Researchers have shown that many persons with schizophrenia also have problems with addiction. Psychotherapy, drug and alcohol addiction counseling, medication, and peer support groups are common components of treatment for various conditions that often occur together. This blog by experts from Taylor Recovery Center highlights the different types of schizophrenia and addiction including treatment options for the two conditions.
Schizophrenia: What is It?
Schizophrenia is a chronic neurological condition characterized by an incongruity between an affected person’s awareness and their external perceptions of the world. Communication, behavior, and thought processes are all impacted by schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, to put it simply, impairs a person’s capacity to work, create and maintain relationships, think and behave sensibly, and so on because it distorts their perception of reality. Untreated schizophrenia can have devastating consequences, including hospitalization, poverty, jail, homelessness, and even suicide.
Types of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex mental disorder, manifests in several subtypes, three of which are disorganized, residual, and undifferentiated schizophrenia. Disorganized schizophrenia is characterized by significant cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral problems, as well as emotional instability and difficulties with daily activities. Residual schizophrenia is characterized by the lessening of acute symptoms like hallucinations while milder symptoms like social withdrawal and cognitive impairment remain. Undifferentiated schizophrenia is characterized by a wide range of schizophrenia symptoms, making classification difficult. These variations underline the complex nature of schizophrenia and the need for individualized diagnosis and treatment, especially when dealing with co-occurring disorders like addiction.
Schizophrenia and Addiction
Schizophrenia and addiction often co-occur. In fact, studies have shown that substance abuse is present in approximately 50% of people with schizophrenia. Drug or alcohol addiction is a common coping mechanism for people with schizophrenia, commonly used to relieve symptoms of anxiety and sadness. Substance misuse can be a precipitating factor in schizophrenia, but it cannot cause the disorder itself. When combined with preexisting genetic risk factors, chronic substance usage can precipitate a full-blown diagnosis of schizophrenia. The use of drugs like cocaine, marijuana, or amphetamines has been linked to an increase in the severity of schizophrenia symptoms. Because of the same characteristics of schizophrenia and addiction, the former is frequently misdiagnosed. Experts are still looking at each condition separately and together to boost dual diagnosis accuracy.
Treatment Options for Different Types of Schizophrenia and Addiction
Both schizophrenia and addiction have long-lasting and debilitating effects if not treated. Detoxification, cognitive behavioral therapy, and antipsychotic medication are just some of the treatment options. Schizophrenia and addiction are two conditions that, when properly treated, can improve a person’s ability to function in society.
- Detox
When you detox, you rid your body of all toxins. Treatment for a dual diagnosis begins with this. Before a professional team can address the symptoms of schizophrenia and provide treatment, the body must be free of any substances.
- Medication
Antipsychotics, especially when used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, can be an extremely useful tool in the fight against schizophrenia. The antipsychotic drugs that help with schizophrenia symptoms are dopamine receptor blockers. Schizophrenia treatment often entails once-daily oral or intravenous dosing.
- CBT
The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia has also shown promising results. CBT is often used in tandem with other behavioral therapies and MAT, such as motivational interviewing and antipsychotic medication respectively. Through CBT, patients learn to manage their symptoms and daily struggles better. Regular treatment attendance has been linked to reduced chances of both recurrence and hospitalization.
- Motivation Interviewing
Evidence-based motivational interviewing emphasizes the power of optimistic self-talk in bringing about desired behavioral changes. In this form of treatment, patients take an active role in determining which behaviors they wish to alter, why they wish to alter them, and how they will go about doing so.
Taylor Recovery Center Offers One of The Most Effective Dual-Diagnosis Treatment for Schizophrenia and Addiction in a Luxurious Setting.
Taylor Recovery Center is a prestigious luxury rehab clinic in Houston, Texas, and they are here to help you or a loved one who is in need of thorough and compassionate care for co-occurring schizophrenia and addiction. Our dual-diagnosis treatment approach is tailored to meet the specific needs of these difficult cases. Contact us today to begin a life-changing journey of healing and hope.