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Schizophrenia is a chronic type of psychosis. If you have schizophrenia, you may not always be able to differentiate your thoughts from reality. It can also co-occur with substance use disorder (SUD), making treatment more complex but no less achievable.
At Otter House Wellness, we specialize in treating schizophrenia and co-occurring mental health conditions like SUD through comprehensive, personalized care.
If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Read on to learn more about this condition and how our programs can support your recovery journey.
About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious mental illness that affects thinking, emotions, and behaviors. It can cause symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, making it difficult to navigate daily life.
Nearly 50% of people living with schizophrenia also experience substance use disorder at some point. They may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the symptoms.
While the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, it is manageable. Many people with schizophrenia have achieved a better quality of life with treatment.
Key Facts on Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex condition that affects millions of men and women across all races and ethnic groups.
Some key facts about schizophrenia include:
- Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people worldwide or about 1 in 300 individuals.
- People with schizophrenia are 2-3 times more likely to die prematurely from preventable physical illnesses compared to the general population.
- Nearly 50% of individuals with schizophrenia experience substance use disorders, highlighting the importance of dual diagnosis treatment.
- Early treatment significantly improves long-term health outcomes, especially if you receive mental health care during your first episode. At least one in three people with schizophrenia will be able to fully recover.
- Men tend to be diagnosed with schizophrenia in their late teens or early twenties, while women tend to be diagnosed with the condition in their early twenties to early thirties.
What Causes Schizophrenia to Form?
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unclear, but researchers have identified several risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing this condition.
These risk factors include:
- Genetics: A family history of schizophrenia or other mental disorders. Studies suggest various genes can increase your risk, and no single gene is linked to the disorder.
- Brain structure and chemistry: Abnormalities in brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate, may play a part. Structural differences in the brain, such as the size of certain brain areas or connections to brain areas, may also play a role.
- Prenatal exposure: Complications such as malnutrition or virus exposure during pregnancy or birth.
- Environmental factors and life stressors: Various environmental factors may increase the risk for schizophrenia. These include living in poverty, living in dangerous surroundings, or exposure to trauma, particularly during childhood.
- Substance use: Using mind-altering psychotropic or psychoactive drugs, like cannabis or hallucinogens, during adolescence or early adulthood.
It’s important to remember that risk factors aren’t causes. Even if you’re in these risk categories, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop schizophrenia.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia symptoms can manifest in various ways.
Some common symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Hearing voices
- Disorganized thinking
- Disorganized or unusual motor behavior
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble remembering and learning
- Flattened emotional responses
- Social withdrawal
- Low energy and lack of motivation
- Difficulty functioning in daily life
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5), a diagnosis of schizophrenia requires someone to have at least two of the main symptoms, symptoms lasting for at least a month, and symptoms affecting daily life and relationships.
Symptoms may come and go and change in severity over time, while others may be present at all times. Treatment can greatly reduce and manage symptoms.
Types of Schizophrenia
While health care professionals once categorized schizophrenia into different types, it’s now considered a spectrum of conditions.
The spectrum of schizophrenia conditions includes:
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD) is characterized by severe social anxiety, paranoia, and unusual thinking or behavior.
They often feel intense discomfort in relationships and social situations. This greatly hinders their ability to form and maintain relationships.
But, people with STPD don’t experience psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.
Delusional Disorder
Delusional disorder impacts your perception of reality. It’s defined by persistent delusions and an inability to distinguish reality from what’s imagined.
Those with delusional disorder don’t have other psychotic symptoms, which means daily functioning isn’t always as impaired.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
A short-term condition featuring psychotic episodes, often triggered by a stressful event. Symptoms last less than one month, though future relapses are possible.
Schizophreniform Disorder
Schizophreniform disorder shares symptoms with schizophrenia, like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech, but lasts less than six months.
The symptoms must also last more than one month to be considered schizophreniform disorder. Schizophrenia, on the other hand, is a chronic condition.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by a combination of schizophrenia mood disorder symptoms. Mood disorders like bipolar disorder and depression affect your emotions, behaviors, and energy levels.
Schizoaffective disorder may be diagnosed if you experience these symptoms alongside psychosis.
Other Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
There are other unspecified and specified conditions on the schizophrenia spectrum. This allows doctors to diagnose when a condition doesn’t fit neatly into the other defined variations.
Complications of Untreated Schizophrenia
Without treatment, schizophrenia can lead to severe complications.
These complications include:
- Worsening hallucinations or delusions
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Inability to maintain relationships or employment
- Self-harm
- Suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal thoughts
- Homelessness or incarceration
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Increased risk of other health problems and medical conditions
- Violent behavior, though this is rare, and those with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence
- Increased likelihood of developing or continuing substance abuse problems
Schizophrenia Treatment at Otter House Wellness
Here, we provide ongoing, targeted treatment for schizophrenia that’s compassionate and tailored to your condition. Here are the programs and treatments we offer to help address schizophrenia and help you enter recovery.
Outpatient Mental Health Treatment
At Otter House Wellness, we understand that schizophrenia and co-occurring substance use disorders require specialized care.
We offer a range of outpatient treatment options to meet your needs:
- Partial hospitalization: Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) involves intensive daily treatment without requiring an overnight stay. This form of structured care is ideal for those with significant schizophrenia and SUD symptoms who aren’t ready for the challenges of independent living. PHPs provide therapy, medication management, and dual diagnosis support to stabilize symptoms.
- Intensive outpatient: Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is a step down from PHP. It offers structured therapy several times a week for several hours at a time. It’s ideal for those transitioning back to daily life who still need consistent support for managing schizophrenia and co-occurring SUDS. Treatment sessions focus on building coping skills, refining medication regimens, and addressing schizophrenia symptoms.
- Outpatient: Our traditional outpatient programs offer flexible therapy and medication management for those with milder symptoms or in later stages of recovery. You spend more time in daily life than therapy, allowing you to maintain your routines and responsibilities.
Medications
Medication is the most common way to manage schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medications are thought to help manage symptoms like delusions and hallucinations by balancing your brain chemicals.
Common options include:
- First-generation antipsychotics: Effective but may have more muscle movement-related side effects.
- Second-generation antipsychotics: Newer medications with fewer side effects.
- Long-acting injectable antipsychotics: Long-acting shots that are administered every 2-4 weeks. May be a good option for people who prefer taking fewer pills or who have trouble staying on track with daily medications.
Antipsychotic medications may take some time to get right, but the eventual goal is for someone to be able to take them at the lowest possible dose.
People with co-occurring substance use disorder may need additional medications to reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms during detox.
Therapy
Therapy is another essential part of schizophrenia treatment. Psychotherapy can help you build coping skills while improving your overall well-being.
Types of therapy that treat schizophrenia and are offered at Otter House Wellness include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change harmful thought patterns.
- Family therapy: Improves communication and support with family members and loved ones.
- Art therapy: Promotes creative expression and allows you to show emotions and experiences in a non-verbal way.
- Group therapy: Provides support groups and shared learning opportunities.
Therapy also addresses substance use issues, helping you achieve lasting recovery.
Regain Control with Schizophrenia Treatment at Otter House Wellness
Schizophrenia doesn’t have to control your life. At Otter House Wellness, we’re here to provide compassionate, comprehensive care tailored to your needs.
Our team of mental health professionals specializes in dual diagnosis treatment, addressing both mental health and substance use disorders simultaneously. This gives you the best chance at lasting recovery and a more fulfilling life.
Contact us today to learn more about our recovery programs and start your journey to wellness.
