Paranoid schizophrenia is a type of schizophrenia in which delusional thoughts cloud an individual's thinking. It is considered to be a psychotic mental disorder. Individuals with delusional paranoid schizophrenia benefit from early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Supportive friends and family play an important role in successful management of this disorder.
Features
An individual suffering delusional paranoid schizophrenia symptoms may be convinced that he is being persecuted. She may think that someone has poisoned her food or followed her. He may believe that a government conspiracy is in the works, designed to harm him, incarcerate him or prevent him from achieving a secretive mission. She may have delusions of grandeur, explains MayoClinic.com. This may cause him to believe he has a divine purpose in life or that societal rules do not apply to him because he is special. She may believe that her mind can control events or other people. He may suffer from auditory hallucinations in the form of voices that tell him to injure others or perform tasks for his own perceived safety. The person with paranoid schizophrenia may appear angry or tense to others. She may make multiple suicide attempts.
Causes
While the exact cause of paranoid schizophrenia has not been determined, it is generally thought to involve a combination of a predisposition and a trigger factor. The environment in the womb or the individual's genes may cause the predisposition, and stressors such as social isolation or drug use during childhood or early adulthood may serve as a trigger factor, causing schizophrenia symptoms to develop. Schizophrenia is more common among individuals who have relatives with mental illness, according to MayoClinic.com.
Identification
Delusional paranoid schizophrenia is usually diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist. Diagnosis may come as the result of the individual seeking help, but it often comes after a family member, authority figure or the legal system intervenes in the person's odd behavior. There is no diagnostic test for schizophrenia, but a diagnosis can be made based on an interview with the individual and possibly others. Occasionally, diagnosis is made after noting a good response to anti-psychotic medication.
Time Frame
"Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing" describes the onset of delusional paranoid schizophrenia symptoms as occurring later than those of other types of schizophrenia. It often begins during the late 20s or 30s but can range from childhood to the 40s or possibly later. It affects men and women roughly equally. It is thought to affect less than 1 percent of the population, explains MayoClinic.com. Schizophrenia is generally considered to be a chronic, lifelong illness, but symptoms may be episodic with long periods of remission.
Treatment
Anti-psychotic medication is the typical treatment for paranoid schizophrenia symptoms. This helps to restore brain chemicals to a more normal state, allowing relief from delusions of persecution. Psychotherapy is often utilized but is frequently less effective due to the the individual's fixed beliefs. Group therapy or training is often beneficial in helping the person live independently or find a suitable vocation. Treatment can be difficult due to the individual's lack of trust in others. He may also believe he is well after medication begins working, causing him to stop taking it. A person with paranoid schizophrenia often has a treatment team that works together to help her achieve the highest quality of life possible.
References
- “Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Care in Evidence-Based Practice”; Mary C. Townsend, MN, APRN; 2006
- MedlinePlus: Schizophrenia: Paranoid Type
- Schizophrenia: Paranoid Schizophrenia
- Mayo Clinic: Paranoid Schizophrenia
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