Schizophrenia that begins in the late teens, what causes and treatments?
May 04, 2025
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Professor Ko Yu-jin of the Department of Mental Health Medicine at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital said "The prevalence of schizophrenia in Korea is about 0.5 to 1%. It usually begins in the late teens and early 20s, with slightly more male patients than female patients. Recently, as interest in mental health has increased, there are more and more cases of early diagnosis."
Schizophrenia is characterized by making it difficult to distinguish between reality and reality. Typical symptoms are auditory hallucinations, delusions, and confusing words and actions. It can also be accompanied by symptoms of dull emotions or difficulty in socializing with people, shrinking social life and worsening emotional ups and downs.
Schizophrenia is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental and neurobiological factors. If a parent or brother suffers from schizophrenia, fetal virus infection, lack of oxygen at birth, extreme stress, social isolation, and substance abuse can increase the risk of developing the disease. It is known that the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain, especially dopamine, is related to schizophrenia symptoms.
The diagnosis of schizophrenia is made through an interview with a psychiatrist. During the diagnosis process, the patient's symptoms, ways of thinking and emotional state, and behavior patterns are evaluated in detail. Check whether there is auditory hallucination or delusion, how the accident develops, and whether the emotional expression is appropriate. In addition, MRI, CT, blood tests, etc. can be performed to identify other organic causes that can cause schizophrenia-like symptoms.
The basic treatment for schizophrenia is antipsychotic drugs. Although symptoms can be significantly improved if you take the drug steadily, it is highly likely to worsen or recur if you stop treatment, so it is very dangerous to stop treatment or control the drug voluntarily without consulting a doctor. In addition to medication, family therapy and rehabilitation programs can provide effective help.
Some treatments for schizophrenia can raise blood sugar and gain weight, so diet control, exercise, and regular blood sugar checks are important for patients with diabetes. It is recommended to maintain a healthy diet and reduce sugar-rich food intake, and steady aerobic exercise and proper muscle exercise can help manage schizophrenia symptoms as well as blood sugar control.
There is no clear prevention method for schizophrenia, but it is helpful to manage stress well and live regularly. Maintaining social relationships and regular visits to the Department of Mental Health are very helpful in detecting early symptoms. If you have a family history, it is recommended to look at abnormal signals such as lethargy, emotional changes, decreased concentration, and social withdrawal so that you can detect them early.
Professor Ko Yu-jin "The biggest misconception about schizophrenia is the perception that all patients are violent. In fact, some patients with schizophrenia may exhibit impulsive behavior due to symptoms of the disease, but this can be controlled by appropriate treatment and management. Most patients have difficulty feeling isolated due to prejudice and social stigma around them. Rather than blaming or neglecting the patient, it is of great help to actively participate in the correct understanding, emotional support and treatment of the family members."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
