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Schizophrenia is one of the most incapacitating and chronic psychological disorders. Between 50% and 80% of the persons who were hospitalized for an episode of schizophrenia are lately admitted in hospital again because of the same reasons. Nevertheless, not all persons suffering from this disorder present a progressive deterioration of their functioning. Between 20% and 30% of the persons treated can substantially recover from this disorder after 10 or 20 years.

It seems that culture plays a major role in the evolution of schizophrenia. Those who suffer from it and live in less developed countries, such as India, Nigeria or Columbia are less predisposed to stay disabled for a long period of time in contrast to the persons living in well developed countries such as the United States, Great Britain or Denmark. One reason in explaining this fact can be the gene differences between these cultural groups. But this can be only a partial explanation. Another stronger reason can be the differences in the method that these countries use in treating their schizophrenics. So, in the least developed countries, the persons suffering from schizophrenia are treated at home, by the members of their own family. This facilitates the reintegration in the society and the support coming from their families seems to be of great help in stopping the evolution of this disease. But the great responsibility of taking care of a schizophrenic person is not taken by the small and busy families living in well developed countries. They admit their schizophrenic member in a psychiatric clinic in which they receive medical and psychiatric care, but don?t receive emotional support.

Sociological studies have shown that the process of institutionalization leaves significant marks in the patients? emotional, cognitive and social marks that make almost impossible their reintegration in the real society. And this fact can exacerbate the schizophrenic symptoms.

Furthermore, schizophrenia can also be explained from the following two perspectives: the biological one and the social and psychological one. According to the biological point of view, the structure of the brain and its biochemistry are significantly altered for the persons affected by this chronic disease. Firstly, the prefrontal cortex is smaller and it presents reduced activity. This part of the brain plays a major role in the using of language, in expressing the emotions, in planning and producing new ideas and in the mediation of social interactions. Secondly, the schizophrenics have larger than normal ventricles and spaces filled with liquid. Regarding the biochemistry alteration, the most important neurotransmitter is dopamine. There is a severe lack of balance in the levels of dopamine is several parts of the brain. In the mesolimbic system there is an excess of dopamine which leads to the following symptoms: hallucinations, illusions and inconsistent thoughts. On the other hand, in the prefrontal region of the brain there is a reduced activity of this neurotransmitter which leads to altered attention, motivation and behavior.

The other perspective in explaining schizophrenia is linked to a social and psychological point of view. The persons suffering from this disorder whose families express their emotions in a very powerful way are 4 times more predisposed to suffer a new psychotic episode than those coming from a family which does not express their emotions in such a strong manner. This fact can cause stress and can lead to the further incapacitation in adapting to the family condition. Maybe the stronger evidence that the intense expression of emotions significantly influences the evolution of this disorder is found in the fact that the treatments which work on reducing the emotional expression tend to reduce the rate of recurrence of those suffering from schizophrenia.

To conclude, schizophrenia can be understood as being a sum of various factors: cultural influences, biological elements, psychological and social factors. Altogether, these factors cause this disorder and then seriously contribute to its evolution. They can facilitate the recovering of the suffering patient or they can accentuate its condition. Even though the biological background determines in a great proportion the debut of this disorder, the environment can significantly worsen schizophrenia and can also contribute to the recurrent episodes. It is important to notice that family support can be of great help, but institutionalization can lead by contrast to the almost impossibility to recover.

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Some feelings and experiences encountered at the schizophrenics are also familiar to us: the difficulty of think right, the feeling that you assist your own actions, the uncertainty regarding the way you should interpret the events taking place. But when all this problems become severe and they become an impediment in everyday living they can be diagnosed as a disorder. Persons having schizophrenia have a severe difficulty in separating real facts from unreal ones, difficulty in following the course of their thoughts and in reacting properly towards the daily events.

Schizophrenia shows up in every type of culture, even in those which are situated far away from the stressed industrialized civilizations, schizophrenia being a plague of humanity for over two hundred years.

The disorder affects approximately 1% of the population is it appears in equal proportion for men and women. This disease implies high costs for the individuals caring it and as well for their families and community, because the schizophrenics need regular medical and psychiatric care. The medical costs rise up to more than 20 billion dollars/ an only in the United States. This disorder starts showing up at the end of the teenage period and the beginning of adulthood, at the point when a person begins his career and tries to make a family. Unfortunately, schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized disorders, so those suffering from it and also their families often have to endure great shame and marginalization. Furthermore, schizophrenia has certain characteristics which develop gradually and which lead to isolation and inadequate behaviors. These characteristics can be found in the following types of disorder.

Firstly, there are cognitive and attention disorders.

The process of thinking and also the content of the thoughts can be really affected. The words and phrases can make sense by themselves, but when they mixed together and putted in a context they make no logical sense. This phenomenon is described by the concept of “salad of words” and it reflects a relaxation of associations in which the ideas flow from one subject to another in a way that seems that they have no logical connection. This confusing process of thinking can be the result of the general difficulty in concentrating the attention on relevant stimuli and ignoring the unimportant ones. The schizophrenics are also submitted to have illusions. These are defined as false beliefs which the great majority of people would perceive as misinterpretations of the reality. The most frequent illusions are those that external forces try to control their thoughts and actions. Such things lead to the idea that they are followed by threatening groups who conspire against them. This type of schizophrenia is called paranoid schizophrenia.

Secondly, there are perception disorders.

People suffering from schizophrenia declare that the world seems different because the sounds are much higher, the colors are more intense and their own bodies seems to be different: their hands seem too long or too short, their eyes are dislocated on their faces and they cannot even recognize themselves in the mirror. The most dramatic perception disorders are the hallucinations, referring to the sensorial experiences in the absence of an external and relevant stimulation. These hallucinations are usually very scary and terrible.

In addition, schizophrenics also have difficulties in expressing their emotions. They are not able to show normal emotional reactions. For example, when a men suffering from schizophrenia finds out that his daughter has cancer he does not express sadness, he stands still and says nothing. Another description of this incapacity shows that sometimes they react in contrast to the circumstances. For example, they can smile when tragic events are presented to them. This can derive from the fact that their thoughts rapidly flow from one idea to another, so they do not have time to process the certain information and react properly.

In conclusion, schizophrenia is a stigmatized disorder because it shows little or none capability to react and adapt to the everyday life. Because of their severe condition, schizophrenics can become very aggressive and because of this the need permanent surveillance and medical and psychiatric care. This fact drives away their families and friends and the people surrounding them even inside a psychiatric hospital refuse to connect with them because of their inner world in which they live. This inner world has become in their vision the reality, the ultimate reality.

Schizophrenia is a grave mental illness, that encompasses a variety of symptoms used to diagnose this disorder. A person who has been affected by schizophrenia, fails to function normally due to the effect on the brain. Thus, a person’s physical and emotional abilities are altered, and their behaviors become unnatural. While some people are able to overcome these disabilities with the help of therapy and medication, for some it is a long journey towards recovery, with the road being marked by different disturbing symptoms. One concern regarding this disorder is the fear that ‘is schizophrenia hereditary?’ Let’s find out.

Schizophrenia – Is it Hereditary?

Studies have shown that one of the causes of schizophrenia is its hereditary nature. This means that if someone in the family has schizophrenia, chances are, close family members are at a higher risk (almost 10%) of developing this mental illness. However, before you jump to the conclusion that you may also be at a risk for this condition, you ought to know, that there are other ‘triggers’ that lead to the development of schizophrenia. This means that in the presence of these triggers, it is easier for a person to succumb to schizophrenia. Apart from the genes, these triggers may exist in the environment, and the prolonged exposure of a person to a mentally disturbing situation may trigger this disorder.Prolonged stress can lead to the development of symptoms of schizophrenia. This means that while some people may be able to handle the stress, those who are at a predisposition to develop schizophrenia may be easily affected. For instance, during childhood, if a child has been severely abused, the stress caused by it is likely to cause schizophrenia, more so, if he is genetically predisposed to the condition.The use of drugs such as marijuana, or continuous consumption of alcohol, is also responsible for the symptoms associated with schizophrenia such as hallucinations and delusions.Brain injury may put one at the risk of development of schizophrenia.Living in denial, or constantly avoiding problems in life, can also trigger this mental disorder.A lot of people believe that there is no link between biological and psychological conditions, and there has also been a constant debate about this regarding schizophrenia. However, it has to be understood, that both these factors work together in triggering any kind of mental illnesses. As has been mentioned before, if the gene that causes this disorder is present among members of a family, chances are that it is slightly easier for psychological factors to cause schizophrenia. Thus, schizophrenia is not completely hereditary, but definitely puts those who have family members suffering from it at a higher risk. If you think you, or someone you know may be at a risk of this disorder, there are certain symptoms of schizophrenia that will help you detect the early signs, and prevent it from becoming untreatable. Paranoid schizophrenia is the most common type of schizophrenia, and the theory regarding the genetic involvement in the development of schizophrenia, also holds true for the fact that paranoid schizophrenia may be hereditary. You may also take a look at this article on schizophrenia – causes and treatment.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The symptoms of schizophrenia are often referred to as psychosis, wherein, the person suffering from it loses touch with reality, and lives in a delusional world. The symptoms of schizophrenia may appear anywhere beginning in the late 20s, up to the age of 55 years. However, there have been cases where young children have also developed schizophrenia. Though the symptoms of schizophrenia may range from zombie-like behavior to brutal fits of rage, they can be broadly categorized into the following.Hallucinations: A person who is schizophrenic is likely to experience hallucinations of sight, sound, smell and touch. This means they can be under the belief that someone is talking to them, guiding them to behave in a certain manner, or they can smell a foul stench or a beautiful fragrance, or see visions of people around them, who they may talk to.Delusions: Schizophrenics also suffer from delusions, where they may be under the belief that someone is out there to attack them, or hurt them. On the other hand, they may also experience delusions of grandeur, where they believe that they are the center of all the good that is happening.Such symptoms often lead to confused behavior, that may cause different sufferers to react differently. This means while a sufferer may be pacified when explained that what they believe is baseless, another may throw a fit of rage and hurt himself and those around him. The rate of suicide is also high among schizophrenics.

For schizophrenia to be diagnosed, it is important that these symptoms be prominent for a minimum of one month. If you are suspicious about the possibility of schizophrenia, a psychiatrist will be able to confirm or rule out this belief by conducting a few tests. The sooner it is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat. It is also important to remember that knowing the answer to ‘is schizophrenia hereditary?’ is not possible by means of some DNA tests. You are just going to have to live with the knowledge that there is the slightest chance that it may occur if there has been a history of schizophrenia in the family.

Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to express and identify emotions, and hinders the thinking process of the brain. Schizophrenia is an umbrella disorder with many sub types like paranoid schizophrenia, catatonic, disorganized, residual, and undifferentiated schizophrenia. One of the most widely misunderstood psychological disorders across the world, schizophrenia affects more than a million Americans every year. Although there is no known cure for schizophrenia, the disease can be arrested and the affected person is able to get back to a routine, normal life. Schizophrenia is one of the top disorders behind long term disability in men and women across the world. Generally, this disorder affects men and women in early adulthood, and schizophrenia in children is rare. Scientist believe that ‘Nature and Nurture’ both play a part in someone getting schizophrenia. It can occur because of pre-existing genetic disposition or the kind of social environment the person is exposed to.

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Symptoms

The different sub types of schizophrenia are characterized by some specific symptoms, for example, in paranoid schizophrenia, hallucination and delusions can be seen. Bizarre body movements and echopraxia are some of the signs in catatonic schizophrenia. Problems with behavior and speech are some symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia. In undifferentiated schizophrenia there are some or all the signs of the other sub types and it cannot be categorized in one particular sub type. In undifferentiated schizophrenia, the symptoms can vacillate from one category to another and thus this kind of schizophrenia cannot be categorized under one sub type. Schizophrenia is a mental illness which cannot be diagnosed by any test, hence the diagnosis is done with the help of symptoms described by the friends and family of an individual. Schizophrenia develops slowly in an individual, and careful observation is required for the correct diagnosis. Some of the major signs of schizophrenia are: Delusion: After psychological testing it was found that one of the biggest indicators of schizophrenia is delusional behavior, a person might believe that a family member or a friend is conspiring to hurt them. They might think that they are very famous, for example, a famous musician, TV personality, or belonging to a royal family.Unusual Speech: The thought process is not stable in a schizophrenic, hence there is sometimes no connection between the words that come out of the mouth of an affected person. A affected person will try and accommodate different thoughts in one sentence, making a sentence without any meaning. They are also known to use imaginary words which have meaning only to them and repeat words uttered by others.Hallucinations: A feeling of experiencing sounds or sensations which are not real is common among schizophrenics. Auditory hallucinations are very common in people with schizophrenia as they might hear imaginary sounds like music playing, drill machines at work, or even someone talking to them. Visual hallucinations are also experienced by these people and they might see manifestations of things that are not real.Other Signs: An inability to understand written or spoken words known as Alogia is one of the key indicators of schizophrenia. A person will not be able to coherently reply to questions or will not be able to make correct sentences. Another sign is bizarre body movements and the inability to care for one’s personal hygiene. The affected person will also show signs of being in depression, being disconnected, avoiding eye contact, might stop speaking and sometimes even stop body movements. An all round lack of interest is one of the early signs.There is no clear undifferentiated schizophrenia treatment process, some believe that there is no cure, but with the help of medication and family support the affected person can function in society. Anti-psychotic medications can help reduce or stop the hallucinations and delusions. Some psychotherapies that help the cognition process of the affected individual also go a long way towards their rehabilitation. Self help groups have also been very effective in helping people with undifferentiated schizophrenia deal with their condition.

A severe brain disorder that causes one to hallucinate and become delusional, leading to withdraw from the society, is called schizophrenia. This is a chronic condition that affects over 2 million American men and women of all ages. There are many types of schizophrenia that are distinguished according to the symptoms exhibited. We shall focus on catatonic schizophrenia symptoms in the following paragraphs and understand the behavior of patients suffering with this mental disorder.

What is Catatonic Schizophrenia

Catatonic schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, where the patient interprets reality abnormally. Catatonic schizophrenia leads to extreme behavior, like either the person is overexcited or hyperactive and involuntarily imitates others in the form of sounds or movements. On the other hand, the person may be unable to speak, respond or even move. Catatonic schizophrenia has become a rare form of schizophrenia due to the treatments available for this mental disorders. Catatonic schizophrenia can occur with other forms of mental illnesses. Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms can be managed to a great extent with effective treatment.

Catatonic Schizophrenia Causes

The catatonic schizophrenia causes are not clearly understood as yet. Most of the evidence available today, points towards brain dysfunction as the cause of catatonic schizophrenia and other types of schizophrenia. The reasons for the brain dysfunction are still disputable and under investigation. Many suggest that genetic and environmental factors may be playing a role in brain dysfunction. The neurotransmitters in the brain develop chemical imbalances leading to catatonic schizophrenia.

Symptoms of Catatonic Schizophrenia

The catatonic schizophrenia symptoms include immobility, to such extent that the person can hold their body in an extremely rigid position for a really long time. This position is maintained by the affected person for hours, days, weeks and even months on end! This is called as akinesia, that is absence of any physical movement. The symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia also include agitated movements that are totally unrelated to the person’s environment. This condition is called catatonia. In case of less extreme catatonic schizophrenia symptoms, the person shows slow motor activity. These people may hold on to a position for a long time in a way that looks as if someone else has placed them in it.

Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms include assuming a position that may feel uncomfortable to the observer. For example, the person may stand on one leg as if mimicking a stork for hours on end. This kind of behavior is called catatonic positioning. If the arm or leg of that person is moved by the observer, the patient will continue to maintain the new position for long hours. This condition is known as waxy flexibility.

Other extreme symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia include extreme activity. The person tends to look unconnected to his surroundings or environment. He may run up and down the stairs continuously or carry out bizarre, useless actions repeatedly. On the other side, the person may show extreme case of slow motor activity, that is catatonic stupor. They show negativism and resist all attempts to move them and show no interest in understanding the requests made by the observer. The person may even show echolalia, that is repeatedly say a word spoken by someone else. They also show echopraxia, that is, imitate movements or gestures carried out by someone else.

Other catatonic schizophrenia symptoms and signs include:Development of a mindset or belief that is not based on reality, that is, delusionalHallucination related to voices speaking or seeing things that are not happeningIncoherent speechPersonal hygiene takes a backseatShows no emotions or lack of themExhibition of emotions that are inappropriate for the situationSudden angry outburstsTrouble at work or schoolUncoordinated, clumsy movementsPerson develops social isolationCatatonic Schizophrenia Treatment

The catatonic schizophrenia symptoms depend on the underlying causes. The patient may be hospitalized as he may prove to be a danger to himself and others. The patient is given pharmacological and psycho-therapeutic medications. Manic episodes are treated with stabilizers like lithium and valproic acid. Depressive episodes are given antidepressant medications for treatment. Supportive psychotherapy and family education helps in building a strong support group for the patient.

Catatonic schizophrenia prognosis shows it is a debilitating condition for life. The catatonic schizophrenia symptoms usually appear during adolescence. The initial symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia are triggered by drug abuse, leaving home for studies or military service, loss of a really closed love one, etc that affect mental health. After successful catatonic schizophrenia treatment, many patients suffer from a relapse after about 5 years of begin diagnosed with the condition. Most of the catatonic schizophrenia symptoms due to drug or medication abuse can be reversed by stopping the use of the drug.

This was all about this chronic lifelong, mental disorder catatonic schizophrenia. If you observe any catatonic schizophrenia symptoms in someone you know, ask them to seek medical help. The person may believe they don’t need any help or have no mental disorder. But, you need to take them for a check up and help them with proper treatment. There are many treatment programs that are extremely beneficial to control the symptoms of schizophrenia. Hope the above paragraphs on symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia have helped you understand the condition better.

Schizophrenia is a type of mental disorder that leads to the inability of a person to behave and function normally. This is because the brain’s power, mental ability and reasoning power gets affected. It is due to this that he/she cannot distinguish between reality and thoughts, cannot manage emotions effectively and cannot think clearly. Schizophrenia is of different types, but in the following article we shall be focusing on the catatonic schizophrenia causes, symptoms and treatment methods.

Catatonic schizophrenia is a type of mental illness that is characterized by extreme forms of behavior. Patients may exhibit behaviors like becoming extremely quiet, not speaking or responding and at other times getting agitated, hyperactive, animated and even prone to violent outbursts without the presence of a stimuli. There is a striking change in their moods wherein they keep shifting from a state of catatonic stupor to a highly excited state of mimicking sounds, actions and the like, which is referred to as catatonic excitement. We will discuss some more on the signs and symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia and the causes of catatonic schizophrenia in the following paragraphs.

Catatonic Schizophrenia – Causes

Psychology has yet to find the exact causes that lead to this sub type of schizophrenia, but there is enough evidence to suggest that all the forms and sub types of schizophrenia are brought about due to a dysfunction in the brain. Why this dysfunction occurs is another matter all together. It is however believed that brain dysfunction can be caused due to certain problems in brain development at the early stages. The reasons that affect the proper development of the brain and thereby the functioning are said to come about as a combination of both, the environment and genetics which lead to the development of catatonic schizophrenia causes. Here is a brief look at these factors.

Genetics
Certain viruses that the fetus is exposed to in the womb that affect the proper growth and development of the fetus. Along with that, if there is malnutrition, certain abnormal genes that are passed on, low oxygen levels during delivery and a history of schizophrenia in the family, all these reasons could lead to the development of catatonic schizophrenia.

Environmental
Environmental factors include – If there is stress experienced during early childhood, sexual abuse, mental trauma caused by death or separation of parents.

Catatonic Schizophrenia – Symptoms

These are some of the symptoms that you should be looking into to find out whether a person is suffering from catatonic schizophrenia:

Extreme Mobility
The patient is mobile at all times and has an uncanny urge to be doing something that requires him/her to be mobile at all times. This could include actions like pacing up and down, moving in circles and making incoherent, loud sounds.

Stupor Mode
They will get into a catatonic stupor mode that has them assuming a position like a rock. They sit completely still and immobile, staring into a distance without any focus and seem to be unaware of their surroundings.

Noncooperation
Patients become extremely stubborn and resist any attempts at moving them. If this is tried they resist all attempts to move them and remain absolutely still and mute.

Extreme Flexibility
The patient will assume weird postures and styles, like twisting and turning their arms or legs into seemingly impossible positions. They’ll stay put for several hours as well.

Echolalia/Echopraxia
The patient may mimic sounds (Echolalia) and movements (Echopraxia) of another person. They might also give into strange movements that are accompanied by unusual behavior styles like repeating words or fidgeting with things, stacking them up etc.

These were some of the catatonic schizophrenia symptoms. Now let’s turn to the modes of treatment.

Catatonic Schizophrenia – Treatment

Catatonic schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that cannot be treated and the person continues to suffer from it for his entire life. The treatment options include different types of medication like antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), hospitalization, psychotherapy and social and vocational skills training.

This article dealt with a complete, albeit brief explanation of catatonic schizophrenia with a special reference to the catatonic schizophrenia causes. If you happen to know someone who might be a possible patient, make sure that you get them checked as soon as possible and start a course on treatment.

Schizophrenia, a mental illness, is of many types, one of which is catatonic schizophrenia. Here, the sufferer of this condition has the tendency to interpret reality in a manner that may appear abnormal. While there are no specific catatonic schizophrenia causes that have been determined for this condition, it is believed that it is a combination of hereditary and environment that is responsible for this condition. The most common cause is believed to be a brain dysfunction, where certain naturally occurring neurotransmitters may be altered, thereby affecting the brain. Getting to a stage where you develop catatonic schizophrenia is not so common in today’s day and time, because the treatment options available for schizophrenia are many. Furthermore, catatonic schizophrenia may develop because of the presence of several other mental illnesses. In any case, effective catatonic schizophrenia treatment, it is possible to lead a relatively normal and stable life. Before we look at the treatment methods that are undertaken for this purpose, let’s delve into some symptoms that define this condition.

Catatonic Schizophrenia: Symptoms

Those who suffer from catatonic schizophrenia may belong to two extremes of a scale of behavior. While on one hand they may be extremely quiet, and unable to respond to different stimuli, on the other, they can be hyperactive at all times while imitating movements and sounds of others. In the case of the former situation, it may be difficult for the sufferer of this condition to speak or move, and they may have the tendency of being rigid and continuously staring in one particular direction, without any awareness of their surroundings. This is known as catatonic stupor. Furthermore, the rigidity is at such an extreme, that by some chance if the sufferer’s hands are moved, they can remain in the same position for hours together. In the latter case, hyperactivity symbolizes this condition, where random activities and movements that have no meaning are performed such as turning in circles, flailing the arms or simply making loud and incomprehensible noises.

Those who suffer from catatonic schizophrenia also tend to be extremely resistant in that they fail to respond to any instructions, to move or speak. On the other hand, they may have unusual habits such as repeating a particular word or sentence, and the compulsive need to see things arranged in a particular fashion. Imitating the speech or actions of those around them is another symptom that characterizes this condition.

Hallucinations and delusions, the inability to experience and express emotions, or to express emotions that are not suitable for a particular situation, poor personal hygiene, slurred speech, social isolation, extreme anger, and clumsiness are the secondary catatonic schizophrenia symptoms. They may experience bouts of these symptoms that usually cannot be eliminated without treatment.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Catatonic Schizophrenia

A person who suffers from catatonic schizophrenia will not be able to realize themselves that they have a problem. The unusual habits and behavior patterns are noticed by those around them. As soon as any of the aforementioned symptoms are noticed, getting the right diagnosis and treatment are essential. Catatonic schizophrenia treatment is usually a life-long process. It is in most cases so effective that those who suffer from it, over a period of time begin to believe that they are fine and that they don’t need to be treated any longer. However, it is likely that they can have a relapse of the symptoms. A psychiatrist may prescribe any one or a combination of the following methods of treatment for catatonic schizophrenia.The prime method of treatment for this condition is by means of medication, that includes antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medicines, including some injections to relieve catatonic symptoms.Psychotherapy is another method of resolving the symptoms of this condition over time. It is one of the milder methods of treatment, and is not considered if the symptoms are very severe. In these sessions, patients are taught skills that will help them with communicating their needs and desires, working on relationships, and the necessity of continuing with treatment for gradual and sustained improvement in health. In some cases, family members are also included in therapy sessions, to understand the intensity of symptoms, to cope with them and are taught ways of dealing with them.Patients are also taught vocational skills, so as to be able to lead an independent life. Doctors also help patients in finding suitable related jobs so that they can survive independently. This helps them gain confidence in their abilities, and provides the inner motivation to overcome their condition.If a particular episode of catatonia is severe, the patient may be put through electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), where electric currents are sent to the brain to cause a seizure, thereby altering the brain chemistry to reduce the symptoms. This is an extreme measure that is taken when medicines fail to provide relief. Only after considering all the after effects of this treatment method should it be allowed by the caretaker of the patient.As a last resort, patients may be recommended hospitalization, so as to prevent any serious dangers due to an episode of catatonia, to the patients themselves and their family members. Hospitalization also ensures timely treatment, essential nutrition and the much needed hygiene when suffering from this condition.Though the methods of catatonic schizophrenia treatment mentioned here have been proven effective time and again, the challenge lies in getting the patient to resort to treatment regularly. As mentioned earlier, it is a condition that requires life long treatment in most cases, and though patients may believe that they are absolutely fine, they are prone to a relapse that can reverse all the progress they have made through the long treatment process. As such, the support of friends and family in helping them stick to a treatment plan will help overcome the symptoms of this condition over time.

Before I head towards explaining about catatonic schizophrenia, let’s know about schizophrenia itself. This condition relates to not just one, but a group of brain disorders, severe by nature. People who are affected by this condition have a tendency to interpret reality in an abnormal way. Such people, with time, lose their ability to take care of themselves and lead a normal life. Also, the term ‘schizophrenia’ does mean ‘split mind’, but, the condition cannot be regarded as a problem of split personality, contrary to popular belief. It only refers to the imbalance of emotions and thinking. Now, what we are talking about here is one of the many types of schizophrenia. Read about the catatonic schizophrenia symptoms and treatment, along with the causes in a detailed manner.

Catatonic Schizophrenia Symptoms

In this kind of schizophrenia, the patient exhibits extreme types of behavior. This you would understand after you go through the symptoms. One of the common symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia, is the patient’s inability to move or speak. Catatonic stupor may also arise. Here, the sufferer may keeping staring and hold his body in a rigid position. The person may also be unaware about his surroundings. Also, one of the typical symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia is what is known as waxy flexibility. Meaning, if the sufferer has moved his arm into a certain position, he might forget to move his arm again for several hours.

As I mentioned, patients of this condition exhibit extreme behaviors. Some become unable to move or speak, while some have excited movements which have no purpose. Here the person may suffer from violent mental agitation, may go round in circles, scream in a laughing voice, etc. Then comes the symptom of extreme resistance, wherein, the patient refuses to follow instruction and is not able to move.

Other catatonic schizophrenia symptoms, include fits of mimicking other people voice and making all kinds of peculiar movements. These symptoms although, are primary symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia, there could be other additional symptoms as well. These may include, lack of emotions, poor personal hygiene, outbursts of anger and being isolated from the social word. Delusions, hallucinations and letting out emotions inappropriate to the situation, are some more symptoms.

Catatonic Schizophrenia Causes

No specific catatonic schizophrenia causes has been identified yet. However, brain dysfunction could be related. What causes the onset of this dysfunction is also not known. But some scientists do have the idea that an interaction of genetics and environment may be responsible for it. There are some brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Problems with these chemicals may also cause this condition.

Catatonic Schizophrenia Treatment

The treatment is mostly lifelong and is generally continued even when the patient begins to feel better and the symptoms have retreated. One important aspect about the catatonic schizophrenia treatment is that, it could be challenging for some people. This is due to the fact that patients might refuse using the medications when they start feeling better. But, as mentioned, treatment is lifelong, and it is the only way to keep a check on the condition.

A skilled psychiatrist is one who is appointed for dealing with the condition of catatonic schizophrenia. But, he is not the only one who would be involved in the process. He may be accompanied by the patient’s family members, friends, pharmacist and psychiatrist. Case worker, psychiatric nurse and social worker, may also join the treatment team. Now, the treatment procedure for catatonic schizophrenia may include various kinds of medications, psychotherapy, training associated with vocational skills, and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). More details have been put down in schizophrenia – causes and treatment, for your reference.

At home, patients or their family members may pay attention to a few things which can add to the effectiveness of the treatment of catatonic schizophrenia. Taking medications as directed, paying attention to the signs and symptoms, avoiding drugs and alcohol and consulting the doctor before taking any kind of medications other than specified, are some of the measures which could help build on the treatment plan. And needless to say, keeping oneself abreast of this medical condition and finding support from friends and family, are equally vital.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that seems to be caused due to genetic disposition or environmental factors like stress, trauma or abuse. This is a very challenging mental health condition, where the patient is not able to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. They cannot think clearly and are unable to control their emotions. A schizophrenic has his own take on reality that is far from true. They begin to hear things, see things and feel things. They are in constant fear of being harmed by the unknown or someone near to them. The confusion and fear in their minds tends to cloud their judgment. These people tend to move away from the society and begin to live an isolated life. This condition affects both men and women. It can strike as early as the adolescent age or may appear in adulthood. In very rare cases, childhood schizophrenia is also observed. It has been found out that there are about 2 million Americans living with schizophrenia. There are 5 types of schizophrenia that may affect an individual. These types of schizophrenia disorders are identified according to the prominent symptoms exhibited in each type. Let’s have a quick look at the different types of schizophrenia.

Different Types of Schizophrenia

Looking at the history of schizophrenia, 5 types of schizophrenia have been categorized by medical experts. These different types of schizophrenia are classified according to the symptoms experienced by the patient. They symptoms of schizophrenia may change over time. Therefore, it is very much possible, that a person develops more than one type of schizophrenia. The following are the types of schizophrenia disorders one may observe in a patient.

Paranoid Schizophrenia
Paranoid schizophrenia is one of the types of schizophrenia disorders, where the patient develops delusions and auditory hallucinations. They begin to believe someone in the government is conspiring against them, or people are sending over messages to them through the television, radio, etc. They feel they are begin spied upon or plotted against by the people they trust or love. They may hear voices that comment on their behavior, talk to them and order them to do things. These people are more functional and generally do not talk about their symptoms. This type of schizophrenia is considered to be the most treatable from all other types.

Disorganized Schizophrenia
Symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia include child-like behavior, disorganized speech and behavior as well as unusual thought process. They are unable to organize their thoughts and connect them in a logical sequence. They have slurred or garbled speech that makes it difficult to understand what they are talking about. They often suffer from ‘thought blocking’. This is a symptom, where they suddenly stop in middle of a thought. When asked the reason, they say the thought was pulled out of their minds by someone. They have a monotonous voice, blank or immobile facial expressions and purposeless behavior. They cannot take care of themselves, personal hygiene, etc. This makes them more agitated and frustrated. This is one of the more serious types of schizophrenia disorder.

Catatonic Schizophrenia
Catatonic schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia where the patient is usually uncoordinated, clumsy and have an unusual mannerism. These patients have disturbances of movement. They tend to develop jerky movements and repetitively carry out these unusual movements like flapping their hands or thrashing their legs. In some cases, the patient becomes completely immobile. They will sit, stand or stay in a strange stance for hours or days on end. They are completely unable to take care of themselves due to their behavior. Sometimes, the person repeats a single word or sentence over and over again. Catatonic schizophrenia is one of the rare types of schizophrenia. You can go into the details of catatonic schizophrenia symptoms and treatment in:Catatonic Schizophrenia CausesCatatonic Schizophrenia TreatmentResidual Schizophrenia
People who are long term schizophrenics develop residual schizophrenia. These patients do not show any of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms include catatonic behavior, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech or behavior, etc. However, these patients show symptoms such as monotonous voice, blank face, lack of pleasure or happiness, inability to perform a planned activity, lack of interaction with others. These people need help with their daily activities as they cannot take care of themselves as well as basic hygiene.

Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
Undifferentiated schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia in which the patient exhibits symptoms that cannot be categorized. This means there are different symptoms that are prominent in each type, but cannot be grouped into any one of the types of schizophrenia. This is one of the most common types of schizophrenia disorders.

Types of Schizophrenia in Children

As mentioned above, there are rare cases where in types of schizophrenia affect children. The types of schizophrenia in children can affect a child as young as 5 years or during the adolescent age. However, observing types of schizophrenia in children is a very rare occurrence. Only 3 children in every 1,000 kids under the age of 12 develop schizophrenia. The early signs and symptoms of schizophrenia in children are not very specific. These children often have hallucinations, attention problems, poor social skills, depression, inconsistent body movements, lack of verbal communication, disorganized behavior, speech and thinking, etc. When you see a child with schizophrenia, he will have no or very little feelings, have inappropriate exhibition of emotions at the wrong place or time, and make poor eye contact. The types of schizophrenia in children are same as the ones mentioned above.

This was all about the different types of schizophrenia. This is a very difficult mental illness that has confused medical experts since ages. It is always better to seek expert medical opinion, regarding schizophrenia symptoms and solutions. Early medical intervention is the best way for schizophrenia treatment. After reading about the 5 types of schizophrenia, you may be able to spot schizophrenic tendencies in someone you care about.

Mental illness can render an individual dangerous to society and himself. One of the most debilitating and frightening mental disorders is schizophrenia. The ability to decipher and decide what is real and what is not, is hindered or absent in people with schizophrenia. They are plagued by hallucinations and delusions, and lose touch with reality. Schizophrenics have a damaged thought process, where their mind repeatedly plays tricks on them, by blurring fantasy into reality. Their feelings and emotions are muted, as they cannot respond emotionally to situations. There are different types of schizophrenia, based on how the symptoms manifest themselves. In this article, learn more about the paranoid form of schizophrenia, its symptoms and causes and what can be done, to help with this illness.

Paranoid Schizophrenia
“Do you feel as if everyone is in a secret plot against you? They are, the whole world’s in it. They are watching you quietly, talking about you and trying to harm you. They go through your garbage, stalk you, keep tabs on you, anything to gather more information to destroy you. For that is their ultimate aim. They will not hesitate to hurt your family. They will even turn them against you, so that you are all alone. And vulnerable. Trust no one.”

The above paragraph is just a small and rough glimpse of the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic. Delusions can take many forms and paranoia is a pretty graphic and terrifying sub-type of schizophrenia. A person suffering from this type of schizophrenia thinks that he is being persecuted and followed constantly. Unlike other forms of schizophrenia, where the thinking process is hampered and mental abilities dimmed, a paranoid schizophrenic can behave normally and is actually smart and highly tuned to his surroundings. They do not have speech problems or inability to show emotions.

The issue is with the imaginary foes he battles, always out to get him. Today someone is a close friend and confidant, tomorrow he/she turns into a backstabbing enemy. The consequences of such recurrent thoughts are devastating not just for an individual, but for his family as well. It affects his self esteem and confidence, not to mention his nerves. For his family, his behavior takes the form of an emotional yo-yo, one minute calm and friendly, the next minute he’s urging them not to talk to the neighbors. Such schizophrenics also obsess about ways to defend themselves and how to defeat the “enemy”.

Paranoid Schizophrenia Causes
It is difficult to predict or assume causes of any mental disorder but here are some probable factors that could cause a paranoid schizophrenia personality:Whether schizophrenia is hereditary or not, is a debatable issue, especially among psychiatrists. Regardless a family history of paranoid schizophrenia can increase the risk of it appearing in the next generation.Very stressful jobs or situations can cause an individual to develop paranoid schizophrenia. For example, a bodyguard or security agent used to looking for potential dangers everywhere, could become schizophrenic in obsessing over hidden enemies.Substance abuse, through drugs and alcohol can cause an imbalance in the brain’s functioning. Such substances are known to cause delusions, so they can induce paranoia.Viral infections and poor health in an unborn child can cause a brain dysfunction, which could result in paranoid schizophrenia later in life.Paranoid Schizophrenia Symptoms
This type of schizophrenia is the most prevalent type. An approximate 40% of all schizophrenia cases are paranoid in nature. Here are some key paranoid schizophrenia symptoms:

Hearing voices and sounds that are imaginaryAlways suspicious of other people’s intentionsVery condescending and arrogant mannerTends to argue and fight out of situationsHarbors feelings and ideas of suicideImaginary foes and enemiesDelusions of grandeur and fameDelusions of being singled out to be harmed or killedFeeling alone and against the worldReserved and withdrawn attitudeSizing people up as a potential threatA violent and defensive thought processSuch signs can be chronic or ever present, or fluctuate with episodes of paranoia followed by a calm period. The symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia are most prominent in individuals between 25 – 30 years of age. In young children, such signs are difficult to diagnose. Teenagers are normally not consistent with behavior patterns, and so if such an illness is present, it could get ignored.

Diagnosis is carried out based on prevalence and occurrence of at least 3 – 4 paranoid schizophrenia symptoms and their duration. The key sign over here is a paranoid method of thinking. It is often necessary for someone close, friend or family member to actually seek medical help for the affected individual, as their suspicious nature makes paranoid schizophrenics naturally reticent and difficult. A mental health expert experienced in such cases is best. Paranoid schizophrenia can turn a passive man dangerous and violent, if the individual does not get the right help in time. Suicide, erratic behavior, physical actions etc. are some methods, a paranoid schizophrenic might resort to, to express his/her grief. If you know someone who exhibits some or all of the above listed paranoid schizophrenia symptoms, then please aid them in seeking professional help. In their current state, your help and support might be the lifesaver, in their endless sea of paranoia.