Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that affects about 3.7 million Americans. If you or a loved one is struggling with disorganized thinking, hears voices that others can’t, or experiences other symptoms of schizophrenia, Texas Advance Behavioral Health can help. The highly skilled medical team provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations in-office and through a virtual telepsychiatry platform to assess your mental health needs. They customize a care plan using therapy and medications to keep schizophrenia symptoms well-controlled so you can live a productive life. Call the Arlington, Texas, office today to schedule a schizophrenia consultation or book an appointment online.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that alters the way a person feels, thinks, and behaves. People with schizophrenia typically display behaviors that make it seem like they aren’t anchored in reality and struggle to think and speak in an organized, coherent way.

Symptoms of the disorder typically appear in late childhood or young adulthood, but schizophrenia can develop at any age. The root cause of the condition isn’t well understood, but a combination of genetic makeup, environmental factors, and illicit drug use can contribute to schizophrenia.

Texas Advance Behavioral Health provides comprehensive care, including psychiatric evaluations for adults and adolescents with schizophrenia symptoms.

The compassionate medical team takes a whole-person approach to managing symptoms and preventing schizophrenia-related complications.

When should I seek medical attention for schizophrenia?

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Texas Advance Behavioral Health if you or your child experiences sudden or unusual changes in personality or behaviors.

The primary symptoms of schizophrenia include:

Delusions

Delusions are false beliefs a person holds on to, even when presented with verifiable facts. For instance, a person may believe they are very powerful or well-known, even though no evidence supports their belief.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations describe seeing objects, hearing voices, or smelling scents that others can’t. Often, the nature of the perceived voices and visualizations is adverse or threatening.

The hallucination experience is real to the person but can be confusing or distressing to their loved ones.

Disorganized thinking

Schizophrenia can cause disorganized thoughts and reduced cognitive function, which prevents them from caring for themselves or their responsibilities. Mental issues may also prevent people from seeking medical care or following up with treatment.

How is schizophrenia treated?

Schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder that is manageable with ongoing psychiatric care. Texas Advance Behavioral Health offers patient-focused care plans to support mental and emotional health that may include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy helps you cope with the impact schizophrenia has on your life and relationships in a healthy way. Therapy also gives you tools to use for improving cognitive function.

Medications

Antipsychotics and other medications are available to ease the severity and frequency of delusions, hallucinations, and other schizophrenia symptoms.

Ongoing support is available in-office and through the telepsychiatry platform so you can stay proactive about your treatment and enjoy a high quality of life.

Call Texas Advance Behavioral Health today to schedule an evaluation for schizophrenia symptoms or book an appointment online.