Schizophrenia
schizophrenia; psychosis; mental; illness; delusion; hallucination; voice; depression ;
Contents
People with schizophrenia have times when they become severely disturbed in their behaviour, thoughts and feelings (psychosis). During these times, which can last for many months unless they are treated, people with schizophrenia may lose touch with reality and be unable to make sensible and reasonable decisions about their health or their actions.
Usually people have the symptoms of schizophrenia for the first time when they are between 16 and 30 years old. Males tend to have an earlier onset than females.
It is important to remember that many young people act in unusual ways as they cope with all the challenges of growing up, so strange behaviour may not mean that your young person has schizophrenia. However if you are unsure, especially if your young person is behaving in ways that are very different from other young people of their age, it is worth talking it over with a doctor as early help is important with mental illness.
About schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia is a mental illness which is more likely to happen to people who are related to someone who also has schizophrenia, but people who have schizophrenia are not always related to someone who has it, and most people with a relative who has schizophrenia do not get the illness.
- About one person in every hundred people gets schizophrenia. The risk is higher if there are family members with the illness eg up to 10 percent if a brother or sister has schizophrenia and up to 20 percent if a parent has the illness. First cousins, uncles and aunts have a slightly higher risk than other people.
- People who have had a very difficult birth or who have great difficulty making friends and getting on with other people may sometimes go on to get schizophrenia.
- However it is important to remember that most people do not get it, even if they have these risk factors.
The most common age of getting the first illness of schizophrenia is 15-25 for men, and 25-35 for women, but it can happen at a younger or older age.
The first illness may seem to come on very suddenly but often, before this, parents will have noticed that things are gradually going wrong with their young person's behaviour or feelings.
- For example the young person may be depressed, irritable, have sleep problems, be doing worse at school or work, starting to get untidy or dressing strangely.
- She may become isolated, with few if any friends.
- Many adolescents behave like this at times, but it is of concern if the behaviours are different from what other young people are doing, if it keeps getting worse and lasts for a long time.
- The pychosis of schizophrenia may be triggered off by using drugs such as marijuana or LSD, and sometimes it can be hidden by using drugs as people think the behaviour is due to the drugs and not the illness.
- Stress is one of the things that can bring on episodes of illness.
Being the illness of schizophrenia does not always go on for a very long time: 25 percent of people fully recover from having it once and do not become ill again, about 50 percent have some ongoing problems and about 20-30 percent do badly and do not get better despite treatment.
- Relapses can occur even with treatment, especially under stress.
- More than 70 percent of people with schizophrenia become depressed at some time during their illness.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
There are three different groups of signs and symptoms that a person might have with schizophrenia:
Psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Delusions and hallucinations are when people believe or hear or see things that are not actually there. This can be very frightening for the person. For example a young person might:
- hear noises or voices (perhaps talking about him), when no-one is speaking (hallucinations),
- have experiences no-one else thinks are true, such as feeling under the control of some person or force, or believing that the TV or radio have special personal messages
- thinking someone is out to hurt him (paranoia)
- feeling that thoughts are being put into his head that are not his own
- feeling that his thoughts are being sent out to other people against his will.
Symptoms that interfere with normal living such as seeming to lack feeling, or enjoyment or interest in things that would normally interest young people.
- Losing interest in friends and not wanting to be with other young people
- Losing interest in doing things that the young person used to like doing
- Not taking an interest in self care e.g. personal hygiene such as washing and taking care of her appearance
- Restlessness
- Not being able to pay attention and concentrate
- Not being able to make plans.
Disorganised symptoms such as strange behaviour, and thoughts. When they are talking they can be hard to follow. They seem to jump around in their speech without making sense.
Also people suffering from schizophrenia may have other symptoms such as anxiety or depression, fears or compulsive behaviour (feeling that the person has to do something, often the same thing, over and over).
Trigger factors
Trigger factors are things which do not cause the illness but which can start an attack of the illness.
Factors which may start an attack of schizophrenia include:
- Drug or alcohol use. If there is a family history of schizophrenia it would be best to avoid drugs such as cannabis and LSD.
- Stressful life events
- Recent physical illness
- Family conflict
- Study or work pressures.
- When people develop the psychosis of schizophrenia they often do not know that they need help, or that treatment can help them to feel better, so it is important to make sure that they are getting treatment. You may need to take them to a doctor yourself.
- Some people with schizophrenia will need help with daily living, sometimes in the family home, sometimes in supported accommodation.
- Young people with schizophrenia do better if they have support from their family.
- Often they need help to make sure they take their medicine. Medicine should not be stopped without the advice of a doctor (preferably the psychiatrist who is treating the person). Medicines will need to be taken for many months, often years. The treatments also can have side effects, and the person may need help to know that even with the side effects it is still better to take the medicine.
- They may need help to find things to do that can help them feel worthwhile.
- They are best supported when you are not over-involved or protective, but you are still there for them so they know you care and you can make sure they are taking care of themselves and their health.
- Make sure that the doctor is aware of any changes in the young person’s condition or behaviour. Often if there is another attack it will start in a similar way to other times so parents and family can get to recognise when help is needed.
Emergency action
- If your young person under 18 is severely disturbed and acting in a very unusual way that is likely to be harmful to himself or herself, or other people you need immediate medical help. In South Australia call the Flinders Medical Centre (Ph: 8204 5511) or The Women's and Children's Hospital (Ph: 8161 7000). Both have a psychiatrist on duty at all times.
- If the young person is over 18 years of age, in South Australia call ACIS - Ph: 13 14 65 - (emergency psychiatric service) 24 hours a day every day. They will home visit if needed.
- If the young person has a weapon or there appears to be immediate danger call the Police.
There is a higher risk of suicide with schizophrenia.
Resources
South Australia
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
- Northern Region 8161 7389
(based at the Women's & Children's Hospital) Click here
- Southern Region 8326 1234
(based at the Flinders Medical Centre) Click here
- Mental Illness Fellowship of SA. Ph 8221 5160 (For people with schizophrenia, their family, friends and other interested people).
http://www.mifsa.org/
Australia
Books for parents
Rey, Joseph, "Is my teenager in trouble: a parent's guide to serious adolescent problems", Simon and Schuster, 2000.
References
Hazell, Philip, "Differentiating 'adolescent-ness' from madness", in Modern Medicine of Australia, April, 1997 p114-120.
Ellis P M & Smith D A R, "Treating depression: The beyondblue guidelines for treating depression in primary care." Medical Journal of Australia.
www.mja.com.au/public/issues/176_10_200502/ell10082_fm.html
EPPIC (Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre) 'Psychosis and young people: fact sheet'
http://www.eppic.org.au
Medical Journal of Australia, Supplement - Early Intervention in Youth Mental Health 2007 Click here
Medical Journal of Australia, Supplement: Schizophrenia Vol 178, 5 May 2003.
http://www.mja.com.au/
Mueser KT, McGurk SR ‘Schizophrenia’ The Lancet, Vol 363, June 19, 2004 p 2063-72
http://www.thelancet.com/
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.