Need for schizophrenia awareness in society

Somajiguda: Indian Psychiatric Society- Telangana State Branch and Hyderabad Psychiatric Society released posters and booklets towards creating awareness about World Schizophrenia Day which is observed on May 24 every year.

• Chronic severe and disabling brain disorder affects 1 in every 100 persons
• People avoid visiting psychiatrists considering it as a stigma due to mental illness
• Early detection can cure the disorder
• hallucinations and delusions are symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic severe and disabling brain disease which affects one person in every 100 approximately. People with this mental disorder often suffer terrifying symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia has a disorder perception of reality. It is estimated that approximately about 10 per cent of schizophrenia are prone to commit suicide.

There is no single cause of schizophrenia it may result from an interplay of genetic factors and other factors. Upon early diagnosis schizophrenia can be treated. The current treatment methods are based on both clinical research and experience.

There are psycho-social treatments available for patients who are relatively free of psychotic symptoms, yet patients experience difficulty in communication, motivation and self-care. Rehabilitation is often a wide array of non-medical intervention which emphasized on social, vocational training and counselling to help patients in these areas.

Dr Umashankar, Dr V Georage Reddy, Dr Minhajzafar and Dr Gangaram further emphasised that it is critically essential to create amongst public as schizophrenia is a highly stigmatised mental disorder
because of which the symptoms can further worsen.