What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a rare but serious disorder that affects about 1.2% of Americans, and some of the LifeWorks NW consumers have this disorder. It causes hallucinations, disorganized thinking, disruption of sleep patterns, and so much more. We have specialized teams and services using Evidence-Based Practices to support clients with schizophrenia. Our long-term goal is to support you in finding the path to a healthy and balanced life. We help you learn to manage schizophrenia by increasing preventative care, psychiatric supports, care management, shared decision making, plus individual and family support.
Schizophrenia Symptoms
Typically, schizophrenia presents itself when a person seems disassociated or “out of touch” with reality. It can be difficult to see or understand, but the most common symptoms include:
- Irregular speech
- Anger, inappropriate or lack of emotions
- Delusions, paranoia, hallucinations
- Depression or anxiety
- Problems with sleep or appetite
- Mental confusion, concentration or memory problems
- Changes in energy level, low motivation
If you are interested in learning more about symptoms, or if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the LifeWorks NW team.
Types of Schizophrenia
Paranoid schizophrenia: The most prominent symptom is delusion or paranoia, and hallucinations are frequent.
Disorganized schizophrenia: Symptoms are characterized by confused speech and behavior, such as words that don’t make sense or speech that is difficult to understand; behavior that appears strange or bizarre; and difficulty taking care of their basic needs, as with bathing, dressing or making simple meals.
Catatonic schizophrenia: Often attributed to untreated schizophrenia, this type refers to those who have trouble with movement. Movement is largely difficult, or there are more repetitive and irregular movements such as rocking or grimacing.
Residual schizophrenia: This type is for those who do not experience extreme symptoms but still show 2-3 symptoms of schizophrenia.
Undifferentiated schizophrenia: Common symptoms of schizophrenia are still present; however, behavior does not specifically fit into the above categories.
Schizophrenia Causes
There is a wide range of factors that are understood to cause schizophrenia. These include:
- Chemical imbalances in the brain
- Genetic, family history of mental illness
- Traumatic brain injury
- Drug use
- Stress or trauma
Schizophrenia Services & Treatment
- Medication management & support
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Peer support services
- Supported employment/education
- Integrated care which includes behavioral & physical health
If you would like any additional information or if you have questions about schizophrenia, please feel free to call 503-645-9010 or contact LifeWorks NW today.