What damage does schizophrenia do to the body?

Compared with the general population, schizophrenia patients are at increased risk of weight gain, abdominal obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

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How damaging is schizophrenia?

Most people with schizophrenia are not violent. Overall, people with schizophrenia are more likely than those without the illness to be harmed by others. For people with schizophrenia, the risk of self-harm and of violence to others is greatest when the illness is untreated.

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Do you think a schizophrenic patient can live a normal life?

Schizophrenia treatment includes medication, therapy, social and family support, and the use of social services. Treatment must be ongoing, as this is a chronic illness without a cure. When schizophrenia is treated and managed over the long-term, most people can live normal, productive, and fulfilling lives.

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What are the long-term effects of schizophrenia?

Potential long-term effects of schizophrenia

Destroyed relationships with family and friends. Social isolation. Addiction. Significant health problems due to poor self-care and an inability to follow medical advice.

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What is the leading cause of death for schizophrenics?

“Adults with schizophrenia are about 10 times more likely to die of COPD and 7 times more likely to die of diabetes,” says a co-author of the study, Mark Olfson, MD, a psychiatrist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.

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Young Man on Being Diagnosed With Psychosis

24 related questions found

What is the last stage of schizophrenia?

The last stage is the residual phase of schizophrenia. In this phase, you're starting to recover, but still have some symptoms.

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What is the lifespan of a schizophrenic?

People with schizophrenia generally live about 15 to 20 years less than those without the condition. Schizophrenia is a complex disease.

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What is the most serious form of schizophrenia?

Paranoid schizophrenia

It may develop later in life than other forms. Symptoms include hallucinations and/or delusions, but your speech and emotions may not be affected.

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Why is schizophrenia so serious?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning, and can be disabling. People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment.

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Does schizophrenia cause permanent brain damage?

Schizophrenia has been described as the “worst disease” to afflict mankind. It causes psychosis, which is an abnormal state of mind marked by hyperarousal, overactivation of brain circuits, and emotional distress. An untreated episode of psychosis can result in structural brain damage due to neurotoxicity.

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What is the main drug used to treat schizophrenia?

Haloperidol, fluphenazine, and chlorpromazine are known as conventional, or typical, antipsychotics and have been used to treat schizophrenia for years.

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How do you calm schizophrenia?

Connecting face-to-face with others is the most effective way to calm your nervous system and relieve stress. Since stress can trigger psychosis and make the symptoms of schizophrenia worse, keeping it under control is extremely important.

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Should a person with schizophrenia live alone?

Many people with schizophrenia are able to live independently. However, this is not the case for all people with schizophrenia. There are several things that people with schizophrenia should know to overcome the difficulties of their illness and live on their own: Early diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes.

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Do schizophrenics suffer?

Chronic psychotic disorders, exemplified by schizophrenia, bring about terrible suffering and are not fully treatable.

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Is schizophrenia a cause of death?

Six such decedents were identified, and their histories and autopsy results are described. We believe that schizophrenia per se is a potentially lethal disorder. Autonomic irregularities and their interactions with psychotropic drugs deserve further attention.

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What triggers schizophrenia?

Highly stressful or life-changing events may sometimes trigger schizophrenia. These can include: being abused or harassed. losing someone close to you.

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Is schizophrenia the most severe mental illness?

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Though schizophrenia isn't as common as other major mental illnesses, it can be the most chronic and disabling.

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How do people with schizophrenia act?

Schizophrenia usually involves delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that don't exist), unusual physical behavior, and disorganized thinking and speech. It is common for people with schizophrenia to have paranoid thoughts or hear voices.

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When is schizophrenia worse?

Schizophrenia does not typically get better as you get older. The symptoms of schizophrenia may become worse over time, or they may remain the same for some people. Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that can be managed with medication and therapy, but it does not typically go away as you get older.

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What does severe schizophrenia look like?

Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't there. Delusions: Mistaken but firmly held beliefs that are easy to prove wrong, like thinking you have superpowers, are a famous person, or people are out to get you. Disorganized speech: Using words and sentences that don't make sense to others.

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How can you tell if someone is schizophrenic?

You could be diagnosed with schizophrenia if you experience some of the following symptoms.
  1. Hallucinations.
  2. Delusions.
  3. Disorganised thinking.
  4. Lack of motivation.
  5. Slow movement.
  6. Change in sleep patterns.
  7. Poor grooming or hygiene.
  8. Changes in body language and emotions.

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Do people with schizophrenia know they have it?

Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.

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Is schizophrenia inherited from mother or father?

Past studies have reported that offspring of affected mothers have a higher risk of schizophrenia than the offspring of affected fathers; however, other studies found no such maternal effect [Gottesman and Shields, 1976].

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Does schizophrenia run in family?

Schizophrenia tends to run in families, but no single gene is thought to be responsible. It's more likely that different combinations of genes make people more vulnerable to the condition. However, having these genes does not necessarily mean you'll develop schizophrenia.

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Does schizophrenia lead to dementia?

Cognitive decline can eventually lead to dementia. A 2018 study suggests that people with schizophrenia have a nearly twofold increased risk of dementia after adjusting for other standard risk factors.

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