Paranoid schizophrenia is a condition within the spectrum of schizophrenia that manifests itself in delusions and hallucinations, often causing the person suffering to believe they are being ‘plotted against’ by those around them. These debilitating and fear-inducing symptoms confuse what reality is and what isn’t, making it difficult for the person affected to live a normal and fulfilling life. Some people find that symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia develop slowly over a period of time, whereas others notice them occurring very rapidly.
Schizophrenia is unique to each person there may be warning signs if you
If you are experiencing some of the following symptoms, you could be diagnosed with schizophrenia:
It’s important to note that not everyone with paranoid schizophrenia will experience these symptoms. The "prodromal phase" of the illness can include changes in sleeping patterns, avoiding social situations and feeling disconnected from the world around you and generally occurs to those in their late teens to their early thirties.
An acute episode of schizophrenia is more severe. The individual may feel anger, depression and panic which can be extremely frightening and debilitating.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unclear, but it most likely arises from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. When neurotransmitters in the body such as dopamine and serotonin are imbalanced, symptoms of schizophrenia can occur, and if there is a history of the illness within the family, there is a higher risk (around a 10 per cent chance if a parent has had it ) of developing it also.
There is an argument as to whether stressful situations could be a catalyst for developing early symptoms of schizophrenia, or whether the circumstances are actually caused by the symptoms themselves, e.g. anger and distrust within relationships.
Other contributing factors can stem from issues before and during birth, such as babies with malnutrition in the womb, complicated births or viral infections in the pregnant mother. Babies born to older parents are more likely to develop the illness, and if a person uses drugs that alter the mind, this also increases the risk.
Paranoid is the main schizophrenia type, but there are others, including:
Specialist treatment is essential for treating the symptoms of Paranoid schizophrenia, with combination therapies often being the most effective. Schizophrenia can be effectively treated and cared for at home by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, suitable for the client's particular circumstances and individual traits.
