DR. GORAV GUPTA SCHIZOPHRENIA PSYCHIATRIST IN DELHI
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and debilitating brain disorder that affects people. People with the disorder may hear voices, they may believe other people are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. This can scare the person with the illness and make them withdrawn or extremely agitated.
At times it is difficult to know that a patient has schizophrenia till he begins to talk.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
They fall into three broad categories: positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms
Positive Symptoms
Positive symptoms are psychotic behaviors often characterized by lose touch with reality. These symptoms can come and go and vary in intensity. They include the following:
Hallucinations are things a person sees, hears, smells, or feels that no one else can see, hear, smell, or feel. “Voices” are the most common type of hallucination in schizophrenia. These voices may talk to the person about behavior, order the person, or warn him or her of danger. Sometimes the voices talk to each other.
Other types of hallucinations include seeing people or objects that are not there, smelling odors that no one else detects, and feeling things like invisible fingers touching their bodies when no one is near.
Delusions are false beliefs that are not part of the person’s culture and do not change. The person believes delusions even after other people prove that the beliefs are not true or logical. People with schizophrenia can have delusions that seem bizarre, such as believing that neighbors can control their behavior with magnetic waves. They may also believe that people on television are directing special messages to them, or that radio stations are broadcasting their thoughts aloud to others.
Thought disorders are unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking. One form of thought disorder is called disorganized thinking. This is when a person has trouble organizing his or her thoughts or connecting them logically. Second form is called “thought blocking.” This is when a person stops speaking abruptly in the middle of a thought.
Movement disorders may appear as agitated body movements. A person with a movement disorder may repeat certain motions over and over again . Person may become catatonic, it is a state in which a person does not move and does not respond to others.
Negative Symptoms
- Flat effect, expressionless
- Lack of pleasure in everyday life
- Lack of ability to begin and sustain planned activities
- Speaking little, even when forced to interact.
People with negative symptoms need help with everyday tasks. They often neglect basic personal hygiene.
Cognitive symptoms
Cognitive symptoms often go unnoticed and are detected only when other tests are performed.
Cognitive symptoms include the following:
- Poor functioning ability to process information and to make decisions
- Trouble concentrating or paying attention
- Memory problems.
Cognitive symptoms often make it hard to lead a normal life and
Treatment by Schizophrenia Specialists
Antipsychotic medications
- Chlorpromazine
- Haloperidol
- Perphenazine
- Fluphenazine
- clozapine
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- Ziprasidone
- Aripiprazole
- Paliperidone
Psychosocial treatments by Psychiatrist
Psychosocial treatments can help patients who are already stabilized on antipsychotic medication. Psychosocial treatments help these patients deal with everyday’s life, help overcome difficulty in communication, self-care, work, and forming and keeping relationships.
Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation emphasizes social and vocational training to help people with schizophrenia function better in their communities. The rehab program focuses on job counseling, money management, help in day to day living, and opportunities to practice communication skills. it also addresses issues of cognitive thinking and memory.
Family education – With the help of a therapist, family members can learn coping skills, In this way the family can help make sure their loved one sticks with treatment and stays on his or her medication. Families should learn where to find outpatient and family services.
Self-help groups – Self-help groups for people with schizophrenia and their families are becoming more common. People in self-help groups know that others are facing the same problem hence encourage each other.
Dr Gorav Gupta is a senior psychiatrist in Delhi, experienced in dealing with schizophrenia patients For the best schizophrenia treatment in Delhi, call to get an appointment.
Why is Dr. Gorav Gupta the Best Psychiatrist for Schizophrenia Treatment?
Despite the focus on mental health, schizophrenia is still a widely underdiagnosed mental illness. The main reason behind it is the societal taboo that prevents us from openly discussing the condition and getting the help we need to manage the symptoms.
Dr. Gorav Gupta schizophrenia psychiatrist in Delhi, Gurgaon is bridging those gaps for the patients, from diagnosis to treatment. Dr Gupta is a registered psychiatrist with years of clinical experience. He is an active member of the Delhi Psychiatry Society, the Indian Association of Private Psychiatry, and the Indian Association of Psychiatry.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia, Tulasi clinic can help you with this. Here At Tulasi clinic, Dr. Gorav Gupta
● Provides a safe and non-judgmental space for patients to express themselves freely.
● Offers holistic treatment based on the patient’s symptoms and the severity of their conditions.
● At Tulasi Psychiatric Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre, patients can get all the help they need to overcome their symptoms pertaining to psychosis, addiction, agitated behavior, etc in case they require admission.
If you are experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia or know someone struggling, feel free to contact us for further information and assistance from a schizophrenia psychiatrist.
FAQs
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and complex mental health disorder that affects an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior. While there is no known cure for this condition yet, patients can improve their quality of life with the treatment options available in the medical field currently.
Treatment for schizophrenia typically involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and constant support from medical professionals and people around. Medications like antipsychotics help patients manage their psychotic symptoms, while psychotherapy effectively improves communication skills, reduces mood disorders, and boosts social skills in patients.
It is quintessential for schizophrenic patients to work closely with their healthcare professionals to work on a tailored treatment plan that works in their best interest, especially for managing the symptoms in the long run.
Besides medical interventions, schizophrenia treatment also involves introducing lifestyle changes, including switching to a healthier diet, exercising daily, and using proper stress management techniques.
Schizophrenia, despite being a chronic and complex mental disorder, is a very subjective condition. This means that the symptoms vary from one patient to the other.
While one patient might experience one psychotic episode over the course of a week, another patient might experience more intense symptoms. With ongoing treatment, self-care, and support from loved ones, schizophrenia patients can live a healthy and normal life.
A combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and psychotherapy can help patients better manage their symptoms and keep them in check over time. Dr. Gorav Gupta works closely with patients with tailored treatment plans to help them pursue their goals, have healthy relationships, have steady careers, and lead productive and meaningful life.
While schizophrenia can present challenges, it is possible for individuals with the condition to live fulfilling and meaningful lives with proper treatment and support.
To this day, the exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. However, researchers and doctors have narrowed down a list of risk factors that can help them determine who is at more risk of developing this disorder.
Following are a few factors that elevate a person’s risk of developing schizophrenia:
Genetics: Individuals who have a first-degree relative, i.e., parents or siblings, with schizophrenia have a higher risk of developing this mental disorder themselves.
Brain chemistry: Recent research indicates that an imbalance in the proportion of certain chemicals in the brain, including dopamine and glutamate, contributes to the onset of schizophrenia in patients. Anatomical changes in the brain structure could also lead to schizophrenia in an individual.
Environmental factors: Viral infections or malnutrition during fetal development also elevate the risk of schizophrenia in individuals. Other environmental factors considered risk factors include trauma, drug use, stress, etc.
Age and gender: According to studies, males are at higher risk of developing schizophrenia as opposed to females. Also, the symptoms are typically more common during the patients’ late teens or early adulthood.
However, having one or multiple of these risk factors doesn’t necessarily contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Some people with schizophrenia don’t have any known risk factors. So, even the causes or risk factors are subjective to the patient.
Schizophrenia has a very misconstrued representation in the media, which is one reason why the disease is clouded with myths and misconceptions.
One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking that every schizophrenia patient needs to be at a psychiatric facility 24×7. That is, in fact, not the case with every patient. The treatment typically starts with a comprehensive evaluation for a conclusive diagnosis.
Dr. Gorav Gupta prioritizes understanding the root cause leading to the symptoms in the patient before personalizing a treatment plan for them. In general, treatment typically involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and social support from family and friends.
Patients with schizophrenia are often on antipsychotic medications to manage their psychotic symptoms. Besides that, psychotherapy includes sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy to help the patients develop coping and social skills and address their shortcomings with their emotional issues. Most of these treatments can be availed at home or in an outpatient facility.
Schizophrenia is a chronic, lifelong disorder, which means that it lasts through the end of time in the patient. However, the symptoms can be managed with ongoing treatment and management.
The duration and severity of symptoms can vary widely among individuals with schizophrenia, and some may experience periods of remission while others may experience more persistent symptoms.
Since there is no known “cure” for schizophrenia, the condition never truly “goes away.” However, with the advancements in research and medicine, available treatments now enable patients to live a successful and productive life, despite the lingering disease in the background.