Simple Schizoprenia Overview

Definition, Incidence, Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Types, Rehabilitation, Support

1. SCHIZOPHRENIA

2. DEFINITION Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, debilitating mental illness

3. DEFINITION Characterized by: Psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations) Disorganization symptoms Negative symptoms and, sometimes, Cognitive impairment

4. INCIDENCE Affects about 1% of the population over the age of 18 or, in other words, at any one time as many as 51 million people worldwide

5. INCIDENCE Is one of the only disorders known to exist in every culture and society around the world. Affects men and women equally.

6. TYPES

7. TYPES The ICD-10 further defines two additional subtypes:

8. TYPES Post-schizophrenic depression A depressive episode arising in the aftermath of a schizophrenic illness where some low-level schizophrenic symptoms may still be present Simple Schizophrenia

9. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS -Delusions -Hallucinations -Disorganized speech -Disorganized behaviors -Catatonic behaviors Positive, more overtly psychotic symptoms

10. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS -Inhibition of facial expressions -Lack of speech -Lack of motivation Negative, potentially less overtly psychotic symptoms

11. SIMPLE SCHIZOPHRENIA Simple schizophrenia is classified F20.6 in ICD-10 An uncommon disorder in which there is an insidious and progressive development of prominent negative symptoms with no history of psychotic episodes

12. SIMPLE SCHIZOPHRENIA Delusions and hallucinations are not evident, and the disorder is less obviously psychotic than the disorganized, paranoid, and catatonic subtypes of schizophrenia

13. SIMPLE SCHIZOPHRENIA The characteristic “negative” features of residual schizophrenia (e.g. blunting of affect, loss of volition) develop without being preceded by any overt psychotic symptoms.

14. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Slowly progressive development over a period of at least one year, of all three of the following:

15. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA 1 (a) Loss of drive and interests, aimlessness, self-absorbed attitude and social withdrawal that progress. (b) Gradual appearance and deepening of negative symptoms such as marked apathy, lack of speech, under activity, blunting of affect, passivity and lack of initiative, and poor non-verbal communication. (c) Marked decline in social, scholastic or occupational performance.

16. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA 2 Absence , at any time, of hallucinations and well formed delusions of any kind 3 Absence of evidence of dementia or any other organic disorder

17. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA The only primary symptom is the withdrawal of the person from social and work related situations.

18. ARE ANY TESTS NEEDED? Blood and urine tests may be done to rule out physical causes of the symptoms or drug/alcohol use. Chronic Cannabis use leads to Amotivational syndrome.

19. MANAGEMENT There is no cure for schizophrenia, but consistent ongoing compliance with a multifaceted treatment program can often effectively control symptoms and prevent relapses of acute episodes of symptoms .

20. MANAGEMENT TREATMENT INCLUDES: Medications Psychotherapy Rehabilitation

21. ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION Antipsychotic drugs tend to work best to ease positive symptoms, and tend not to work so well to ease negative symptoms Due to the lack of positive symptoms in simple schizophrenia, the scope of antipsychotic medications are limited

22. PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) The patient may be asked to keep a diary of important events in their life and the way they feel about them. The therapist may challenge their beliefs and ask them to explain. They may be asked to try out new ways of behaving and reacting

23. PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Studies have found that, on average, CBT reduces the chance of being admitted or readmitted to hospital, can reduce symptom severity and can improve social functioning

24. PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS This may be offered and consists of about 10 therapy sessions for relatives of patients with schizophrenia FAMILY INTERVENTION

25. PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS It has been found to reduce hospital admissions and the severity of symptoms for up to two years after treatment FAMILY INTERVENTION

26. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION Rehabilitation is the tertiary prevention process of helping the person who has a serious mental illness return to the highest possible level of functioning Vocational Rehabilitation would not be complete without assistance with job training, finding and retraining Retraining is a significant component of vocational rehabilitation. Schizophrenics sometimes want to go back to school to retrain for something new or to finish something they have already started

27. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION A point to keep in mind is to remind families and friends to value whatever the individual spends his or her time at The structured routine that employment offers provides a welcome diversion from unpleasant preoccupations

28. SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT Families, friends and local support groups are major sources of help

29. ENCOURAGING PHYSICAL HEALTH People with schizophrenia, along with everyone else in the population, are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle - not to smoke, to take regular exercise, to eat healthily, etc.

30. LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA Many people diagnosed with schizophrenia are still able to live normal, happy lives For those diagnosed with the disorder, it is very important that they continue to take their medication and abstain from drugs and drinking