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Can a psychologist diagnose paranoid schizophrenia?
Yes a psychologist can diagnose paranoid schizophrenia. He or she can also prescribe medicine that will help treat that disorder.
Is there a test you can take to see if you have schizophrenia?
There is no one specific test, especially not one that is available on the Internet. If you think that you may have schizophrenia, you should see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will be able to diagnose you if you do have schizophrenia.
What scan is used to identify which brain areas are most active when a person is suffering from schizophrenia?
You usually cannot diagnose schizophrenia from a simple brain scan. However, long-term damage to the brain from schizophrenia can sometimes be assessed by a MRI scan.
Why do schizophrenia drink alcohol?
Absolutely. Alcohol creates psychotic breaks, and so does schizophrenia. The two fit together like hand and glove. Schizophrenics (and people with a history of it in the family) should not drink. However, many do because they find that alcohol can quiet some of the symptoms of their psychosis. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the schizophrenia.
What is childhood schizophrenia?
Typically characterized by delusions, paranoia, and auditory and/or visual hallucinations, not to be confused with autism. Difficult to diagnose because of a child's imagination, and differentiated from schizophrenia- which has an early adult-hood onset. May also have a separate etiology as psychosis in adulthood and adolescence. See the DSM-IV for more info.
Are people with social anxiety disorder at higher risk for schizophrenia?
No. Anxiety and schizophrenia are two different disorders. Anxiety is neurotic, and schizophrenia is psychotic. Although at times anxiety in severe cases can lead to losing touch with reality ( severe anxiety ) it can never lead to a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia.
What is the largest specialty area of psychology?
Clinical psychology is the largest specialty area of psychology. Clinical psychologists are trained to diagnose and treat mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
If a 30 year old has schizophrenia could the mother have it as well?
Yes. Schizophrenia is partly genetic, meaning that if you have a relative with schizophrenia you are likely to also have schizophrenia. About 1/10 of people with a relative with schizophrenia develop schizophrenia, compared to 1/100 people without a relative with schizophrenia.
Is schizophrenia a disability?
People with schizophrenia usually have normal cognitive function at the beginning of the course of schizophrenia.
What does a schizophrenic brain look like?
A schizophrenic brain may show structural and functional abnormalities, such as decreased brain volume in certain areas and altered connectivity between brain regions. Additionally, dopamine dysregulation is often observed in individuals with schizophrenia. However, brain imaging studies have not identified a specific pattern or characteristic that can definitively diagnose schizophrenia.
What are the causes of residual schizophrenia?
Residual schizophrenia is caused by a partial recovery from schizophrenia. For an explanation of what causes schizophrenia, please see the related question.
What is schizophrenia related to?
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder
