Schizophrenia is a psychiatric illness characterized by a severe personality split. Causes, symptoms, evolution, treatment: the explanations of our psychiatrists.
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder which evolves in a chronic form over time. Even if it cannot be cured, its management allows the patient to have the most normal quality of life possible. THE causes of this pathology are not precisely known. “It usually appears during adolescence, between 15 and 35 years old” tells us Dr. Patrick Lemoine, psychiatrist.
Definition: what is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia East mental illness which affects the thought, the emotional system as well as the behaviors of the person who suffers from it. This disease generally appears in early adulthood (in 85% of cases) and affects just under 1% of the population (about 1 in 100 people). Schizophrenia is classified in WHO ICD 11 as a psychotic disorder.
Is schizophrenia hereditary?
“A genetic factor is involved” repeats the psychiatrist. THE family members of a schizophrenic are ten times more likely to develop the disease than the whole population.
What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
As defined byWHOschizophrenia is characterized by delusions that affect thinking, perception, self-experience, cognition, motivation, affect, and behavior. THE basic symptoms are :
- THE persistent delusions (false ideas and thoughts that are in complete disagreement with the reality of the facts),
- hallucinations persistent (visual and auditory),
- thought disorders and experiences of influence, passivity or control
The schizophrenic person manifests a withdrawal into himself and difficulties in social relations. She also often suffers from paranoia and thinks conspiracies are directed against her.
What are the causes of schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia has no single known cause. Like many other mental illnesses, it seems to be due to a set of interacting factors: genetic, environmental, educational… Cannabis consumption at a young age is also considered a risk factor. “The disease is generally revealed during adolescence, between 15 and 35 years old. A genetic factor is involved, as well as environmental factors such as problems during fetal development and the consumption of psychotropic substances (cannabis, LSD, etc.)“says Dr. Patrick Lemoine, psychiatrist.
What is dysthymic or affective schizophrenia?
Dysthymic schizophrenia (sometimes called schizoaffective disorder or acute schizoaffective psychosis) is a form of schizophrenia that affects in particular the emotions and the cognitive faculties. Seizures are usually accompanied by manias and/or depressions with a suicidal tendency. The subject may be a victim of mania, delusions and paranoia. Treatment is based on psychotherapy and taking neuroleptics (tranquilizing drugs), sometimes combined with antidepressants.
What is hebephrenic schizophrenia?
In this form, which accounts for about 20% of schizophreniathe disease begins early, during adolescence, and it is the dissociative syndrome and withdrawal that are at the forefront. The delusional elements are often absent, the language is incoherent but the person seems indifferent to the outside world despite strong anxiety. Patients often refuse treatment, making it the most treatment-resistant form.
What is catatonic schizophrenia?
In catatonic forms, bodily symptoms (type of stiffness, maintenance of attitudes), and the cognitive deficit (with absence of initiatives, weakening of abilities, affective indifference, silence) predominate and isolate the patients socially. Some language disorders and the course of thought are present as echoing repetition or mimicry. Treatment is difficult and should be aimed at maintaining a diet and relationship life. It’s here most severe form of schizophrenia.
Who to consult in case of doubt?
The psychiatrist is the medical specialist in mental illnesses, and therefore in schizophrenia, both for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. It is the general practitioner who sends to the consultation of a psychiatrist.
► Neuroleptics are central to the drug treatment of schizophrenia. They act in particular on the positive symptoms and more particularly on delirium, which they allow to curb well. “They are less effective on verbal hallucinations, for example, notes Professor Franck. The principle is to restore a balance.
► Another part of the treatment, in addition to drugs, cognitive remediation allows you to work on the negative symptoms of the disease. It is a method of training certain brain processes: attention, memory, concentration, etc. Thanks to the treatment, the patients can have the hope of returning to work, of living independently… “The principle is to manage to stabilize the disease and to achieve remission because it is certain that it is not possible to cure, in the literal sense of the word, disease. One way or another, we always manage to help them and in the best of cases, they even manage to become independent.”
► Patients also undergo psychotherapy which allows them to take stock of the evolution of the symptoms, the effects of the treatments and the events that may have destabilized him. The goal of psychotherapy is to reduce both the symptoms positive, negative, cognitive, behavioral, and affective taking into account the phase of the disease and the particular needs of the patient.
“After treatment and depending on the form of the disease, it is possible for some patients to lead a normal life”
“After treatment and depending on the form of the disease, it is possible for some patients to lead a normal life: get married, have children, work, housing, reassures, however, Professor Nicolas Franck, psychiatrist. For others, the acquisition of a certain autonomy (take your treatment, have a job, take care of yourself) is a reasonable goal. Finally, others will always need assistance. There are many things to consider, but taking care always helps patients in one way or another.”
Schizophrenia and suicide
“There schizophrenia suffers from a poor image and the patient’s illness is taboo. As a result, access to care for patients is often late. This is also why the suicides are very common among people with schizophrenia” explains Professor Franck. “It is very important that relatives are not in denial, that they maintain the dialogue with the patient, that they bring him to consult... Even if it is difficult for them to admit that one of their own has schizophrenia.” To improve the patient’s life and help him overcome his troubles, it is necessary to consult as soon as possible. “As in many cases, the earlier the treatment, the more effective the treatment. THE delirium, in particular, is reversibleit is possible to improve the life of the patient”, adds Professor Franck. In case of imminent danger for him or a third party, it is absolutely necessary to call the emergency services (firefighters at 18). If there is an emergency, the law of June 27, 1990 allows, in case of danger, to hospitalize a patient without his consent at the request of a third party.
Thanks to Dr Patrick Lemoine and Pr Nicolas Franck, psychiatrists.