Schizophrenia is a mental illness that shortens the lifespan of those who suffer from it by at least 20 years compared to those that do not. Currently, an estimated 1% of the world’s population suffers from schizophrenia, and this year alone, approximately 1.5 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with this devastating illness.
Although current schizophrenia treatments can significantly improve lives, they don’t work for everyone, as nearly one third of people with schizophrenia are treatment resistant. Those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) have tried two or more antipsychotic medications and found no relief from their symptoms. Research is crucial for helping us find new ways to detect, prevent, and treat schizophrenia. Before we can understand TRS, we need to know as much as we can about schizophrenia itself.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a complex and long-term mental disorder that disrupts a person’s ability to think clearly, distinguish fantasy from reality, and express and manage their emotions. People with schizophrenia also have trouble making decisions and relating to others. The symptoms may differ from one person to the next, but in general schizophrenia symptoms fall into three categories:
- Positive symptoms are those present in people with schizophrenia but are not normally seen in healthy people. These psychotic symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and dysfunctional thinking.
- Negative symptoms are those that reflect diminished functioning, such as in the reduced ability to speak, express emotion, sustain activities, or experience pleasure. Examples include emotional flatness, social withdrawal, or apathy.
- Cognitive symptoms include problems with attention and memory, which can affect the person’s ability to make decisions, complete tasks, and organize their thoughts.
Although schizophrenia is a severe and chronic disorder, it is treatable, and many people are able to manage their symptoms and live satisfying lives.
How is schizophrenia treated?
Currently, there is no cure for schizophrenia, but there are some treatments that help manage symptoms. Schizophrenia treatment usually involves some combination of the following:
- Medication to control the symptoms of psychosis
- Group therapy for decreasing social isolation
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for setting and achieving goals
- Family therapy for strengthening the support network
- Other therapies aimed at maximizing independence and quality of life
Schizophrenia is a lifelong illness, but staying consistent with treatment and maintaining a strong support network can help the individual manage symptoms, cope with challenges, and enjoy life.
What is treatment-resistant schizophrenia?
Unfortunately, there is still so much we don’t know about schizophrenia. Although current standard schizophrenia treatments do help the majority of people who suffer from the debilitating disorder, approximately 30% of patients are unable to find relief from their symptoms after trying two or more antipsychotic medications. These people are classified as having treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS).
TRS is particularly troublesome in that antipsychotic medications are crucial to an effective long-term treatment plan for schizophrenia. There is no way to tell who will or will not respond to antipsychotic medications, but the study of TRS points to:
- Certain genetic factors
- Structural, functional brain abnormalities
- Neurochemical abnormalities
- And other underlying neurobiological mechanisms
What we do know for sure is that continued research is imperative. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, individuals with schizophrenia have an increased risk of premature mortality, and an estimated 4.9% die by suicide. Research strives to find new ways to detect, prevent or treat schizophrenia so that those who suffer from it can live long and satisfying lives.
Join a Schizophrenia Research Study at Synergy Research Centers in San Diego
At Synergy Research Centers, we’re currently enrolling participants in inpatient and outpatient schizophrenia research studies. Eligible participants for the two separate studies must:
- Be diagnosed with schizophrenia
- Not require hospitalization
- Be between the ages of 18 and 55
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in a schizophrenia research study, please give us a call at 888-539-0282 or fill out our contact form today.