Schizophrenia
Signs & Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that is less common than other mental health disorders, but can significantly impact a person’s life. This mental illness affects a person’s thinking, feelings, and behaviors. To others, it may appear that the person has lost touch with reality.
Symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin to onset between the ages of 16 and 30 and are present for at least 6 months. Symptoms include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech and behavior
- Problems expressing emotion – appear to have a flat affect and show little facial expressions
- Have problems feeling pleasure
- Trouble starting or sustaining activities
A trained mental health professional should evaluate the person and make the diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental illness of which there is no cure for. Therefore, treatment approaches have a goal to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the illness. Reduction of symptoms can lead to an improvement of life quality and an increased ability to function. Treatment approaches generally are a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
At Arbor Place, we have professionals in our outpatient clinic who can work with you to treat schizophrenia. Don’t wait – things can get better.