Schizophrenia

Root Awakening, LLC provides specialized psychiatry services for schizophrenia. Lindsey Allen, PMHNP-BC, and the expert team at Root Awakening, LLC in Salisbury, Missouri, offer compassionate, evidence-based care to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. They create personalized treatment plans, including therapy and medication management, to support your journey toward stability and wellness. Book an appointment by clicking the online contact page or calling the friendly office staff today.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental health disorder that affects a person’s thinking, behavior, and feelings. Defined by episodes of psychosis, schizophrenia includes hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (false beliefs). 

People with schizophrenia may appear to lose touch with reality, making everyday functioning challenging. It typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood and can be debilitating without proper treatment.

What causes schizophrenia?

The exact cause of schizophrenia isn’t known, but it’s believed to result from a combination of the following:

Genetics

Schizophrenia often runs in families, suggesting a hereditary component. However, there isn’t just one single gene responsible for the disorder. Instead, it likely involves multiple genes.

Brain chemistry and structure

Imbalances in neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and glutamate, are thought to play a role. Abnormalities in brain structure, like enlarged ventricles or reduced gray matter, have also been observed in people with schizophrenia.

Environmental factors

Prenatal exposure to viruses, malnutrition, and psychosocial factors, such as stress or trauma during early development, can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

Symptoms of schizophrenia include the following three categories:

Positive symptoms

These include hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking), and movement disorders (agitated body movements).

Negative symptoms

These involve disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors, such as reduced ability to experience pleasure, difficulty beginning and sustaining activities, and reduced speaking.

Cognitive symptoms

These symptoms are subtle and may be hard to detect. They include the inability to understand and use information to make decisions, concentrate or pay attention, and remember things.

How is schizophrenia treated?

Schizophrenia treatment usually involves a combination of medications, therapy, and support services, including:

Medications

Antipsychotic drugs — the cornerstone of treatment — help manage symptoms by affecting neurotransmitter pathways in the brain.

Therapy

Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), helps individuals manage symptoms, cope with stress, and address challenges related to daily functioning and interpersonal relationships.

Support services

These services include social skills training, vocational rehabilitation, and peer support groups that help individuals integrate into society and improve their quality of life.

Your dedicated team at Root Awakening, LLC provides comprehensive care tailored to each individual's needs. Call today to learn more or book an appointment online.