Call or Chat 24/7 at (866) 497-2736
Call or Chat 24/7 at (866) 497-2736
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder characterized by damage to key synapses in the brain that control actions, thoughts and feelings. This disordered function can cause a patient to have skewed perceptions about the world around them. These patients may also act out or withdraw from the outside world and others entirely.
Around 3.2 million Americans suffer from schizophrenia. This disorder typically appears during adolescence, but people can develop it in childhood or adulthood, as well.
Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that people must deal with their entire lives. They can, however, experience stretches of time when symptoms are less severe. When patients receive the right treatment, the disorder can be inactive, but these patients will need to continue their treatment in perpetuity in order to avoid a recurrence of symptoms.
The specific cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Many experts believe that there is a genetic driver at play. Environmental triggers, including being exposed to viruses during development, may increase the risk of developing the disorder. There are some risk factors for schizophrenia, including:
Schizophrenia affects may regions of the brain, resulting in a wide array of symptoms. The disease manifests very differently from one patient to the next. Some symptoms of the disorder include:
Many of these symptoms are present in other mental disorders. When patients work with a mental health professional, that person will run a differential diagnosis to make sure that other disorders are not present
Given the seriousness of a schizophrenia diagnosis, psychiatrists work hard to diagnose it correctly before beginning treatment. Diagnosing this disorder takes time. The first step typically is a physical exam during which the doctor looks for physical triggers of symptoms.
Next, a patient may undergo an MRI or CT scan so that doctors can observe any irregular activity in the brain. This helps rule out other problems, such as seizures, that might be causing symptoms.
Finally, a patient will receive a psychiatric evaluation. A patient will be asked to give a family and mental health history and list their symptoms. Some clients bring support people with them to these appointments. Sometimes, social workers are also involved.
After all the testing is complete, the diagnostic team references all data against the DSM-5 to determine whether or not the patient has schizophrenia.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Or Call Us 24/7 at
We are on a mission to improve the lives of people with mental health conditions.
34270 Pacific Coast Hwy
3rd Floor
Dana Point, CA 92629
Questions? Call now to speak confidentially with an admissions counselor.
Mental Health Treatment
Substance Mis-use Disorder Treatment
Call Us 24/7Â
Other Alter Sites
bewellline.com
mindfuli.com
alterdlifepodcast.com
Insurance benefits vary greatly depending on the policy you have, so we obtain a detailed quote of your coverate. It usually takes between sixty to ninety minutes depending on how fast we can connect with your insurance company and the time of day.
