Wednesday, July 1, 2009

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder which severely impacts a person’s ability to successfully express emotions, think logically, interact socially, and perceive reality. This disorder is not the same as multiple personality disorder, though it is often mistaken for it. While there is no known cause for the disease, it is clear that a genetic component exists. Some common symptoms of schizophrenia include:

These are just a few of the symptoms which can manifest, but symptoms vary widely from person to person as well as within the different types of schizophrenia. While it is not curable, there are treatments available to help reduce the severity of the symptoms and improve the lives of those who suffer from this debilitating disorder. Schizophrenia is most commonly treated with various antipsychotic medications such as Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Geodon, and Abilify. The treatment can also include psychotherapy as well as electroconvulsive therapy.
For more information on schizophrenia, visit:
About the author: Miranda Bartholomew is a behavioral health specialist with Aetna Behavioral Health.

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