Schizophrenia warning signs and symptoms in elderly

Schizophrenia is a disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Schizophrenics have a difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary.

It is a common belief that schizophrenia causes multiple or split personalities – this is not true. Majority of schizophrenic patients are not violent, and schizophrenia is not a result of poor parenting or a lack of willpower. Plus, the disorder affects each patient differently.

It has been shown that schizophrenia speeds up physical aging, compared to the general population. It has also been shown that the average life span of a person with schizophrenia is 20 to 23 years shorter than in the general population. Basically, a schizophrenic person in their 40s and 50s will have comparable health to a person in their 60s and 70s.

Risk factors for schizophrenia in older adults include family history, sensory deficits, social isolation, premorbid personality disorder, neuropsychological abnormalities, and being female.

Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia

As with many mental disorders, there is no clearly defined cause of schizophrenia, but there are several factors that may come into play. Genes, chemical imbalances in the brain, family relationships, environmental triggers, and the use of drugs are all factors that can contribute to the onset of schizophrenia.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include:

Delusions

Delusions of persecution: The belief that ‘others’ are out to get them, often centered around bizarre ideas and plots.

Delusions of reference: Neutral environments take on special or personal meanings, for example, a patient may believe a billboard message is meant directly for them.

Delusions of grandeur: Belief that they are famous or important. May believe they possess special powers that others do not have.

Delusions of control: The belief that one’s thoughts or actions are being controlled by an outside source such as aliens, for example.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are sounds or images a patient sees or hears that do not actually exist. Hallucinations can involve any of the five senses, but auditory hallucinations are the most common – for example, hearing voices.

Disorganized thinking

Schizophrenics often have difficulty concentrating or maintaining a train of thought. They may reply to questions with unrelated answers or begin sentences on one topic and end on another. Common signs of disorganized speech include loose association (constantly switching conversation topics), neologisms (made-up words), preservation (saying the same thing over and over again), and clang (meaningless use of rhyming words).

Disorganized behavior

Schizophrenics may experience a decline in their ability to care for themselves and interact with other people. Disorganized behavior is manifested through deterioration of the daily functioning, inadequate emotional reactions, strange behavior with no purpose, and lack of inhibition and control.

Negative symptoms

These are traits that are “lost” from one’s personality, characterized by lack of emotional expression, lack of interest or enthusiasm, lack of interest in the world, social withdrawal, apathy, and speech difficulties.

Spotting the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia can help start the treatment sooner. With proper therapy, schizophrenia patients can live a normal life. Even though there is no cure, symptoms can be well managed. Medications are often prescribed to relieve hallucinations and delusions. Antipsychotics, in particular, can help with any chemical imbalances in the brain.

There are non-drug treatments, too, like seeking out therapy, either one-on-one or group-based. Different types of therapy to treat schizophrenia include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Self-help groups
• Family therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Integrated substance abuse treatment

By integrating a combination of medical and non-medical treatments, a person with schizophrenia can very well live a normal life.