It is a serious mental illness in which the patient has a distorted perception of reality, so their behavior, feelings, and thoughts are tied to that altered reality and misconstrued as truthful, producing visual and auditory hallucinogenic episodes, delirium, and paranoia, which seriously affect its life and, if left untreated, can become incapacitating.
Although it is an incurable disease, it can be controlled through lifelong treatment and monitoring to adapt it according to the patient’s evolution and needs. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the less damage and complications, in addition to having more effective control of the symptoms.
The origin of schizophrenia remains a mystery, however, neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate are considered potentiating factors, which by acting disorderly produce brain chemistry alteration, coupled with a genetic predisposition and environmental aspects that also contribute to the onset of this disease.
Potential risks:
Some factors have been identified that alone or combined, may contribute to the development of this disorder:
- Malnutrition, viral infections, or absorption of toxins in pregnancy that prevent the baby’s brain from developing normally.
- Having used psychotropic drugs for a long time.
- Having family members who have had this disease.
In case of not receiving treatment, complications begin to appear seriously affecting the patient’s life, such as:
- Anxiety and depression episodes that progressively increase in frequency and intensity.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Alcoholism and drug addiction.
- Dropping school and jobs.
- Social isolation.
- Physical health complications.
- Suicide.