Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that can have a profound negative impact on a person’s ability to enjoy a satisfying and productive independent lifestyle.
People who experience signs and symptoms of schizophrenia can have significant difficulties perceiving their surroundings, communicating, managing their thoughts, and maintaining healthy behavior patterns.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 20 million people across the globe struggle with schizophrenia. WHO has also reported that many people who develop schizophrenia endure stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations.
Thankfully, schizophrenia is a treatable condition. Effective care at a schizophrenia treatment place, which may include therapy and medication, can help people gain greater control of their thoughts and actions.
Signs & Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia signs and symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and negative affect.
A person who experiences schizophrenia symptoms may behave in the following ways:
- Expressing belief in things that are clearly and demonstrably not true
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there
- Speaking incoherently
- Erratically jumping from one topic to another during conversation
- Being unable to maintain goal-directed efforts
- Failing to tend to self-care
- Acting unpredictably or in socially unacceptable ways
- Showing no reaction to surroundings or external stimuli
- Not moving for extended periods of time
- Displaying a lack of facial or emotional expressions
Anyone who displays any schizophrenia signs and symptoms should be brought to the attention of a qualified professional. When a person receives proper care at a quality schizophrenia treatment place, they can learn to manage the schizophrenia signs and symptoms they’ve been experiencing and achieve improved quality of life.
Potential Effects of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia effects can include considerable harm in virtually all areas of a person’s life. Depending on various personal factors, potential schizophrenia effects can include:
- Inability to form and maintain friendships
- Strained or ruined relationships with family members
- Diminished performance in school
- Job loss and chronic unemployment
- Inability to achieve financial independence
- Health problems due to poor self-care or failure to follow medical advice
- Physical injuries due to dangerous or aggressive behaviors
- Onset or worsening of other mental health concerns
- Substance use and addiction
- Social withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Schizophrenia effects can be devastating. But when a person gets the care they need at a reputable schizophrenia treatment center, they can lessen their risk for continued negative effects of schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia Statistics
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has reported the following schizophrenia statistics:
- Experts estimate that 0.25%-0.64% of people in the United States will develop schizophrenia or a related concern.
- The life expectancy of people who have schizophrenia is about 28.5 years lower than that of people who do not have this disorder.
- About 4.9% of people who have schizophrenia die by suicide.
- About 50% of people who have schizophrenia also struggle with another mental or behavioral health concern.
Therapies Used in Schizophrenia Treatment
Each person who receives schizophrenia treatment at Glenwood Behavioral Health Hospital follows a personalized plan. Our team works with each person to identify the full scope of their needs, and then we select the evidence-based, research-supported therapies that can empower them to achieve improved health.
Elements that may be included in a patient’s personalized schizophrenia treatment plan at our hospital include:
- Pharmacotherapy
- Individual therapy
- Psychoeducation groups
- Process groups
- Family sessions
- Activity therapy
- Milieu therapy
All services at our schizophrenia treatment center are provided by an interdisciplinary team of experienced professionals.
Before a patient transitions out of our schizophrenia treatment place, their treatment team will develop a detailed discharge plan. This plan may include a referral to step-down programming for continued schizophrenia treatment, information about community-based resources, and other guidance that will help the patient maintain and build on the progress they made while in our care.
How to Choose a Schizophrenia Treatment Center
Each person who struggles with schizophrenia is impacted in a unique way. If you’re seeking a schizophrenia treatment center, it’s important to find a facility that will assess the full scope of your needs and provide the customized services that are right for you.
When you’re in the process of choosing a schizophrenia treatment center, it can be valuable to keep the following questions in mind:
- How will the schizophrenia treatment center assess your needs?
- Will you receive a personalized schizophrenia treatment plan?
- What types of evidence-based therapies does the center offer?
- Which treatment professionals provide care at the schizophrenia treatment place?
- Does the center provide discharge planning services?
Ultimately, choosing a schizophrenia treatment center is a matter of finding the center whose approach to treatment, level of care, and types of services best match your needs, preferences, and expectations.
Representatives of any reputable schizophrenia treatment center should always be happy to explain their programming to you and answer any questions you may have.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Glenwood Behavioral Health Hospital.
