patient to follow every day.

2- Ensure that the patient is taking his medication and ensure that he didn’t stop.

3- Help the patient to discuss his feelings, fears, and needs.

4- You should know that caring for cases like this is exhausted, so take time for yourself.

5- Try to make your conversation clear and simple when you communicate with the patient.

6-do not lose your temper and always keep calm and be patient.