What is Paranoid Schizophrenia?

Paranoid schizophrenia is a more common type of schizophrenia that mainly has positive symptoms. Such as delusions and hallucinations. People with paranoid schizophrenia do not know the difference between what’s real and what’s a hallucination. Paranoid schizophrenia can affect a person's lifestyle and can later develop into a different type schizophrenic.

Fun Fact: According to Psycom, the average age to get paranoid schizophrenia is "Late adolescence to early adulthood, usually between the ages of 18 to 30." Not to mention, according to Psycom, "...highly unusual for schizophrenia to be diagnosed after age 45 or before age 16." Yet, male patients with paranoid schizophrenia are more likely to occur earlier than female patients.

Causes

The causes of paranoid schizophrenia are unknown, yet researchers believe that paranoid schizophrenia is caused by genetics, brain abnormalities, childhood abuse, low oxygen levels at birth, separation or loss of a parent at a young age, or virus exposure during infancy or before birth.

Symptoms

Some symptoms that a patient with paranoid schizophrenia will have and might develop later on in life are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, negative symptoms, or suicidal thoughts. While having delusions, patients might have strong-untrue beliefs, which can range in different types. The seven principal types of delusions people might have are control, grandiosity, jealousy, persecution, reference, somatic, and thought insertion. When someone is hallucinating, the patient's five senses and their ability to know what's genuine can be deceived. For instance, they can see and talk to a past loved one that passed away or hear someone laughing at them. Another symptom would be disorganized speech, patients can repeat words or phrases, start talking in the middle of a sentence or make up their own words. While having disorganized behavior, patients would not be able to do or control their daily actions and behaviors, like having proper manners or going to work. An additional negative symptom would be that patients lack behaviors found in non-schizophrenic patients. For instance, someone might lack emotions or have a blunt interest in the world. People with paranoid schizophrenia are common to have symptoms of suicidal thoughts if not treated right away. It can lead a person to harm themselves or having thoughts of suicide.

Treatments

Even though there is no cure for paranoid schizophrenia, the main types of treatments you can get are hospitalization, medications, and therapy. Hospitalization is a superb type of treatment for paranoid schizophrenia because it can help a person get the help they need. They can receive the proper attention and medication they need to get better and recover from their mental illness. Medication is another excellent type of treatment for paranoid schizophrenia because it can help control delusions and hallucinations, and other symptoms. Some medications for paranoid schizophrenia are antipsychotics medications, antianxiety drugs, or antidepressants. Antipsychotics medications are tranquilizers and neuroleptics used to treat people with schizophrenia. Some types of antipsychotics medications are chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, and perphenazine. Therapy is also a grand type of treatment for paranoid schizophrenia because it can help a person deal with their mental illness and talk to someone about it. Not to mention, get tips on how to deal with your paranoid schizophrenia and its symptoms.