Among all the possible problems with the psyche, schizophrenia occupies a special place.
it chronic illnessin which a person distorts the perception of reality and his own personality, emotional reactions.
This disease has several varieties. The most common paranoid form of schizophrenia.
General concept
Paranoid schizophrenia - what is it? Paranoid (or paranoid) schizophrenia is characterized primarily hallucinations and delusions.
However, other signs of schizophrenia, such as unrelated speech, movement disorders (catatonia), if present, are almost imperceptible.
Paranoid Schizophrenia - It is an independent version of paranoid schizophrenia with a systematic monothematic delusional syndrome that lasted for a long period.
Short story
The first mention of schizophrenia found back in ancient Egypt in the sixteenth century BC. Later, in the Middle Ages, Avicenna described this disease in his writings.
In an independent mental disorder schizophrenia was singled out by the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin.
In the twentieth century, it was definitively differentiated from delirium tremens, manic-depressive psychosis and other mental disorders.
At this time, the very term "schizophrenia", derived from the Greek "Cleavage of the mind". The causes and methods of treating schizophrenia are still the subject of study by psychiatrists.
What is characterized by?
Depending on which symptoms of the disease are most pronounced, paranoid schizophrenia is divided into delusional and hallucinatory.
Hallucinatory course of paranoid schizophrenia. With this type of disease, hallucinations are the most pronounced manifestation of the disease.
The hallucinations themselves are divided into several types:
- elementary visual hallucinations - manifest as flashes of light, lines, spots;
- subject - a person sees various objects, which can be both having a prototype in reality, and fully be a product of the patient's mind;
- zoopsy - hallucinations in the form of birds and animals;
- autoscopic hallucination - seeing oneself from the side or one’s twin;
- extracampine - it seems to the patient that he sees objects that are outside his field of vision;
- senesthopathy - the appearance of various, sometimes painful, sensations without a real reason;
- hearing - the so-called "voices", which sometimes tell the patient what to do.
Rarely appear taste or olfactory hallucinations.
Crazy for paranoid schizophrenia. In this embodiment, the patient has observed the continuous development of various delusions. This may be a delusion of persecution, when the patient is convinced that he was monitored by the special services, jealousy, nonsense, and other nonsense.
The difference between paranoia and schizophrenia
What is the difference between paranoia and schizophrenia?
Paranoia is a state of mind accompanied by delirium. In patients with schizophrenia, paranoid delusions are one of the symptoms, sometimes the most pronounced.
However, it is not always the presence of paranoia speaks of schizophrenia.
There are a number other mental illnessesalso accompanied by delirium. For example, the manic phase of bipolar affective disorder may result in psychosis, accompanied by delusions of persecution.
In paranoid disorders, there is no disintegration of the personality inherent in schizophrenia.
Thus, if there is paranoia, the diagnosis of "schizophrenia" will be made only if the patient has other symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
Most often the first manifestations of the disease appear at the age of 20-25, in women a little later than in men.
This disease develops gradually. At the initial stage, which can last for several years, the patient has obsessive ideas, a distorted perception of his personality.
Man becomes disturbing, suspicious, irritablemay show aggression. These symptoms manifest themselves sporadically, so often at this stage the disease remains unnoticed.
Over time, the range of interests of the patient narrows, it is difficult to interest something.
May also occur decrease in emotionalitywhich manifests itself in coldness, indifference to the problems of others.
Sometimes even the death of a loved one does not cause any emotion in a schizophrenic.
The patient may develop catatonic symptoms, manifested in excessive motor activity or, conversely, a stupor. At the last stage of the disease There is delusions, hallucinations. The course of the disease becomes chronic.
The reasons
Paranoid schizophrenia occurs as a result interruption of the interaction between brain neurons, resulting in problems with the transmission and processing of information.
At present, psychiatrists have not come to an unequivocal conclusion as to what factors lead to the development of schizophrenia in a patient.
According to studies, the emergence of this mental disorder contributes to a combination of several factors:
Heredity. The disease is inherited. Genetic predisposition is one of the major risk factors. The presence of close relatives suffering from this diagnosis increases the likelihood of developing
diseases by 10%.- Neurobiological causes. The interaction between the nerve cells of the brain is carried out with the help of certain chemicals.
- Problems of intrauterine development a child, that is, infectious diseases that the mother suffered during pregnancy or an unhealthy diet of a woman during this period.
- Stress. In the presence of predisposition, severe stress can be a trigger for the development of the disease.
- Psychotropic substance use (drugs, alcohol).
Heredity. The disease is inherited. Genetic predisposition is one of the major risk factors. The presence of close relatives suffering from this diagnosis increases the likelihood of developingThe breakdown of the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and acetylcholine in the body leads to the development of various mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
Types of disease
There are several options for the course of paranoid schizophrenia. The course of this disorder may be continuous and episodic. In turn, the episodic is subdivided into a flow with a growing defect, with a stable defect, and occasional remitting.
For continuous The course of schizophrenia is characterized by a gradual increase in the symptoms of mental disorder and subsequently their constant severity over the years.
With episodic during the course of the attacks of the disease alternate with periods of remission.
In the case of schizophrenia with a stable defect, the severity of symptoms remains at the same level from the attack to attack, while with the growing defect, the negative symptoms constantly increase.
It is also possible episodic remitting the course of paranoid schizophrenia, in which it is possible to bring the patient to a relatively stable remission.
Differential diagnostics
With the initial appearance of attacks of schizophrenia, a general medical diagnosis is necessary to rule out other diseases. To the patient MRI required, as some brain tumors can manifest symptoms similar to schizophrenia.
A similar picture can be observed with encephalitis, epilepsy, endocrine disorders and diseases of the central nervous system.
The doctor collects information about the features of the behavior of family members and possible mental diagnoses in relatives, since genetic predisposition plays a big role.
Among mental disorders, there are also a number of diseases similar in symptoms to schizophrenia (bipolar affective disorder, post-traumatic psychosis, schizoaffective disorder, substance abuse).
Therefore, for accurate diagnosis of "schizophrenia," the psychiatrist needs long-term patient monitoring - from six months to a year.
And the basis for the diagnosis will be the presence of several symptoms at once, which include hallucinations, paranoid delusions, incoherence of speech, manifestations of autism, emotional inadequacy.
Treatment methods
Acute attacks of paranoid schizophrenia require mandatory hospitalization and observation by a physician in the conditions hospital.
Drug treatment is to receive neurolepticsthat regulate the production of dopamine and serotonin. Traditionally used drugs such as haloperidol, teasercin, aminazin.
New generation drugs - clozapine, aripiprazole, rispolept and others.
Since schizophrenia is chronic, to prevent recurrent seizures, it is necessary to use a maintenance dose of drugs and after discharge. In addition to drug treatment, psychotherapy sessions are held.
Forecast
Unfortunately, now completely cure schizophrenia is impossible.
Paranoid schizophrenia can lead to serious personality changes and disability. Nevertheless, in some cases, it is possible to achieve long-term remission.
Many factors affect the prognosis of the disease. Hereditary Schizophrenia more difficult to treat. In men, the disease is usually harder than in women.
If for the first time a mental disorder manifested itself in an acute, rather than latent phase, and the patient was provided with timely psychiatric care, the chances of a favorable prognosis increase.
Paranoid schizophrenia in psychiatry: a case history.
Although paranoid schizophrenia is severe mental disorderher treatment methods are constantly being improved and a good quality of life is achievable with the right treatment.
Paranoid schizophrenia - what is the diagnosis? The explanation in this video is:
