Schizophrenia is a disease like any other

Little awareness has deterred the affected and their kin from understanding the disease and seeking medical treatmentfor it

Like any other chronic ailment, schizophrenia too can be managed through consistent medication and the will of patients and their families to work hard towards normality, psychiatrists believe.

Many do not realise that like any other disorder, schizophrenia too is an ailment and that it too has its treatment modalities and good prognosis.

Experts agree that there is a lot of misinformation and a general lack of awareness on schizophrenia which makes it difficult for the general public, patients and their families to understand the ailment, acknowledge it and quickly come to terms with it. Most of those found to be suffering from the disease are young adults.

“There are scores of engineers, software professionals, doctors and others here who are schizophrenics but lead a normal life. Modern science has enabled us to understand the ailment better and evolve effective treatment modalities. Such patients can lead a normal life,” says honorary editor of the Indian Psychiatry Society, Telangana State, M. Phani Prashanth.

Senior psychiatrists point out that a lot of stigma around mental illnesses makes it tough for patients and family members to come to terms with the ailment once diagnosed.

“A lot depends on familial and societal support. People with this condition find it tough to hold on to jobs and perform their regular duties.

Here is where the care givers, mostly family members, come in,” says president of the Indian Psychiatric Society G. Prasad Rao.

So what exactly causes schizophrenia?

The general definition is that schizophrenia is caused due to structural defects in the brain, like damage to neurons, and also imbalances in neuro-transmitters (chemicals that communicate information) in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin.

A vital point that doctors believe people should be aware of is that most schizophrenia cases affect adolescents, individuals between 15 and 20 years of age.

Diagnosing such patients early becomes critical and so is putting them on consistent and lifelong medication.

“Parents should look for worrying symptoms like indifference to studies, eating, socially isolation, lack of sleep and no interest in self care. They should not panic because this is just like any other ailment and can easily be treated,” says professor of psychiatry at Osmania Medical College K. Ashok Reddy.

Doctors say that drugs have evolved and results have improved. “Earlier, drugs used to make patients docile, sleepy and dull. However, now, there are drugs that allow patients to function normally.

There will be side effects but it’s up to the doctor to fund the right titration of the drug to suit the patient,” Dr. Phani says.

M. Sai Gopal