Paranoid schizophrenia is the most commonly recognized type of schizophrenia. It is diagnosed in as many as 65 percent. all patients with schizophrenia. What are the causes of paranoid schizophrenia? How do you recognize the symptoms of this disorder? Is it always possible to cure a sick person completely?
Paranoid schizophreniais a type of schizophrenia in which hallucinations and delusions of various contents predominate. In Poland, it is the most frequently diagnosed type of schizophrenia - it accounts for as much as 65 percent. cases of this mental illness.
Paranoid schizophrenia: causes
Paranoid schizophreniais a mental disorder with complex causes.
It is assumed that genetic factors may contribute to it. Research shows that the risk of developing the disease in children with schizophrenic disease is around 13 percent.
In addition, DNA damage contributes to the inheritance of schizophrenia. The environmental factors causing the disease include :
- stress
- childhood trauma
- drug use
Schizophrenia can also be a complication of infectious diseases.
Paranoid schizophrenia: symptoms
Hallucinations dominate in paranoid schizophrenia. Most often they are auditory hallucinations, "voices" that comment on the patient's behavior or speak to him, sometimes ordering. However, they can be simple sounds, squeaks, noise, etc.
Other types of hallucinations are olfactory, tactile, tactile (so-called cenesthetic).
Visual hallucinations are rare.
In addition to hallucinations, there are delusions, the content of which may vary, but always absurd.
Most often these are persecutory delusions - the patient claims that he is being followed, overheard, that he is a victim of a conspiracy.
Sexual delusions are also common - the patient thinks that they are of particular interest to those around them.
He sees a connection between neutral facts and events and himself (e.g. all people on the street or in the queue of shops are talking about him).
Other types of delusions that may arise in paranoid schizophrenia are:
- size delusions
- delusions of sending or stealing thoughts
- delusions of unveiling
- delusions of possession
- delusional impact
- hypochondriac delusions
- nihilistic delusions
In addition, the patient is distrustful, suspicious of the environment, becomes emotionally cold and isolates himself from the environment.
Paranoid schizophrenia: treatment
Antipsychotic medications are commonly used to treat schizophrenia.
Psychotherapy is also very important.
It is known that the earlier one gets sick, the more severe the course of the disease and the worse the prognosis.
Read also:
- Types of schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia - initial symptoms
- Inheriting schizophrenia
- Schizophrenia treatment
- Alcoholic schizophrenia
- Catatonic Schizophrenia
- How to recognize paranoia?