Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness. It affects an individual’s behavior and thoughts and, when untreated, may lead to psychosis. Schizophrenia can create obstacles that make it impossible for a person to hold a job or live alone. When combined with substance abuse and addiction, schizophrenia symptoms can worsen and make it very difficult for healthcare practitioners to diagnose the co-occurring disorder and prescribe correct treatment accurately.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia manifests differently in each person, but some common signs and symptoms include:
Hallucinations
- Hearing voices, seeing people or objects that aren’t there, feeling invisible touches, or sensing something that isn’t physically present.
Delusions
- Bizarre, false, and sometimes paranoid beliefs, such as thinking one is a historical figure or that neighbors control minds with magnetic waves.
Thought Disorders
- Disorganized thinking, difficulty talking in a logical sequence, thought blocking, and the creation of nonsensical words.
Movement Disorders
- Agitated physical movements, repetitive bodily motions, and in rare cases, catatonia.
Cognitive Impairments
- Issues with understanding information, decision-making, focusing, memory, and processing information quickly.
Effective Treatment Approaches for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is best treated with a combination of therapies. These may include:
- Hospitalization
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
When combined with
Many clinicians admit to forming negative conceptions of people who have both schizophrenia and an addiction, often due to feeling overwhelmed by the complications of the illnesses and being both overworked and under-experienced. The failure to properly diagnose a schizophrenia-substance abuse co-occurrence may stem from these things.
Fortunately, a co-occuring disorder like schizophrenia and substance abuse is not untreatable. Great Oaks offers extensive, customized medical assessments upon entering our residential treatment program. We can help you decide what level of treatment is best needed. We will also help clients find treatment elsewhere if we are not fully equipped to handle the diagnosis. Call us today to speak with our
