Browsing: schizophrenia

Movies about schizophrenia and other mental illness abound in both the independent and major filmmaking industries. These movies provide exposure to the public about the realities of mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, which helps reduce the persistent, strong stigma surrounding these disorders.

You may think that the terms, schizophrenia and famous people, do not belong together, but think again. A number of famous people with schizophrenia have gone public with their illness in an effort to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Their courageous choice to speak openly about the challenges they face with schizophrenia helps others feel less alone in their struggles, reducing stigma and shame.

Mental illness and drugs are linked and schizophrenia and substance abuse particularly so. While most researchers believe that substance abuse does not cause schizophrenia, people with schizophrenia are much more likely to suffer from drug abuse.

Researchers have found, and are continuing to find, a strong link between schizophrenia and weed. It’s been known that using marijuana daily can cause paranoia and psychosis (in short, experiencing hallucinations and delusions and not being able to distinguish them from reality). It also can create symptoms very much like the negative symptoms of schizophrenia: decreased motivation, loss of a sense of pleasure, flat emotions, and other, similar, experiences.

Schizophrenia and family issues go hand-in-hand. Both children and young adults can develop the disorder (see Schizophrenia in Children: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments). People with schizophrenia experience a profoundly distorted reality, commonly accompanied by hallucinations, paranoid delusions, language disturbances, fragmented thought patterns, and several other disturbing symptoms.

Schizophrenia help, outside of regular visits to the doctor, takes a lead role in relieving the ravages of this mental disease – for both patient and family member caretakers. Patients and loved ones alike should take the reins and get informed about the available schizophrenia help resources and self-help options for the illness.

Find out about Tardive Dyskinesia, TD, a major side effect of prolonged treatment with the antipsychotic medications.

Schizophrenia patients make up about 1% of the general population (see Schizophrenia Statistics) but can be very difficult to treat, with schizophrenia patients taking up about 8% of the hospital beds. Moreover, people with severe mental illness, like schizophrenia patients, make up about 20%-25% of the homeless population.¹ There are a variety of reasons why schizophrenia patients are a challenge to successfully treat.

Therapy for Management of Schizophrenia While medication is considered the primary treatment for schizophrenia, therapy for schizophrenia is also critical…

Medication is currently the foundation of schizophrenia treatment. Other types of treatment, such as therapy and social skills training can be helpful, but they don’t do anything for the symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia medications can and do help relieve the symptoms of this serious mental illness.