Mental Health: Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a disorder, or group of disorders, that affects the chemical balance of the brain, and in some cases the structure of the brain. Schizophrenia is unrelated to what some people call a “split personality”.
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| Brain function by PET scan in person with schizophrenia. |
Brain function by PET scan in healthy brain. |
Diagnosis:
Schizophrenia involves at least two of the following symptoms (although other disorders or conditions can also account for these symptoms), each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period:
- Jumping from one subject to another and saying things that don’t make sense
- False beliefs or thoughts that no one believes or understands; for example, believing others are always talking about you
- Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that others do not
- No interest or feelings about anything
- Unable to complete everyday tasks, such as getting dressed
Schizophrenia can be a debilitating disease. Medication therapy makes dramatic improvements for a significant percentage of people who follow physician’s treatment exactly as prescribed.
For information about TPMHMR Adult Mental Health Services and how we can help, click on the link below:
Or call our Crisis Line at 359-6699 (in the Amarillo area)
or toll-free at 1-800-692-4039
Information on this page posted with permission of Texas Department of State Health Services http://www.dshs.state.tx.us
