These include problems with concentration, attention, and memory and make it difficult for individuals to learn things, remember appointments, or follow a conversation. Cognitive functioning is a good predictor of day-to-day functioning and is assessed via tests. Symptoms include:
Negative symptoms can be confused with depression or other mental health symptoms because there is an overlap. For example, individuals can experience apathy, anhedonia, loss of motivation, withdrawal and isolation, detachment and difficulties in normal functioning. Negative symptoms include:
These relate to how a person thinks, the way they experience the world, and their behaviour. People with psychotic symptoms seem to experience a distorted reality, that is different to others’ experience. Psychotic symptoms can occur intermittently, or they may be present all the time. The way they manifest varies between individuals and includes:
Genetics: There is no one gene that causes schizophrenia, however it can run in families. This is possibly due in part to the sharing of a combination of many different genes that may increase the likelihood of its development.
Environment: In combination with genetics, the environmental factors that a person experiences as they grow is thought to play a role in the development of schizophrenia. For example, experiencing poverty, danger, stressful surroundings, and prenatal illness, and malnutrition.
Brain structure and function: The size of certain brain areas, as well as the connection between parts of the brain differ when comparing people with schizophrenia and those without. Some of this occurs before birth so may predispose an individual to schizophrenia.
Often individuals are prescribed antipsychotic medication and it is shown that those who also have talking therapies are more likely to manage their symptoms and therefore not require hospitalisation. At Phinity we will work with you (and your family) to understand your situation and your needs.
For example you may require managing your symptoms, improving daily functioning, working toward specific life goals, such as attaining a qualification, a job, or enjoying fulfilling relationships.
You may benefit from something like cognitive behavioural therapy, life coaching, behavioural skills training, or an integrative approach. After assessing your needs with you, we can work together to create an effective treatment plan that will benefit you and your goals.
You may wish to include your family in your support, and we can work with them as well. For example, they may wish to understand the symptoms of schizophrenia better, or how they can better support you and your treatment. By working together we can also offer loved ones a place to manage their difficulties and stress, and improve coping skills, and the ability to support you.
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