SCHIZOPHRENIA

SCHIZOPHRENIA
BY 
ADITYA GAUTAM
21113011
M1
INTRODUCTION

• Schizophrenia is a complex psychotic disorder characterized by reoccurring episodes

of psychosis.
• Psychosis is a condition of brain in which it makes it difficult for the affected to
determine what's real and what's not.
• It is a chronic disorder. There are many methods devised which can be used to control
the disorder to an extent.
• Caused by genetic and environmental factors.

• Begins in late adolescent or early adulthood. 

• Schizophrenia is derived from Greek roots schizo (split) and phrene (mind).
The term "schizophrenia" was first used by Swiss psychiatrist, Eugen Bleuler
in 1911. He used this identification to emphasize the mental confusion
and fragmented thinking characteristic of people with the illness. 
• His term was not meant to convey the idea of an actual split or multiple
personality. This confusion has, however, become a common and rather
entrenched myth regarding schizophrenia that continues to this day.
 SYMPTOMS

• Positive Symptoms

• Negative Symptoms

• Cognitive Symptoms
POSITIVE
SYMPTOMS

• Hallucinations : Sensing things that are not there. Auditory hallucinations are

dominant among schizophrenics, with around 70% prevalence in patients with
schizophrenia which can go up to 98%.
• Delusions : Fixed and false beliefs peculiar to an individual, which do not change
even when evidence is provided to the contrary.
• Disordered Speech and Behaviour.

• Tend to disappear with age.

N E G AT I V E S Y M P T O M S
• Avolition : decreased motivation

• Alogia : reduced speech

• Asociality: emotionally absent and diminished facial expression.

• Anhedonia : unable to feel pleasure

• Apathy : lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
• Difficulty Concentrating.​
• Affected memory and the ability to recall.​
• Indecisiveness : Difficulty in making decisions. ​
 ONSET AND CAUSES
Onset typically occurs in late teenage years or early adulthood, it being more prevalent in
early to mid-twenties in men and late-twenties to early-thirties in women. 
The exact causes of Schizophrenia are not known however there are certain risk factors like
genetic and environmental factors that make people more likely to develop it.
Schizophrenia has the strongest genetic links of any psychiatric illness. Children or siblings of
people with schizophrenia are 10x more likely to develop the disorder, while an identical twin
has 40% chance of being affected. 
Exposure to certain virus in early infancy and use of drugs like marijuana are also linked with
schizophrenia as environmental factors.
C O M P L I C AT I O N S
• Suicide and Self Harm: Suicide is one of the leading cause of death of
people suffering with schizophrenia. Various factors contribute to the
increased suicide risk in schizophrenics such as psychotic issues like
hearing voices telling them to harm themselves, substance abuse and
depression.
• Depression : Almost 50% patients diagnozed with schizophrenia get
affected by depression however in most cases it goes unnoticed and is
not treated which adds to the suffering of the patient.
• Smoking and Substance Abuse : It is found that schizophrenics smoke
3x more time than the other psychiatric bubble. Smoking also may help
decrease medication side effects and other symptoms of schizophrenia.
SCHIZOPHRENIA IN INDIA – COPSI
TRIAL STUDY

• COPSI (Care for People with Schizophrenia in India) was designed to

provide evidence for a feasible model of community-based
rehabilitation for people with schizophrenia in low- and middle-income
countries.
• The COPSI trial tested a community-based collaborative care (CBCC)
intervention using lay community health workers to provide
rehabilitation services alongside facility-based specialist care.  Key
features of CBCC include:
Psychosocial support
• Linkages with community agencies and self-help groups

• Psychoeducational information for both participants and caregivers

• Specific efforts to help participants and caregivers cope with stigma

and discrimination
Clinical support
• Structured needs assessments and clinical reviews to tailor treatment plans

• Individualized rehabilitation and adherence management strategies

• Strategies to address physical health problems in participants

T R E AT M E N T
• The anti-psychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia have helped researchers to move backwards to trace the
affect and signature of disorder on the brain.

• The traditional anti-psychotics used like Phenoziazins, Butyrophenons, Thiohaxanes block dopamine

receptors. They can be very effective in treating positive symptoms which are linked to excess dopamine
in particular brain pathways. 

• But the same drugs can make the negative symptoms worse, and it is found that negative symptoms are
linked to very little dopamine in other brain areas. 

• Fortunately, newer generations of antipsychotics aim to address some of these issues by targeting multiple
neurotransmitters, like serotonin in addition to dopamine.

• There are certain complications linked with anti-psychotics like weight gain but they can be very effective.
When linked with other remedies like cognitive-behavourial therapy and electroconvulsive therapy. 

• Early intervention is extremely important.