Heres what you actually need to know about schizophrenia.
Positive symptomsencompass psychotic behaviors you dont typically see in people without disorders like schizophrenia.
This is totally inaccurate, Pandurangi says.
Hero Images/Getty Images
In addition, people with schizophrenia experience brain changes such asreduced gray matter.
Experts are still investigating to what extent this decrease in gray matter is involved with schizophrenias onset and trajectory.
The takeaway: No single environmental or behavioral factor leads to schizophrenia.
Experts aren’t sure of exactly why this is, though they havesome theories.
(The later onset in womenmay be relatedto lower estrogen levels as women age.)
It also appears as though men and women can experience schizophrenia symptoms differently.
This may be due in part toneurotransmitters acting differently in people of different sexes.
But this is about correlation, not causation: Having schizophrenia doesn’t inherently make a person dangerous.
(Three percent were directly related to depression, and 10 percent to bipolar disorder.)
People with schizophrenia also have high rates of homelessness, which puts them at risk of violence.
People with bipolar disorder may experiencepsychosisone of the main components of schizophreniabut its not common.
And whileschizophrenia can cause mood swings, thats not a primary symptom.
There are also differences between schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder (previously referred to as multiple personality disorder).
People with schizophrenia are also more likely to die bysuicide.
A lifelong regimen of antipsychotic medications is an essential part of managing schizophrenia, according to theMayo Clinic.
Some people may also require antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.
Therapyis another central component of schizophrenia treatment, along with other psychosocial methods.
This punch in of lifestyle support is important for many people with the condition, theMayo Clinicexplains.
Its normal to be nervous about things you dont understand.
Persons with schizophrenia are like anyone else, Pandurangi says.
They are suffering an internal neurological chaos…and need an understanding and caring approach.
