the pandemic coronavirus all other diseases receded into the background. But this does not mean that they are not. In late may, for instance, is international coffee day, which aims to attract the attention of increase to those who are forced to live with one of the most severe mental disorders in the world. Meanwhile, today, when the streets are empty, people are never afraid of people with psychiatric diagnoses. Are these fears justified? About the same time, experts said on the eve of the world day, as well as debunked the myths that are constantly acquires the disease.
So, the most common myth is that schizophrenia is a rare condition. In fact, it is found in every hundredth inhabitant of the Earth. Despite the fact that usually the first signs of the disorder appear at a young age, between 15 and 30 years old, the disease can affect people of any age.
Another myth: many people believe that schizophrenia and “split personality” – one and the same. Indeed, the Greek language of “schizophrenia” translates as “splitting of the mind.” And yet, as noted by the psychiatrists, it has more to do with the separation of the patient from reality. People with schizophrenia suffer auditory or visual hallucinations, i.e. seeing and hearing things that aren’t there, often believe in the supernatural, magic powers, what is called delusions. People with “split personality” is a completely different diagnosis – dissociative identity disorder – which is often confused with schizophrenia.
the Third myth: patients with these diseases see hallucinations, such as in the movies. However, as noted by experts, cinema to attract the attention of the viewer is inclined to exaggerate a lot. Although hallucinations are actually present in this disease, patients usually seem to be immersed in their own world, which makes communication with them quite difficult. Because of the stereotypes that propagate through the film, misconceptions of people about what these patients feel and how they behave, only worse.
and finally, the most troublesome myth is that patients with schizophrenia are dangerous to others, therefore they need to be isolated from society. The truth is that some people with this disease really can be aggressive, but this is the exception rather than the rule. And this is most common in patients who do not receive treatment. International studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia are 10-20 times more likely to be victims of crime than the perpetrators. Research suggests and about the fact that the percentage of violence among patients with schizophrenia is much lower than that of drug addicts or alcoholics, and among murderers — 90-95% – mentally healthy people.
unfortunately, until now, schizophrenia ��read an incurable disease, but the earlier the diagnosis and started therapy, the more favorable the prognosis and the longer such patients have periods of remission. In the middle ages patients with schizophrenia was considered demon-possessed. In the middle of the last century they began to treat pretty serious drugs like haloperidol with a lot of side effects. Today there is a new generation of antipsychotics. In the world and in Russia zaregistrirovany first drugs that act not only on negative but also on positive symptoms of schizophrenia (before this was impossible to imagine). “For a long time we have in the Arsenal were no drugs that worked not only on positive but also on negative symptoms, which occurs in 60% of patients and leads to desocialization patients. In addition, the previous therapeutic decisions was accompanied by a large number of side effects. Now we can simultaneously remove both the symptoms, and with fewer adverse events, therefore, we see a significant improvement in the provision of health care to patients,” says psychiatrist Peter frost.
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