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I wanted to ask a few questions on schizophrenia. i believe…

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Answer 1

Answered in 5 minutes by:

11/7/2010

Mental Health Professional: Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker replied 12 years ago

Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Category: Mental Health

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While it is true that you can become symptom free or with minimal symptoms, schizophrenia is a long term illness that will always need to be managed, just like if you had diabetes it will stay with you but you can remain symptom free with medications. Not being able to think clearly and no emotions can be treated, it could be the medications you are on, a side effect or it could be part of the illness. This is best treated with both the correct medications and a good therapist who can help you learn to feel emotions and to best manage the illness. Here is a great link describing schizophrenia and the difference between positive and negative symptoms. Scroll about 1/4 of the way down where it says symptoms. http://www.schizophrenia.com/diag.php Let me know if this helps!

Answer 2

Mental Health Professional: Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker replied 12 years ago

In all reality probably not. The medications can help control the symptoms but the medications usually have side effects of their own. The more the person is involved in their treatment, keeping journal of symptoms, medication effects, build a strong support system, get treated by a doctor they trust and who is highly effective the better outcome a person will have. There will still usually be complications that result though and times of decline. Here is another good link explaining that, please go down almost to the bottom of the page, where it says how it is treated. This describes what other complications those with schizophrenia usually experience http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/sz.overview.htm

Answer 3

Mental Health Professional: Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker replied 12 years ago

It is possible to greatly reduce the symptoms if a person gets on the correct medications and responds well but the likely hood of being completely symptom free of everything is very low. The medication will treat the major symptoms such as seeing and hearing things which will allow the person to function at a much higher level but will still most likely suffer from some other symptoms such as communication or motivation but therapy would be able to help those symptoms. The likelihood of having absolutely no symptoms if very low but their is a possibility of being very high functioning with the proper medications and treatment.

Answer 4

Mental Health Professional: Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker replied 12 years ago

I see those statistics too. I would say complete recovery is relative. The worst symptoms would be having visual and auditory hallucinations, these at times lead to hospitalization or self medications which leads to problems on its own. This is someone that has severe schizophrenia as well as paranoia thoughts and behaviors. Someone who has these symptoms controlled by medications but lacks in the ability to think clearly and not hold a conversation can usually get help with long term therapy for these issues to help them function at a higher level.

Answer 5

Mental Health Professional: Kelley, Licensed Clinical Social Worker replied 12 years ago

Here is another link that shows you the criteria for being diagnosed with schizophrenia http://counsellingresource.com/distress/schizophrenia/dsm/schizophrenia.html

I wanted to ask a few questions on schizophrenia. i believe…

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