What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious and challenging medical illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others.  It is a complex and long-term.  Although it is often feared and misunderstood, schizophrenia is a treatable medical condition. Schizophrenia can occur at any age, but the first signs typically emerge in the teenage years or early twenties in men, often late 20s to early 30s in women. 

Unfortunately, many people with schizophrenia are stigmatized by lack of understanding. Schizophrenia is not caused by bad parenting or personal weakness. A person with schizophrenia does not have a "split personality", and almost all people with schizophrenia are not dangerous or violent towards others while they are receiving ongoing treatment. Diagnosing schizophrenia is complicated and takes time. The use of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and LSD, brain trauma and other medical and mental health conditions can cause a person to experience psychosis that may not be associated with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia may be afraid to seek help. As with any condition, it is essential to get a comprehensive medical evaluation in order to obtain the correct diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

• Delusions
• People are reading their thoughts
• People are plotting against them
• Others are secretly monitoring and threatening them
• People can control other people's minds
• Hallucinations - Hear or see things not present
• Emotional flatness or lack of expression
• Inability to start and follow through with activities
• Speech is brief and devoid of content
• Lack of pleasure or interest in life
• Difficulty prioritizing tasks
• Difficulty with certain memory functions
• Difficulty organizing thoughts
• Lack of insight into the condition of schizophrenia

What are the causes of schizophrenia?
The specific causes of schizophrenia are not known, but research suggests several possible causes such as genetics, certain environmental exposures, brain chemistry and substance use. Schizophrenia is not caused by bad parenting or personal weakness.

How is schizophrenia treated?
While there is no cure for schizophrenia, it is a treatable and manageable illness. However, people sometimes stop treatment because of medication side effects, the lack of insight noted above, disorganized thinking, or because they feel the medication is no longer working. People with schizophrenia who stop taking prescribed medication are at risk for relapse into an acute psychotic episode. It is important to realize that the needs of the person with schizophrenia may change over time.

• Antipsychotic medications work by helping to correct chemical imbalances in the brain to decrease hallucinations and improve the ability to think clearly.
• Individual and group therapy can provide support, education and identification of healthy coping skills.
• Community support programs may be available

Emergency Help

• The Bryan Medical Center Mental Health Emergency department provides emergency mental healthcare/crisis assessments to determine if hospitalization is needed. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Located at: 2300 S. 16th Street, Lincoln NE. Telephone: 402-481-5151.
• CenterPointe Helpline: 402-475-6695

Non-Emergency Help

• Contact the Bryan Medical Center Counseling Center - Located at 2300 S. 16th Street, Lincoln NE
  Telephone: 402-481-5991.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  Telephone:800-950-NAMI (6264) Website: www.nami.org
• Mental Health America
  Telephone: 800-969-6642, Website: mhanational.org

Condensed from National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI/Mental Illness, Schizophrenia, www.nami.org