Schizophrenia refers to a serious mental illness where people interpret reality abnormally. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and irrational thinking and behavior that interfere with daily functioning and can be disabling. Biological causes like genes or hormonal unbalance often lead to schizophrenia. Poor nutrition, problems during fetal development, birth complications, immune reactions, exposure to environmental toxins, living in poverty, family dysfunction, severe stress, as well as exposure to viruses in utero have also been suggested as events that may activate an underlying predisposition for schizophrenia. For that reason, antipsychotic medication remains the first line treatment with other forms of treatment used to support and enhance its effects. Purpose: The purpose of this webinar is to raise awareness about sufferings of schizophrenic patients and help them with their basic needs to create a soothing life for them.

1. SCHIZOPHRENIA

2. Overview. 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.

6. Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
 Delusions: For example, a person with delusions may believe that people can hear their thoughts,
that they are God or the devil, or that people are putting thoughts into their head or plotting against
them.
 Hallucinations : Less common types include seeing things that aren't there, smelling strange odors,
having a funny taste in your mouth, and feeling sensations on your skin even though nothing is
touching your body.
 Catatonia: In this condition, the person may stop speaking, and their body may be fixed in a single
position for a very long time.

7. Disorganized Symptoms of
Schizophrenia
 Talking in sentences that don’t make sense or using nonsense words, making it difficult for the
person to communicate or hold a conversation
 Shifting quickly from one thought to the next without obvious or logical connections between
them
 Moving slowly
 Being unable to make decisions
 Writing excessively but without meaning
 Forgetting or losing things
 Repeating movements or gestures, like pacing or walking in circles
 Having problems making sense of everyday sights, sounds, and feelings

8. Cognitive Symptoms of
Schizophrenia
Understanding information and using it to make decisions (a doctor might
call this poor executive functioning)
Focusing or paying attention
Using their information immediately after learning it (this is called working
memory)
Recognizing that they have any of these problems

9. Negative Symptoms of
Schizophrenia
 Lack of emotion or a limited range of emotions
 Withdrawal from family, friends, and social activities
 Less energy
 Speaking less
 Lack of motivation
 Loss of pleasure or interest in life
 Poor hygiene and grooming habits

10. CAUSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
 It's not known what causes schizophrenia, but researchers
believe that a combination of genetics, brain chemistry and
environment contributes to development of the disorder.
 Neuroimaging studies show differences in the brain
structure and central nervous system of people with
schizophrenia

11. RISK FACTORS
Having a family history of schizophrenia
Some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition
or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain
development
Taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs
during teen years and young adulthood

12. COMPLICATIONS
 Suicide, suicide attempts and thoughts of suicide
 Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
 Depression
 Abuse of alcohol or other drugs, including nicotine
 Inability to work or attend school
 Financial problems and homelessness
 Social isolation
 Health and medical problems
 Being victimized
 Aggressive behavior, although it's uncommon

13. PREVENTION
There's no sure way to prevent schizophrenia, but sticking
with the treatment plan can help prevent relapses or
worsening of symptoms. In addition, researchers hope that
learning more about risk factors for schizophrenia may lead
to earlier diagnosis and treatment.