Schizophrenia

Question: How is schizophrenia different than bipolar disorder? I have states that are incredibly intense when I have nonstop racing thoughts that I can't stop. I found Zyprexa helps, which is also prescribed for schizophrenia. The closest term I heard is that I have mixed episodes; but it's truly terrifying; like a bad acid trip.

Answer: Schizophrenia doesn't involve mood swings. Practice one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are addressed in sections 10, and 40, at ezy build. (The following is a variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective. It is easy to be dismissive of such a seemingly unusual technique, but give it a good tryout, for at least a few weeks, to see if it is effective in your case.). Prior to using either of the methods in the above paragraph, first sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally, if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel. Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time. Some people may find that this is all they need do. With experience, you may find that you can practise this in public, with your eyes closed, which greatly widens the window of opportunity for its use, and avoids attracting unwanted attention. I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over. Consider taking classes in t'ai chi, and/or yoga. Chamomile tea may help.

Question: What is the difference between schizophrenia and severe depression with psychotic features? It appears to me that the two diagnoses are very similar..could it be that severe depression with psychotic episodes is a more conservative diagnisis than schizophrenia? Maybe the first step of diagnosis for schizophrenia? Insight please, and try to explain your answers as in depth as possible.

Answer: Depression is not part of the diagnositic criteria for schizophrenia, although many schizophrenics do have depression. You might find this description helpfull: http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/schiz.htm

Question: What are my chances of having schizophrenia if my mother had it? I'm worried about my chances of being diagnosed with schizophrenia since my mother has been suffering from it since she was in her thirties. I'm a 19 yr. old male. I wouldnt say I've always been antisocial but I do tend to prefer smaller crowds and enjoy alone time. I realize that If I were predisposed to getting schizophrenia I could decrease my chances by taking certain precautions, but how affecting are they and what are they specifically?

Answer: first don't worry until something happens to make you worry. yes this kind of illness does run in family's and can be genetic but that's not to say your going to get it no matter what, all it means is that your at higher risk then the general population of having it. relax live your life for the now and very important that you don't do drugs. If you are that concerned you can get a brain scan done as that disorder shows a number of differences in the brains activates. take care good luck

Question: What exactly is borderline schizophrenia, and how would you know if you had it? I was curious as to what borderline schizophrenia was, and how you would know if you had it.

Answer: "Borderline Schizophrenia" is not a real term as far as I know, but it may have been an old fashioned term for Borderline Personality Disorder many years ago. Schizophreniform Disorder is an early stage form of schizophrenia where the patient has some symptoms but not others; this diagnosis isn't used very often, though. Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders are have some similarities to schizophrenia but are not as severe. Some people diagnosed with these personality disorders may later develop schizophrenia. The basic symptoms of schizophrenia are psychosis (hallucination and/or delusions), disorganized thinking, blunted emotions and social withdrawal.

Question: What are the chances of me passing on schizophrenia? Ok, I'm 25. I have 3 younger brothers that which 2 out of 3 have schizophrenia. I do NOT. My boyfriend & I want kids, but I don't think I can deal with this again. What do you think are my honest chances of passing on schizophrenia?

Answer: I found a webpage with a **fantastic** chart: http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/FAQoffspring.htm It's about 1/5 of the way down the page. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea. Consider a donated egg. I have a mental disorder, and life sucks. No way I would do that to a child. Cruel.

Question: What is the difference between Schizophrenia and Schizo Effective? I have heard of Schizophrenia, but now I recently heard about another disorder called Schizo Effective. What is the difference in them?

Answer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizoaffective_disorder Sorry I can't be of more help.

Question: What are some statistics about schizophrenia? I am doing a research projects about schizophrenia and I cant find any good statistics about it.. Can you help me, please?

Answer: The best source in the world for any and all mental health disorders is the DSM IV-TR. It should be available in the library of a university, but if psychology is an interest of yours it would be a good buy. If psychology is your major it is most likely that you will need one in the future, anyway. the DSM IV-TR has diagnostic and statistical information for every recognized mental disorder, and a very extensive section on schizophrenia.

Question: What are my chances of devolping schizophrenia is both my mother and my grandmother have it? Just so you know, i dont live with my mother anymore. I live with a relative. Im 13, and both my mother and my grandmother have it, and im not sure about my great-grandmother, etc. i know its genetic. I do get paranoid sometimes, but honestly, who doesnt? and id there anything i can do to reduce my chances of devolping schizophrenia?

Answer: They are rather high, but you may not get it as severe. Please talk to a doctor about your concerns. ~Hildegard Alexandra Robusk~

Question: What are some illnesses that have similar symptoms to Schizophrenia? I'm just curious and this is not to offend anyone, but a lot of the symptoms of Schizophrenia sound like symptoms of other mental illnesses. Since there is no proven way of diagnosing someone Schizophrenic, then what are some illnesses that could be mistaken for Schizophrenia? You can be diagnosed with it but there is no way to prove for sure. They have to go by what symptoms a person has and assume, which I think is pretty much BS, because like the first answerer said, it could just be anxiety overload.

Answer: I am not an expert but I have known some people with schizophrenia and it truly is a distinct illness. There can be different kinds I realize but when people are hallucinating or being directed to do or think irrational things by their own thoughts it is not just anxiety. True schizophrenia is not BS is it a real illness. I know some illnesses are not as clearly recognizable and may be used for people inappropriately but I have never known schizophrenia to be like that. Unless you think the person is making up their symptoms for some reason. I think time is the greatest factor because unfortunately schizophrenia does not go away. Some people can be treated effectively with medication but many can't and sometimes the meds loose their effectiveness or cause too many side effects. If you have someone in your life with this problem you should try to be supportive and be there for them however you can.

Question: What are the chances of getting schizophrenia from parents? Let's say one parent has a mild case of schizophrenia and has two children. What are the chances the two of them will get this disorder?

Answer: You need to ask a real qualified Doctor.

Question: Schizophrenia? How many symptoms of schizophrenia do you need to have to be diagnosed with it. Also, what would be the very, very fisrt signs of schizophrenia?

Answer: In order to be diagnosed with Schizophernia your must display at least 1-month duration of two or more positive symptoms, unless hallucinations or delusions are especially bizarre, in which case one alone suffices for diagnosis. As far as early signs, everyone is different, but I did find this quite lengthy list:........ Examples of Physical Symptoms---- --A blank, vacant facial expression. An inability to smile or express emotion through the face is so characteristic of the disease that it was given the name of affective flattening or a blunt affect. --Overly acute senses- lights are too bright, sounds are too loud. --Staring, while in deep thought, with infrequent blinking. --Clumsy, inexact motor skills --Sleep disturbances- insomnia or excessive sleeping --Involuntary movements of the tongue or mouth (facial dyskinesias). Grimacing at the corners of the mouth with the facial muscles, or odd movements with the tongue. --Parkinsonian type symptoms- rigidity, tremor, jerking arm movements, or involuntary movements of the limbs --An awkward gait (how you walk) --Eye movements- difficulty focusing on slow moving objects --Unusual gestures or postures --Movement is speeded up- i.e. constant pacing --Movement is slowed down- staying in bed (in extreme cases, catatonia) Examples of Feelings/Emotions---- --The inability to experience joy or pleasure from activities (called anhedonia) --Sometimes feeling nothing at all --Appearing desireless- seeking nothing, wanting nothing --Feeling indifferent to important events --Feeling detached from your own body (depersonalization) --Hypersensitivity to criticism, insults, or hurt feelings Examples of Mood---- --Sudden irritability, anger, hostility, suspiciousness, resentment --Depression- feeling discouraged and hopeless about the future --Low motivation, energy, and little or no enthusiasm --Suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideation --Rapidly changing mood- from happy to sad to angry for no apparent reason (called labile mood) --Severe Anxiety Changes in Behavior associated with schizophrenia ---- --Dropping out of activities and life in general --Inability to form or keep relationships --Social isolation- few close friends if any. Little interaction outside of immediate family. --Increased withdrawal, spending most of the days alone. --Becoming lost in thoughts and not wanting to be disturbed with human contact --Neglect in self-care- i.e. hygiene, clothing, or appearance --Replaying or rehearsing conversations out loud- i.e. talking to yourself (very common sign) --Finding it difficult to deal with stressful situations --Inability to cope with minor problems --Lack of goal-directed behavior. Not being able to engage in purposeful activity --Functional impairment in interpersonal relationships, work, education, or self-care --Deterioration of academic or job-related performance --Inappropriate responses- laughing or smiling when talking of a sad event, making irrational statements. --Catatonia- staying in the same rigid position for hours, as if in a daze. --Intense and excessive preoccupation with religion or spirituality --Drug or alcohol abuse --Smoke or have the desire to want to smoke (70-90% do smoke) - note: this is a very normal behavior for people who do not have schizophrenia also! --Frequent moves, trips, or walks that lead nowhere Examples of Cognitive Problems Associated with Schizophrenia ---- --Ruminating thoughts- these are the same thoughts that go around and round your head but get you nowhere. Often about past disappointments, missed opportunities, failed relationships. --Making up new words (neologisms) --Becoming incoherent or stringing unrelated words together (word salad) --Frequent loose association of thoughts or speech- when one thought does not logically relate to the next. For example, "I need to go to the store to buy some band-aids. I read an article about how expensive AIDS drugs are. People take too many street drugs. The streets should be clean from the rain today, etc" The need to go to the store to buy band-aids is forgotten. --Directionless- lack goals, or the ability to set and achieve goals --Lack of insight (called anosognosia). Those who are developing schizophrenia are unaware that they are becoming sick. The part of their brain that should recognize that something is wrong is damaged by the disease. --Racing thoughts --In conversation you tend to say very little (called poverty of speech or alogia) --Suddenly halting speech in the middle of a sentence (thought blocking) --Trouble with social cues- i.e. not being able to interpret body language, eye contact, voice tone, and gestures appropriately. --Often not responding appropriately and thus coming off as cold, distant, or detached. --Difficulty expressing thoughts verbally. Or not having much to say about anything. --Speaking in an abstract or tangential way. Odd use of words or language structure --Difficulty focusing attention and engaging in goal directed behavior --Poor concentration/ memory. Forgetfulness --Nonsensical logic --Difficulty understanding simple things --Thoughts, behavior, and actions are not integrated --Obsessive compulsive tendencies- with thoughts or actions --Thought insertion/ withdrawal- thoughts are put it or taken away without a conscious effort --Conversations that seem deep, but are not logical or coherent Examples of Delusions---- The most common type of delusion or false beliefs are paranoid delusions. These are persecutory in nature and take many forms: --Overpowering, intense feeling that people are talking about you, looking at you --Overpowering, intense feeling you are being watched, followed, and spied on (tracking devices, implants, hidden cameras) --Thinking that someone is trying to poison your food --Thinking people are working together to harass you --Thinking that something is controlling you- i.e. an electronic implant --Thinking that people can read your mind/ or control your thoughts --Thinking that your thoughts are being broadcast over the radio or tv --Delusions of reference- thinking that random events convey a special meaning to you. An example is that a newspaper headline or a license plate has a hidden meaning for you to figure out. That they are signs trying to tell you something. --Religious delusions- that you are Jesus, God, a prophet, or the antichrist. --Delusions of grandeur- the belief that you have an important mission, special purpose, or are an unrecognized genius, or famous person. --Delusions that someone, often a famous person, is in love with you when in reality they aren't. Also called erotomania or de Clerembault syndrome. Examples of Hallucinations---- --Hallucinations are as real as any other experience to the person with schizophrenia. As many as 70% hear voices, while a lesser number have visual hallucinations. --Auditory hallucinations can be either inside the person's head or externally. When external, they sound as real as an actual voice. Sometimes they come from no apparent source, other times they come from real people who don't actually say anything, other times a person will hallucinate sounds. --When people hear voices inside their heads, it is as if their inner thoughts are no longer alone. The new voices can talk to each other, talk to themselves, or comment on the person's actions. The majority of the time the voices are negative. --Visual hallucinations operate on a spectrum. They start with the overacuteness of the senses, then in the middle are illusions, and on the far end are actual hallucinations. Disclaimer: The following symptoms overlap with many other diseases such as bipolar disorder, major depression, the various kinds of personality disorders (specifically paranoid and schizotypal personality disorders), and other problems such as brain tumors and temporal lobe epilepsy. There is no "typical" case of schizophrenia. Everyone has different symptoms. Seek the opinion of your doctor always.

Question: Is the dual diagnosis schizophrenia really considered as a split in personality? I've always heard people refer to schizophrenia as split personality. Is it true? I don't know much about schizophrenia but I'm really interested in it. Please answer my question. I will really appreciate it if you did.

Answer: No, schizophrenia does not involve a split in personality. If you base the meaning of the term on its etymology, you'll discover that it actually means 'to split the mind" not 'to split the personality'. Schizophrenia causes the affected person to hear voices that are not heard by others. This may result to the thinking that somebody else is manipulating their minds. Schizophrenics also develop speech difficulties that causes other people to think that they've turned into another personality.

Question: What is worse cancer or a mental disorder such as Schizophrenia? Cancer: Terminating disease(with few exceptions), you know you are going to die, you are prepared to die, you suffer, your family suffers but you have support and can manage life until you die. Schizophrenia: hallucinations, paranoia, you think every one is out to get you, can't function in a normal way, self consciousness, anxiety, depression, its so bad that 40% of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide, it CAN be treated but full recovery is unlikely. What do u think?

Answer: Both are terrible conditions, if I were to force my self to rate them I would go with Schizophrenia, its much more than hallucinations, paranoia, imagine if somebody would walk up to you and informed you that your mother doesn't exist, its all a figment of your imagination. The movie "Beautiful mind" is an excellent depiction of the life of a sufferer. As Alicia says in the movie, "How do you know for sure?". Now Imagine people walking up to you all day and informing you that your reality is not real.

Question: Am i going to get schizophrenia and what are the signs towards it? My mother is 50 years old and i knew she was bi polar and tonight i found out she has schizophrenia too from a nurse at the hospital she was sent to for going crazy out of no where tonight. I am very differnt from her and i am 17 years old. My dad side of the family has no disorders. How likely am i to develop schizophrenia, what are the begining symptoms to see if i see signs now, and any ohter info.

Answer: Sweetheart you would not recognize a sign if it run over you. as the sickness encroaches upon your mind it also removes rational thought. you will say to your self I am not crazy there is nothing wrong with me. all the crazy Sob's around me are nuts I an not. And Honey you will believe your self. self diagnosis is a very dangerous path you are wanting to take.

Question: How long does it take to develop schizophrenia? Does it differ between people? When the person first starts having paranoid thoughts / delusions and minor hallucinations can they doubt them at times when first developing it? How long does it take for it to set in completely while developing schizophrenia or related conditions?

Answer: Schizophrenia does not develop it strikes one suddenly, without warning, like being struck by lightning. It is however not a single disease but a spectrum of disorders. Diagnosis is based on the criteria in DSM-IV TR the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" of the American Psychiatric Association; it and the diagnoses made with it are all unscientifically based subjective opinions of psychiatrists. See www.psychconflicts.org for the truth about mental illness. I am a schizophrenic paranoid; I have been under the care (domination) of psychiatrists most of my adult life. I have been able to live a fairly normal life due to the TLC of Family, Friends, Doctors and Nurses. The latter two do not really know the cause(s) of schizophrenia. They for the most part sincerely believe in themselves and the medications they prescribe but med's. only help cope; they are no panacea. As for delusions; since hallucinating is usually a traumatic experience the beliefs one arrives at to explain these events are often weird and even bizarre according to ones education level and experiences. These are the delusions schizophrenics are so famous for.They differ between almost any two schizophrenics. I have doubted almost everything about the disorder from the start and still do.

Question: What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today? I watched "A Beautiful Mind" and I'd like to know how treatment of schizophrenia has changed over time.

Answer: The treatment with schizophrenia as with all mental illnesses has changed drastically over the years. They have more medications to treat mental illnesses today and quite effectively I might add. The problem is getting on the right mix of meds for U because everyone is different and you need to trial and error to get just the right mix. There are a plethora of medications today that were not available back in the 1960s. Mental illness is a chemical imbalance in the brain and while it is not cureable, it is treatable. Hope I answered your question.