Schizophrenia: treatment of schizophrenia, symptoms, signs of schizophrenia

There are many forms of schizophrenia, with different predominant symptoms and treatment prognoses. Hypochondriacal schizophrenia is a benign form of the disease that can be treated quite successfully. The problem with this type of disorder is the incorrect diagnosis, since the schizophrenic defect in this disorder is weakly expressed. At the same time, correct diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and increases the chance of achieving stable remission that lasts a lifetime.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and long-lasting illness that results in typical personality changes. The schizophrenic defect is characterized by fragmentation of emotions, separation of thoughts from each other. This state leads to a person’s desire to abstract himself from others and isolation. As a result, a person cannot conduct purposeful activities. Because the disease is sometimes subtle, psychiatrists find themselves in a difficult position. It happens that only the patient himself knows about the symptoms, and he, due to his incompetence, classifies these signs as ordinary depression or stress. One of the symptoms of schizophrenia is also the appearance of obsessive thoughts, as a segment of the individual’s personality defect. These symptoms include the appearance of hallucinations, mood swings, an excited or inhibited state. Often the hereditary factor plays a key role. Some people sometimes incorrectly believe that schizoid accentuation is a diagnosis and draw a parallel with schizophrenia. Moreover, this type of accentuation is only a disorder, expressed in the fact that a person becomes withdrawn, deprived of intuition and empathy. Constancy of interests, taciturnity and difficulty in establishing emotional contacts are evident. Sometimes this behavior is interpreted as a psychological defense of schizoids. However, this behavior should not be equated with schizophrenia.

If you notice any symptoms of schizophrenia, you should immediately seek medical help and diagnosis, as therapy in the early stages will be more effective.

Obsessive bad thoughts and fears: neurosis or schizophrenia, treatment of schizophrenia

In modern medicine, OCD is classified as a neurotic disorder. The symptoms are reminiscent of schizophrenia. These diseases have really similar manifestations. But there are also specific signs, so the two conditions cannot be considered one disease. In some cases, the development of OCD in schizophrenia has been observed.

Schizophrenia

As a result, a person cannot conduct purposeful activities. Because the disease is sometimes subtle, psychiatrists find themselves in a difficult position. It happens that only the patient himself knows about the symptoms, and he, due to his incompetence, classifies these signs as ordinary depression or stress.

One of the symptoms of schizophrenia is also the appearance of obsessive thoughts, as a segment of the individual’s personality defect. These symptoms include the appearance of hallucinations, mood swings, an excited or inhibited state. Often the hereditary factor plays a key role.

Some people sometimes incorrectly believe that schizoid accentuation is a diagnosis and draw a parallel with schizophrenia. Moreover, this type of accentuation is only a disorder, expressed in the fact that a person becomes withdrawn, deprived of intuition and empathy.

Constancy of interests, taciturnity and difficulty in establishing emotional contacts are evident. Sometimes this behavior is interpreted as a psychological defense of schizoids. However, this behavior should not be equated with schizophrenia.

If you notice any symptoms of schizophrenia, you should immediately seek medical help and diagnosis, as therapy in the early stages will be more effective.

So, what are the differences?

Neurosis-like schizophrenia

Occurs after severe stress experienced that affected the patient’s mental state
Occurs regardless of the circumstances and character of the person, may occur due to genetic predisposition
The life values and character of a neurasthenic do not change
The disease radically changes a person’s personality
The patient remains critical of himself and the circumstances surrounding him, and worries about his mental health
A schizophrenic does not understand that he is sick, the ability to criticize is lost
A person turns to specialists and wants to be cured
The patient will not go to the doctor on his own, this happens at the insistence of people close to him
A neurasthenic person in any serious situation is able to pull himself together and pull himself together
A schizophrenic, even in a life-threatening situation, will not pull himself together
Can continue to remain a social person, communicate with others, work, engage in education and build a family
Antisocial, apathetic, avoids society, does not stay in the same job for long, is unable to build relationships
A complete cure is possible
A person is almost always doomed to lifelong medication and medical supervision

Obsessive thoughts in schizophrenia

Such distinctive features are considered by some scientists to be the main symptoms of schizophrenia.

Thus, we come to the conclusion that the performance of certain actions that turn into a regular ritual can be attributed to signs of schizophrenia if they are supported by unfounded conclusions.

It is important to remember that the association of obsessive-compulsive disorder with schizophrenia should only take into account other signs that are the hallmark symptoms of this mental illness.

Schizophrenia is clearly expressed in a change in a person’s consciousness, his attitude, behavior and course of thinking changes. This means that this must be behavior that was not previously characteristic of this person.

Thus, obsessive thoughts in schizophrenia can be a symptom, but at the same time they do not always determine such a diagnosis and this will be written about in more detail later.

Intrusive thoughts in other cases

However, it must be remembered that such a defect always consists of a number of disorders that will not necessarily be decisive in making a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Mental health professionals often agree that intrusive thoughts are present in many people, but only extreme manifestations can be considered signs of schizophrenia.

Intrusive thoughts will not be a symptom of schizophrenia, provided that:

A person can control his obsessive thoughts, and they should not pose a danger to people around him;
Such ideas do not cause delusions, hallucinations or changes in a person’s thinking;
Obsession is not accompanied by insurmountable fears;
The person continues to be independent in making simple decisions.

Sometimes obsessive thoughts and states are classified as obsessive-compulsive disorders. All this suggests that obsession will not always be a sign of schizophrenia. But at the same time, if it begins to be accompanied by delusions, hallucinations, and aggression, you should seek the advice of experienced doctors.

Stages of development

The disease can be clearly and clearly recognized, to a greater extent, in middle age

It is impossible to diagnose sluggish schizophrenia in childhood or adolescence, since its signs are completely erased. As a rule, the disease manifests itself after 20 years. The development of a condition is determined by its main stages of development:

Latent or hidden period. There are no obvious schizophrenic signs in its course.
The period of active development of the disease. Signs of sluggish schizophrenia in men and women increase gradually, but confidently, and attacks begin.
Stabilization period. Personal changes are consolidated and take root.

The clinical picture of the disease is represented by the following symptoms and features:

the latent stage is usually long;
symptoms change gradually;
characteristic signs appear periodically, each time growing more and more (obsessive states, disturbances of self-awareness, overvalued ideas).

At the stage of the latent course of the disease, the patient not only has no noticeable signs, but may even experience career growth and success in the personal sphere. Minor mental disorders are not perceived by either the patient or his relatives as alarming signs.

When sluggish schizophrenia enters the active stage, attacks of inappropriate behavior begin, negative personality changes, delusional and obsessive ideas appear. Often outbreaks are associated with age-related changes. After the attack phase, a stable remission usually occurs.

Symptoms

How to determine the presence of a disorder specifically with the presence of schizophrenia? It has many different manifestations, but there are common characteristics that define the disease.

The appearance of thoughts, ideas, actions that were previously unacceptable by the person himself. For example, past memories can cause anxiety, forcing you to solve a non-existent problem.
Emotional disorder. Severe mood swings, which cause severe harm to the patient’s intelligence.
Awareness of your obsessive thoughts and states does not make it possible to control them. Even though he hates this state, he returns to these thoughts against his will.

On the one hand, it may seem that a person is performing ordinary actions, for example, out of fear of not performing some action, he always returns home to check if everything is done before leaving. Of course, everyone has probably done this in their life, but if this thought haunts you every day, it can become an obsessive state.

Source: https://cosmeton.ru/zdorove/okr-i-shizofreniya.html

So, what are the differences?

Neurosis-like schizophrenia

Occurs after severe stress experienced that affected the patient’s mental state
Occurs regardless of the circumstances and character of the person, may occur due to genetic predisposition
The life values and character of a neurasthenic do not change
The disease radically changes a person’s personality
The patient remains critical of himself and the circumstances surrounding him, and worries about his mental health
A schizophrenic does not understand that he is sick, the ability to criticize is lost
A person turns to specialists and wants to be cured
The patient will not go to the doctor on his own, this happens at the insistence of people close to him
A neurasthenic person in any serious situation is able to pull himself together and pull himself together
A schizophrenic, even in a life-threatening situation, will not pull himself together
Can continue to remain a social person, communicate with others, work, engage in education and build a family
Antisocial, apathetic, avoids society, does not stay in the same job for long, is unable to build relationships
A complete cure is possible
A person is almost always doomed to lifelong medication and medical supervision

Sluggish schizophrenia, difference from neurosis

One of the most common mental disorders is sluggish (low progression) schizophrenia.

There are no pronounced symptoms in low-grade schizophrenia; the patient experiences only indirect clinical signs and superficial personality changes.

How to get rid of cognitive dissonance? Find out about this from our article.

What is low-grade schizophrenia? The disease “sluggish schizophrenia” was first described by the Soviet psychiatrist A.V. Snezhnevsky .

Subsequently, scientists, describing the symptoms of this disease, used the terms: “latent schizophrenia”, “mild schizophrenia”, “pre-schizophrenia” and others.

All these names imply a mental disorder characterized by a slow course and the absence of clear symptoms characteristic of schizophrenic psychosis.

The patient is almost no different from healthy people and remains socially adapted.

Thus, this type of schizophrenia is a transitional form , which does not imply personality degradation, but is expressed in changes in behavior, interests, and manner of communication.

History of psychiatry. Sluggish schizophrenia according to Snezhnevsky in this video:

Medicine has not yet identified the causes of this disease. Most cases of schizophrenia are believed to be hereditary.

Among the factors that provoke pathology are long-term stress, mental trauma and lifestyle . Residents of megacities and vulnerable sections of the population are at risk.

A psychotic state occurs after the death of a loved one, illness, moving to another city and other stressful events.

However, changes in the behavior of a person who has experienced a life tragedy are not associated by others with manifestations of schizophrenia.

A diagnosis can only be made after a special psychiatric examination.

You can find a list of cognitive personality distortions on our website.

Symptoms of the disease depend on the stage of its development. The first manifestations are noticeable in adolescence, they intensify as the patient grows older.

However, the boundary between a real illness and a temporary neurotic disorder is so unclear that it can be extremely difficult to separate one from the other.

The disease develops gradually, going through several stages:

Latent . Its symptoms are very mild. The patient experiences long periods of causeless depression or joy, irritability or apathy. This period begins in adolescence, when all odd behavior is perceived by others as age-related characteristics. Often a teenager withdraws into himself, refuses to go to school or communicate with his parents.
Manifest . This stage is characterized by an increase in signs that become noticeable to others. But the patient does not have delusions or hallucinations, so his relatives do not turn to specialists, attributing all symptoms to character traits. The main manifestations are: panic attacks, paranoia, hysteria, hypochondria.
Stabilization stage . At this stage, the signs of mental disorder disappear and the patient’s condition returns to normal. The last stage lasts for a very long time, stretching for years.

The main symptoms by which one can suspect the development of the disease in its active phase are:

Paranoid symptoms with impaired thinking.
Hysterical behavior, the desire to attract attention, arouse admiration, prove that one is right.
Hypochondria, which is expressed in increased anxiety, obsessive states. Such patients find signs of a non-existent disease, believe that those around them hate them, etc.
Asthenic manifestations: frequent mood swings, isolation, avoidance of communication with the outside world.
Neurotic conditions. The patient develops various manias, frequent mood swings, phobias, and anxiety.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms increase. The patient becomes alienated, his mental abilities weaken.

Often such people are interested in magic, religion, and the occult. Gradually, a change in personality occurs, strange behavior and delusional ideas appear.

However, the person remains socially adapted, has family and friends.

Obsessive thoughts in schizophrenia

When obsessive thoughts or conditions begin to affect your interactions with other people, this may be a sign of a severe form of the disorder. This can result from the fact that a person behaves strangely and expresses delusional thoughts. Such distinctive features are considered by some scientists to be the main symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, we come to the conclusion that the performance of certain actions that turn into a regular ritual can be attributed to signs of schizophrenia if they are supported by unfounded conclusions.

It is important to remember that the association of obsessive-compulsive disorder with schizophrenia should only take into account other signs that are the hallmark symptoms of this mental illness. Schizophrenia is clearly expressed in a change in a person’s consciousness, his attitude, behavior and course of thinking changes. This means that this must be behavior that was not previously characteristic of this person. Thus, obsessive thoughts in schizophrenia can be a symptom, but at the same time they do not always determine such a diagnosis and this will be written about in more detail later.

A special illness is pseudoneurotic disorder.

OCD cannot turn into schizophrenia, since these diseases are of different nature. According to the ICD-10 classification of diseases, pseudoneurotic schizophrenia is distinguished, which has symptoms reminiscent of OCD.

People with this disorder are characterized by their inability to form long-term relationships with people. They demand that others meet absurd criteria. This occurs against the background of emotional instability, increased attention to otherworldly phenomena, untidiness, and a tendency to ignore hygiene procedures.

Any deviation requires timely comprehensive treatment, which will prevent the disease from developing into an advanced form.

What is the difference between schizophrenia and OCD

Comparison by main indicators

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). OCD manifests itself in extreme anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and anticipation of danger. Unreasonable anxiety about your health or your loved ones. All this happens to healthy people, but to a much lesser extent.

Determining neurosis or schizophrenia is not always easy, since patients can deliberately imitate the clinical picture of the disease.

Development factors

Neurosis occurs after a traumatic event: death of loved ones, trauma, emotional exhaustion. It is possible to determine the approximate time when symptoms of the disorder began to appear.

Mostly, patients with OCD themselves name the period when they began to notice peculiarities in themselves. The difference between schizophrenia is that these symptoms appear without connection with external irritating factors.

Attitude to illness

the feature that distinguishes the diagnoses of OCD and schizophrenia is the ability to maintain sanity. With OCD, a person is able to understand that obsessive thoughts, fears, and desires are relatively unfounded. It can be explained to such people that their behavior is out of control and needs to be corrected.

A schizophrenic also senses abnormal behavior, but hides the problem from himself and others. In schizophrenia, hallucinations are observed. Often such visions are aggressive in nature or do not lend themselves to rational analysis.

For example, the patient hears voices criticizing him or calling him to take some action. The person, captive of these hallucinations, enters an altered consciousness and cannot return to reality.

In some cases, a neurotic person also sees hallucinations, but they appear at moments when the brain is in a relaxed state. For example, while half asleep, color and visual images appear. They have some meaning, unlike visions in schizophrenia. A person is able to independently distinguish hallucinations; they do not completely capture consciousness.

The patient's attitude towards himself

One of the clearest symptoms that helps distinguish OCD and schizophrenia is a person’s attitude towards his own “I”. With OCD, an individual, after a period of anxiety, does not lose a sense of himself in space, remembers what is happening, and can critically evaluate his own actions.

In schizophrenia, severe depersonalization is observed. It manifests itself in a person’s inability to analyze behavior, relationships with others, and motivate actions.

This phenomenon can occur in a person with OCD and even in a person without obvious mental or neurotic problems after a severe shock. The difference lies in the degree of depersonalization. In OCD, this is a form of defensive reaction.

Difference in the manifestation of similar symptoms

Thus, OCD and schizophrenia are not considered the same disease. They have different natures, symptoms and treatment methods. The main signs of schizophrenia are:

hallucinations, delusions;
depersonalization, personality breakdown;
denial of the problem, uncriticality;
disorganization of thinking;
inability to determine the cause of the disease.

The listed symptoms manifest themselves in OCD in a completely different way:

hallucinations that can be interpreted semantically;
no loss of "I";
the person is aware of the problem, characterizes the manifestations, remembers the occurrence of the first symptoms;
the ability of rational thinking is preserved;
OCD develops after a traumatic event.

A special illness is pseudoneurotic disorder.

Any deviation requires timely comprehensive treatment, which will prevent the disease from developing into an advanced form.

Source: https://urazuma.ru/nevroz/okr-ili-shizofreniya.html

Intrusive thoughts in other cases

However, it must be remembered that such a defect always consists of a number of disorders that will not necessarily be decisive in making a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Mental health professionals often agree that intrusive thoughts are present in many people, but only extreme manifestations can be considered signs of schizophrenia. Intrusive thoughts will not be a symptom of schizophrenia, provided that:

A person can control his obsessive thoughts, and they should not pose a danger to people around him;
Such ideas do not cause delusions, hallucinations or changes in a person’s thinking;
Obsession is not accompanied by insurmountable fears;
The person continues to be independent in making simple decisions.

Get rid of obsessive thoughts, neurosis, obsessions, psychosis, schizophrenia

Each person is captured every minute by different thoughts, often these thoughts are very far from reality and are not very adequate.

Well, it flashed by, flew by and - everything was forgotten.

And at some critical moments in our lives, this THOUGHT captured our entire essence. And now it is preventing us from concentrating and finding reserves to overcome problems.

These thoughts are exhausting and often lead to despair, as a result of which the reality that we begin to accept as reality is distorted.

We can say this: “Obsessive thoughts are the form in which false ideas come to us, trying to take power over us.”

At times, these thoughts occupy the entire area of consciousness, depriving us of sleep, food, joy, and stability. But for some reason we are sure that this is reality and our essence.

The seeds of hopelessness, despair, melancholy sprout and give their nasty harvest precisely on the black soil of grief, which we have fertilized with these obsessive thoughts.

Obsessions roll in like a powerful wave, which is very difficult to resist if you don’t know certain rules. It would be worth getting rid of obsessive thoughts, neurosis, obsession, psychosis, schizophrenia

If we look objectively, we will see how these thoughts simply, brazenly and aggressively take our consciousness into slavery.

Obsessive thoughts, like vampires, drink up the remaining energy we need and take away the feeling of life.

They control our behavior, desires, free time, communication with other people.

Obsessive thoughts are a cunning and insidious enemy that does not appear openly, but disguises itself as our own thoughts and gradually imposes its desires and feelings on us. They act like banal viruses that have invaded the victim cell.

I just don’t want to list what thoughts these are, because people reading can instantly take it to themselves. After all, we are all impressionable. That's why you need to be careful with your words.

Can obsessive thoughts be considered a mental disorder?

There are a number of mental illnesses (depression of organic origin, schizophrenia, etc.) in which obsessive thoughts are present in the complex of symptoms. For such diseases, there is only one known option for help - pharmacotherapy.

In this case, you need to contact a psychiatrist to prescribe treatment. I would like to note that here we are talking only about the only possibility of correction and treatment, but not about the cause of this serious condition.

Fortunately, the vast majority of people who suffer from compulsions during grief do not have any psychopathological disorders at all. With the help of a certain algorithm, they can get rid of unnecessary thoughts.

For example, I use behavioral psychology.

What is the nature of such thoughts?

From the point of view of science, obsessive thoughts (obsessions) are the incessant repetition of unwanted ideas and drives, doubts, desires, memories, fears, actions, ideas, etc., which cannot be gotten rid of by force of will.

In these thoughts, the real problem is exaggerated, enlarged, distorted, and generalized.

As a rule, several obsessive thoughts arise at once, and they line up in a vicious circle that we cannot break. And we run around this circle like squirrels in a wheel.

The more we try to get rid of them, the more they appear. And then there is a feeling that they are of a violent nature. In addition, very often (but not always), obsessive states are accompanied by depressive emotions,

painful thoughts, as well as feelings of anxiety and fear. All this can lead to psychosomatic diseases.

Some find their own way to combat these conditions. I'm talking about drinking alcohol, drugs, crazy fun, extreme activities, etc. it seems to help distract from obsessions, but for a very short time,

but then they will still “turn on”, and with increased force. Unfortunately, this method is very popular, despite the obvious harm caused to the body if it is used.

So what should we do? Is the situation really hopeless and we are doomed to become slaves to these thoughts?

Why obsessive thoughts appear and how to manage them; How to become independent (oh) from thoughts; What to do if a thought interferes with life;

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Every person sometimes has strange thoughts that are not typical for him. However, in 3% of cases, people begin to concentrate on these thoughts and even try to specifically block them.

However, the more they try to distract themselves from these thoughts, the less successful they are, and as a result they develop a fear of “bad” thoughts.

Over time, people themselves come up with and begin to perform certain actions (rituals) aimed at alleviating their condition.

These rituals become a necessity.

Obsessive-compulsive neurosis begins.

In these cases, we can talk about the presence of obsessions - constantly arising fears, obsessive thoughts, images and impulses that cause anxiety, and compulsions (rituals) - stereotypically repeated behaviors designed to reduce anxiety.

Contact me, I will help you solve this problem.

You can read a lot on the website for various tips and recommendations.

You shouldn’t continue to endure this condition; it’s time to improve the quality of your own life.

Stages of development

The disease can be clearly and clearly recognized, to a greater extent, in middle age

Latent or hidden period. There are no obvious schizophrenic signs in its course.
The period of active development of the disease. Signs of sluggish schizophrenia in men and women increase gradually, but confidently, and attacks begin.
Stabilization period. Personal changes are consolidated and take root.

The clinical picture of the disease is represented by the following symptoms and features:

the latent stage is usually long;
symptoms change gradually;
characteristic signs appear periodically, each time growing more and more (obsessive states, disturbances of self-awareness, overvalued ideas).

What is neurosis-like schizophrenia?

As already mentioned, this disease is quite common and often occurs hidden.
Neurosis-like schizophrenia (a subtype of sluggish) is a form of schizotypal mental disorder. The disease, due to persistent remissions, is considered the most favorable among the many types of schizophrenia. In addition, this subtype of sluggish schizophrenia transforms into other, much more severe forms of pathology, in very rare cases. The symptoms are in many ways similar to neurotic disorders, but the development of paranoia and other forms of schizophrenia in patients with this disease is not observed.

At the same time, recognizing neurosis-like schizophrenia is associated with some difficulties. Manifestations of the disease are often confused with neurosis, hysteria or psychasthenia, and the symptoms are not always clearly expressed and are observed constantly. Remissions in this type of schizotypal disorder are very stable and long-lasting. Such periods can last for several months or even years.

The essence of the disease is as follows: the patient is constantly worried about the shortcomings of his own body, complexes are formed, from which the person changes radically. Patients stubbornly talk about their own imperfections and become fixated on this issue. In addition, hallucinogenic sensations often occur - a person thinks that there are voices in his head.

Symptoms

How to determine the presence of a disorder specifically with the presence of schizophrenia? It has many different manifestations, but there are common characteristics that define the disease.

The appearance of thoughts, ideas, actions that were previously unacceptable by the person himself. For example, past memories can cause anxiety, forcing you to solve a non-existent problem.
Emotional disorder. Severe mood swings, which cause severe harm to the patient’s intelligence.
Awareness of your obsessive thoughts and states does not make it possible to control them. Even though he hates this state, he returns to these thoughts against his will.

Or, obsessive thoughts may manifest themselves as deep (from the person's point of view) thoughts about issues that have no practical application. For a person with such symptoms, these “problems” may indeed haunt them. For example, why is the earth round and what would change its shape lead to? Or the patient may voice events that actually took place, but he is not happy with what happened and tries in his reasoning to paint a picture according to his “best” scenario.

How to diagnose

Schizophrenia differs from neurosis in that neurotics retain their personality. In other words, all the personal qualities that characterized a person before the disease - determination, emotionality - remain with the development of neuroses. It is also important to note that neurosis is reversible. The patient receives a course of treatment from a psychotherapist, after which he simply returns to his normal, familiar life, only he already acquires some new skills of self-control and reaction to various stimuli, which led him to neurosis.

Schizophrenia eventually leads to the development of apatoabulic syndrome. It is a condition in which a personality defect develops over the years. Patients are very lethargic, apathetic, emotions are manifested very weakly due to a decrease in the ability to do so. And the clinical picture is growing, voices and delusional ideas are becoming stronger. You shouldn’t expect any initiative from such a person; he closes himself off in himself, his world, and is less and less interested in reality. This provokes disability; there are cases where patients have lost the ability to independently take care of themselves and care for themselves.

You can distinguish neurosis from schizophrenia without outside help using online tests for neurosis, which are freely available on the Internet. It is important to read the instructions carefully to avoid misinterpretation of the results. If you cannot do this yourself, then you need to consult a doctor who knows exactly how to distinguish between these two diseases.

Schizophrenia VS neurosis or how to distinguish one from the other

For advertising purposes:

Neurosis and endogenous mental illnesses, including low-grade schizophrenia, are considered directly opposite concepts in psychiatry. The first condition is dealt with by a psychotherapist, the second by a psychiatrist. Neurosis always has a beginning, a starting point, i.e.

there was once some kind of long-term or acute psychotraumatic situation: overwork, loss, stress, fear, serious illness, etc. In schizophrenia, it is impossible to identify such a cause; this disease is genetically determined and chronic, and occurs either continuously or in the form of attacks.

Even alcoholism, stress and childbirth only provoke the manifestation of the disease, but are not its cause.

Accordingly, the fear that neurosis may develop into schizophrenia is unfounded.

Fundamental differences between states

A neurotic, unlike a schizophrenic, maintains a critical attitude towards his condition. He realizes that he has problems, he is overcome by fear that something bad might happen to him.

As a result, the neurotic person actively tries to understand his condition, he goes to doctors and undergoes examinations.

Having failed to find objective confirmation of the patient’s complaints, doctors refer him to a psychotherapist.

In psychosis, completely different behavior is observed. While in this state, the patient is unable to name the current date, clarify his location, perhaps he even identifies himself with another person. The patient's basic mental functions are split - thinking, will, emotions.

Even after emerging from psychosis, one cannot definitely talk about the norm: the person is somewhat uncritical of the world around him and himself, he is detached, his behavior is strange, his statements are ridiculous, and his manner of expressing emotions is puzzling. The patient is burdened by misunderstanding of himself, loss of will and emotions.

But he is in no hurry to see doctors, and tries to hide his problems.

Hallucinations

Deceptions of perception - hallucinations and delusions - often overtake schizophrenics in a state of psychosis. Neurotics also have such disorders.

But for them they are simple in content and short-term, and appear more often when falling asleep or upon awakening. For neurotics, these are more likely repetitive thoughts or melodies, parts of heard remarks.

It can also be a visual image - a spot of light or dots, patterns or pictures.

In schizophrenia, hallucinations are violent. The voices argue, criticize the “owner,” instilling fear in him. The patient feels someone's influence on him, as if someone is forcing him to do something, say something, or interfere with his body. The patient may be “exposed” to the action of certain rays or devices.

The schizophrenic is sure that the voices speak to him alone, and only he is able to hear them.

Rave

Delusional ideas are the exclusive prerogative of schizophrenics; neurasthenics do not have this disorder. It is impossible to convince the patient of the absurdity of such beliefs: he will withdraw or respond with aggression. In schizophrenics, delusions are systemic in nature, completely replacing the real perception of the environment.

Diagnostics

The fundamental difference between neurosis and schizophrenia is the preservation of the personality of the neurotic.

The patient experiences weakness, he is in a bad mood, but his personal qualities such as individuality, emotionality and determination remain. Neurosis is a reversible disorder. After a course of psychotherapy, the patient is able to return to normal life, he knows how to react in a new way – correctly – to conflict situations and to emerging difficulties.

Over the years, a schizophrenic person develops apatho-abulsic syndrome, when a personality defect manifests itself - and grows over the years. He becomes lethargic, his ability to express emotions is narrowed.

Fear, voices, delirium and other related symptoms increase over time. The patient is uninitiative and moves further and further away from the real world, plunging deeper into the world of his own painful fantasies.

This condition leads to disability, even to the point where a person is unable to care for himself independently.

To overcome the fear of making a fatal diagnosis, it is worth taking a test for neurosis. The online versions are quite informative and simple, but you must first read the instructions. A doctor can also perform the appropriate test.

Neurosis-like schizophrenia

Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia is one of the forms of schizotypal disorder, i.e. it does not apply to schizophrenia in the classical sense of the term, as reflected in the ICD-10 classification.

In this state, a person can live more or less comfortably for 10-30 years. During this period, manifestations of psychopathic, neurosis-like, erased affective, depersonalization and paranoid disorders are possible, i.e. the patient is more tormented by fear and neurosis. In such a patient, the personality defect does not progress, there are no hallucinatory-delusional symptoms, the following is observed:

strange character;
emotional lability;
an unreasonable craving for the study of philosophy, mystical teachings, abstract theories;
loss of interest in one's own appearance;
the emergence of highly valuable ideas;
fear, apprehension;
decline in life productivity.

People remain socially active, although their education is rarely complete. The patient can work, but not constantly. He tries to find a workplace where there are no special problems and no effort required. The patient rarely starts his own family. The existing fear progresses.

For example, if a patient was afraid to ride a tram, then over time he will stop using any means of transport. He will be tormented by fear, perhaps taken to the point of absurdity. With neurosis, a person tries to overcome these sensations - he performs certain manipulations to calm down, utters some phrases.

Therapy in this case is psychotherapeutic work (both in a group and individually) and assistance in social adaptation, sometimes the doctor prescribes mild sedatives.

According to WHO statistics, the prevalence of overt forms of schizophrenia is 0.8%, and low-grade forms of schizophrenia are 2-3%. However, you need to understand that one state cannot change to another. These are different diseases.

Therapy

In case of neurosis, psychotherapy helps first of all; in rare cases, they resort to the help of psychotropic drugs. They are prescribed for a short period of time and used as maintenance therapy.

Schizophrenia is treated primarily with medication. The drugs are prescribed in long - sometimes even lifelong - courses. Specific psychotherapy is used for intact patients.

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Source: https://lechenienevroza.ru/nevrozy/shizofreniya.html

Causes

If we consider the listed symptoms against the background of schizophrenia, then the disease itself is the cause of the manifestation. At the same time, there are factors that influence the appearance of obsessive thoughts:

Biological factor. This may be due to the structure of the nervous system and genetics.
Psychoneurological factor. These include complexes that appeared in childhood, the predominance of the qualities of anancastic personality disorder, with the presence of a certain obsession, doubt, etc. At the same time, it can be caused by nervous exhaustion.

Based on this information, you can make your own assumptions about the reasons, and perhaps act on this basis. However, specialists with extensive experience are involved in establishing a specific and accurate cause. Such diagnostics are not difficult to make, it is carried out without significant material expenditure and takes a short time.

Treatment

Treatment of schizophrenia, with signs of obsessive thoughts and states, is carried out by a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. It happens that patients have very pronounced obsessive states, with resulting social difficulties and loss of ability to work. Such manifestations require special treatment in a hospital, where they treat borderline forms of mental illness. This is due to the impossibility of the patient being in society, since difficulties can be caused both to himself and to the people around him. After undergoing such treatment, the patient must undergo medical supervision. In order to maintain the condition, the psychotherapist prescribes special treatment. Autonomic symptoms are mitigated by the use of tranquilizers. Antidepressants are prescribed for anxiety, fear, and low mood. The doctor may also prescribe haloperidol, depending on the patient's condition. Antipsychotic medications may be needed if the disease is severe and forces the person to perform complex activities.

In addition to the use of medications, psychotherapy is used. It has its own classification and can be: explanatory, autogenic, rational. They often also resort to functional training, which is considered a very effective method. It seems possible to predict anything only in a specific case, taking into account the course of the disease and the actions taken. The patient, as well as loved ones, must understand that treating obsessive-compulsive disorder in schizophrenia is not a quick process. Considerable efforts are required on the part of all interested parties, including the patient himself, doctors, and loved ones.

Therapy

Treatment for OCD comes down to psychotherapy. During classes with patients, prevention of social maladjustment is carried out. The main goal of the sessions is to determine the starting point. By eliminating the cause, patients can return to normal life. Relief of symptoms is carried out only in selected cases. Mild sedatives may be prescribed; for severe psychosis, antidepressants are used. After treatment, patients are advised to avoid severe shocks and visit a doctor at least once a year.

Schizophrenia is treated with medications. The drugs can be prescribed for life.

Psychotherapy is appropriate only for patients who maintain common sense and have a combination of OCD and schizophrenia.