Residual Schizophrenia
5 out of the 5 main types of Schizophrenia
Residual schizophrenia, the least severe type of schizophrenia, might be diagnosed for someone if they had a prior history of psychosis. When a person has residual schizophrenia, they only have negative symptoms. Some examples of negative symptoms are having poor hygiene and having a lack of memory. Residual schizophrenia is also known as the last stage of schizophrenia or the “recovery” stage. The first two stages of schizophrenia are the prodromal phase and the active phase. Residual schizophrenia consists of two other phases as well, the waxing and waning phases. According to Emily Lunardo, " During the waxing phase symptoms intensify, and during the waning phase they decrease, even disappear."
Like every other type of schizophrenia, the causes of residual schizophrenia are unknown. Researchers believe that residual schizophrenia is caused by genetics, a combination of factors that set off chemical and structural changes in the brain, hormonal changes, the structure of the brain, and environmental factors. Researchers also consider residual schizophrenia is caused by viral infections, fetal malnutrition, stress during early life, childhood abuse or trauma, parental age of conception, and drug abuse.
Some symptoms of residual schizophrenia are lack of emotions, negative symptoms, psychotic episodes, social withdrawal, constant low energy, eccentric behavior, conceptual disorganization, illogical thinking, absence of dementia or other illnesses, and having a year without symptoms. Having a lack of emotions, a person would feel emotionally numb. An example of lack of emotion during the schizophrenia stage, could be when someone makes fun of the person who is sick, and the person who is sick doesn't even care. When someone has negative symptoms, patients lack behaviors found in non-schizophrenic patients, and they would not do daily routine tasks. They would not get involved in a conversation or get up to do everyday routines. In the midst of having psychotic episodes, you experience hallucinations and delusions and will lose contact with reality. A schizophrenia victim might believe Santa is in their home, and they are one of their elves. When a person socially withdraws themselves, they would not engage in any communications or social relations. Being socially withdrawn an individual will sit in a corner and not talk to anyone at a family function. When a person has constant low energy, they won't have the willpower to do anything, like pick up their house or go to the store. A person with eccentric behavior will express old or unusual behavior, like talking extra loud indoors. When a person has conceptual disorganization, they say irrelevant or confusing proclamations, neologisms, and stereotyped expressions. Having illogical thinking is a sign someone does not have good judgment. In which, the patient has illogical thinking, they would not be considering the outcome of their actions. For instance, they would not take their medication or take drugs. The absence of dementia or other illnesses, another symptom of residual schizophrenia, allows the doctor to diagnose a patient with residual schizophrenia by clearing out other neurological diseases and disorders. Having no symptoms for a year is also a symptom of residual schizophrenia because it allows the doctor to diagnose a patient with residual schizophrenia.
Like every other type of schizophrenia, there is no cure for residual schizophrenia. But there are some treatments that help a patient with residual schizophrenia. Some treatments a person can get are consistent follow-ups with their doctor, medications, and talk therapy. By having regular follow-ups with their doctor, they can make sure they are alright and find more treatments for their mental illness. According to Charles J. Sophy, MD, some medications residual schizophrenia can take are" antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug, along with antipsychotic medications." Talk therapy allows someone to talk to someone else to help them deal with their mental illness. And get advice on how to deal with the patient's symptoms and emotions.