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Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Schizophrenia
Question: I suspect a family member has schizophrenia and is having an acute episode , two previous episodes lasted around 8-9 months, this one seems worse and we are already at 9 months with no sign of recovery as yet. This person is not yet diagnosed. Can psychotic episodes last for ever, can I expect this person to return back to normality ?
Brief Answer:
Psychotic symptoms can persist without appropriate management
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic
Psychotic episodes are characterised by delusions,hallucinations,disorganized thoughts etc.
Psychosis can be characterised depending on duration of symptoms
Brief psychotic disorder- symptoms lasting less than 1 month
Schizophreniform disorder-symptoms lasting 1-6 months
Schizophrenia-Symptoms lasting more than 6 months.
Symptoms can go on for few months to many years without treatment. There is no definite timeline.
However, schizophrenia can only be diagnosed after other organic causes and drug abuse have been ruled out as a cause for psychosis.
Other conditions presenting with psychosis like mood disorders, borderline personality disorder also need to be considered .
Treatment with antipsychotic medications can help greatly and improve quality of life.
Please be advised to follow up with a psychiatrist for assessment and management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Psychotic symptoms can persist without appropriate management
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic
Psychotic episodes are characterised by delusions,hallucinations,disorganized thoughts etc.
Psychosis can be characterised depending on duration of symptoms
Brief psychotic disorder- symptoms lasting less than 1 month
Schizophreniform disorder-symptoms lasting 1-6 months
Schizophrenia-Symptoms lasting more than 6 months.
Symptoms can go on for few months to many years without treatment. There is no definite timeline.
However, schizophrenia can only be diagnosed after other organic causes and drug abuse have been ruled out as a cause for psychosis.
Other conditions presenting with psychosis like mood disorders, borderline personality disorder also need to be considered .
Treatment with antipsychotic medications can help greatly and improve quality of life.
Please be advised to follow up with a psychiatrist for assessment and management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I'm sorry but this is not an apropriate answer to my question. I need to know how long generally that breaks from reality last???
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I apologize if I was not clear before.
Duration of 'breaks from reality' vary from person to person. It can last from few months to years. For some individuals, the psychotic symptoms can last forever without coming back to reality without appropriate treatment.
It is important to initiate treatment as early as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to respond to treatment.
Moreover, an important component of psychosis is the presence of command hallucinations. Here the person's inner voice can be commandful and suggest suicide or to hurt someone close to them.This is a serious situation which can be harmful to both the patient and people around them.
Please be advised to follow up with a psychiatrist as soon as possible for appropriate management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Follow up answer
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I apologize if I was not clear before.
Duration of 'breaks from reality' vary from person to person. It can last from few months to years. For some individuals, the psychotic symptoms can last forever without coming back to reality without appropriate treatment.
It is important to initiate treatment as early as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to respond to treatment.
Moreover, an important component of psychosis is the presence of command hallucinations. Here the person's inner voice can be commandful and suggest suicide or to hurt someone close to them.This is a serious situation which can be harmful to both the patient and people around them.
Please be advised to follow up with a psychiatrist as soon as possible for appropriate management.
Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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