Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a condition characterised by hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking. It affects the way you think and can change how you cope with daily activities, affecting your day-to-day life.
Common signs may involve seeing or believing things that aren’t real, having thoughts that are confusing and finding it challenging to stay motivated for everyday activities. It is estimated that around 1 in 100 people will develop schizophrenia, which typically starts during young adulthood.
Change Mental Health was established over 50 years ago by a dedicated group of individuals who were caring for loved ones with schizophrenia. With decades of experience, we are committed to providing understanding, support and resources for those affected by schizophrenia.
Common myths
People with schizophrenia are dangerous
Most individuals with schizophrenia are unlikely to display any form of dangerous behaviour. When they do, it’s more often directed towards self-harm rather than posing a threat to others.
People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities
Schizophrenia doesn’t have anything to do with one’s personality and is not a personality disorder. People with schizophrenia usually handle their altered perceptions in a way that reflects their typical personality.
If your parents have schizophrenia,
you will have it too
While having a mum or dad with schizophrenia can increase your chances, genetics does not fully determine if someone will get schizophrenia. There is no single gene associated with schizophrenia. Some people with schizophrenia have a family history without the condition.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects individuals uniquely, showing a variety of symptoms that can significantly impact daily life. The symptoms of schizophrenia are broadly categorised into positive and negative symptoms.
Positive symptoms
Despite their name, ‘positive symptoms’ are not beneficial. Instead, they refer to additional experiences that distort reality, commonly known as psychosis. These symptoms include:
- Hallucinations: Experiencing sensory inputs that are not present, with hearing voices being the most common type.
- Delusions: Holding strong beliefs that are not based, often involving paranoia or grandiosity.
- Disturbed Thoughts: Having thoughts and speech that are incoherent or nonsensical to others.
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms involve a reduction or loss of normal functions and abilities, leading to significant difficulties in daily life. These include:
- Lack of Motivation: Finding it hard to initiate and sustain activities.
- Poor Hygiene: Neglecting personal care and cleanliness.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Finding it hard to focus on tasks or conversations.
- Social Withdrawal: Preferring isolation over social interactions.
- Reduced Emotional Expression: Displaying fewer emotions through facial expressions or voice tone.
- Change in Sleep Patterns: Experiencing irregular sleep habits, such as insomnia or excessive sleeping.
Causes
Schizophrenia doesn’t have a specific cause, but it typically involves a mix of these factors:
- Genetic transmission/Family history
- Birth complications
- Chemical imbalances in the brain.
Sometimes, stressful events like losing a loved one or even stress over the cost-of-living crisis can trigger symptoms. It’s important to note that using psychoactive drugs such as cannabis is strongly linked to developing schizophrenia.
“My second eldest son became symptomatic with schizophrenia when he was 19. Up until then he had been a normal teenager – really musical and super-talented with lots of friends. One of his close friends died from cancer and that seemed to be a trigger for him becoming unwell.
“Schizophrenia is a thief that stole my brother from me.”
Lee, one of our Hearing Voices Outreach Workers, talks about her experience of caring for her son diagnosed with schizophrenia. Read more about Lee’s story.
Types of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that manifests in various forms, each with its distinct characteristics. Historically, schizophrenia was categorised into subtypes, but the latest diagnostic manuals, such as the DSM-5, have shifted away from this classification due to overlapping symptoms. However, understanding these traditional subtypes can still be useful for grasping the range of symptoms that individuals may experience. Here are some types:
Paranoid Schizophrenia
This type is characterised by prominent delusions and hallucinations. Individuals often have paranoid delusions, where they are anxious about being persecuted or plotted against. They might also experience auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices that others do not.
Disorganised
Schizophrenia
Also known as hebephrenic schizophrenia, this type is marked by disorganised speech and behaviour, as well as inappropriate or blunted emotional responses. It significantly impacts an individual’s ability to perform daily activities.
Catatonic Schizophrenia
This type is characterised by disturbances in movement, which can range from complete physical immobility to excessive movement. Individuals may exhibit unusual postures, resist movement or mimic the actions and speech of others.
Residual
Schizophrenia
This type describes individuals who have experienced at least one episode of schizophrenia but no longer display prominent positive symptoms like delusions or hallucinations. However, they may still exhibit negative symptoms and a reduced capacity to function.
Undifferentiated
Schizophrenia
Individuals with undifferentiated schizophrenia exhibit symptoms that do not clearly fit into the paranoid, disorganised or catatonic categories. They may display a mix of symptoms from each of these subtypes.
Schizoaffective
Disorder
A hybrid condition where individuals experience both schizophrenia
symptoms and mood disorder symptoms (e.g., depression or mania) at the same time.
Treatment
Schizophrenia is typically managed through a combination of therapy and medication tailored to each individual’s unique needs.
Antipsychotic Medication
Antipsychotic medications are often the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia. These medications help manage symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In some cases, your healthcare provider might also recommend antidepressants or other medications to address side effects related to antipsychotic drugs.
Therapy
Therapy plays a vital role in the comprehensive treatment of schizophrenia. One commonly used therapeutic approach is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT operates on the principle that our thoughts, beliefs, sensations and emotions are interconnected. By working on one aspect, CBT can positively influence the others. This therapy equips individuals with practical tools to manage their condition and reduce distress. You can read more about it on NHS inform.
How to support someone with schizophrenia
Supporting a loved one with schizophrenia can be challenging, but your understanding and encouragement can make a significant difference. Here are some ways to provide effective support:
- Listen actively: Be patient and listen without judgement. Allow your loved one to express their feelings and thoughts. Foster a safe environment for open and honest communication about their experiences and treatment.
- Assist with daily activities: Help with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, cooking or managing appointments, which can be challenging for someone with schizophrenia. Support them in establishing and maintaining a daily routine, which can provide structure and stability.
- Be patient and compassionate: Understand that the symptoms of schizophrenia can be unpredictable and challenging. Show empathy and avoid criticism. Celebrate small victories and progress, no matter how minor they may seem.
- Encourage treatment: Gently remind your loved one to take their medication and attend therapy sessions. Offer to accompany them to appointments if they are comfortable with it. Be aware of potential side effects from medications and help them communicate any concerns to their healthcare provider.
- Seep support for yourself: Join support groups for families and friends of people with schizophrenia to share experiences and gain insights. Ensure you also look after your own mental and physical health by establishing boundaries. Taking breaks and engaging in activities you enjoy is essential for maintaining your wellbeing.
support
Change Mental Health runs the Hearing Voices service in Tayside and Fife, to support people to live around their voices and other symptoms of schizophrenia. Our support pages share lived experiences from our staff and people supported within the service and how we support people to develop strategies when coping with schizophrenia. Getting support or medical advice from your GP will make treatment more effective.
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
