By: Ally Freeman

WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder where a person uncontrollably experiences delusions, hallucinations, odd behaviors and bizarre emotions. A person with schizophrenia will have trouble navigating everyday life, for example, they may lose their job, make poor grades in school, and have trouble maintaining close relationships. As a result, this disorder will also impact the patient’s family and friends. People who seek medical and psychiatric treatment for schizophrenia and are compliant with their regimen, can live fully functional and normal lives. 

WHAT IS THE SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM?

The schizophrenia spectrum is a collection of disorders that symptomatically very similar but are clinically different in terms of the length of time the symptoms last. None of the symptoms that the patient is experiencing can be a result or explained by medication or substance use. 

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?

Brief psychotic disorder usually presents in a time of exorbitant emotional or mental distress. For example, the loss of a family member or loss of a job can be the trigger.  

Schizotypal personality disorder generally presents in either childhood or early adulthood and can affect males and females equally. A person who develops schizotypal personality disorder has an increased likelihood of developing schizophrenia in the future, especially if a first-degree family member has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

Delusional disorder more commonly affects people with a first-degree family history of schizophrenia. 

Schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia can affect males and females equally, but men usually present earlier than women. It is usually diagnosed when a person is in their teenage years into their early thirties. People who are female, present later and have positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions) have a better prognosis than those who present earlier, are of the male gender, and have negative symptoms (flat affect, poor posture, absence of goal-directed activities). A patient is at a higher risk of developing either of these disorders if they have a first-degree family member who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

HOW CAN WE TREAT SCHIZOPHRENIA?

According to the Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: DSM-5 Selections, a patient’s culture and religion must be considered when treating a patient on the schizophrenia spectrum. Depending on the severity, patients who are diagnosed with any of the disorders mentioned above can be treated, although there is no cure. Psychotherapy is a therapy method that focuses on a patient’s symptoms and behaviors, with the goal of making daily life, relationships, and other areas easier to maintain. The best way to treat disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum is by utilizing therapy and antipsychotic medications simultaneously. Without compliance, the patient may be more likely to relapse or experience severe psychosis and therefore may need temporary hospital admission (Latorre, et. al, 2020). 

REFERENCES:

1. American, P. A. (2015). Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders : Dsm-5® selections. American Psychiatric Publishing.
2. Latorre, V., Papazacharias, A., Lorusso, M., Nappi, G., Clemente, P., Spinelli, A., Carrieri, G., D’Ambrosio, E., Gattullo, M., Uva, A. E., & Semisa, D. (2020). Improving the “real life” management of schizophrenia spectrum disorders by LAI antipsychotics: A one-year mirror-image retrospective study in community mental health services. PloS one, 15(3), e0230051. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230051
3. Pance prep pearls : a medical study and review guide for the pance, panre & medical examinations (2nd ed.). (2017). . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.