According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in every 300 people worldwide is affected by Schizophrenia. In the United States, nearly 2.4 million individuals have been diagnosed as having Schizophrenia. But what, exactly, is Schizophrenia? Today, I’d like to talk a little bit about Schizophrenia – its symptoms, its causes, its treatments, its impact on family members and loved ones, and other important considerations regarding this potentially debilitating condition.
What Is Schizophrenia?
First of all, we should point out that Schizophrenia is actually a constellation of disorders that are all labeled under one umbrella term. And since we are talking about multiple conditions, several symptoms could lead to a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Perhaps one of the more frequently associated symptoms is hallucination. That is, patients may see or hear images or voices that are not there. Another common and somewhat related symptom of Schizophrenia is delusional thinking. Delusions involve holding onto false beliefs, even when there is proof that those beliefs are not true or illogical.
Disorganized thinking is also a symptom commonly associated with Schizophrenia. Sufferers of this symptom/condition find it hard to concentrate, organize their thoughts, or to be able to clearly articulate what they thinking in a way that others can understand. This can sometimes manifest to such a drastic extent that patients speak in a pattern that can best be termed “word salad,” a jumbled pile of words that together don’t make much sense. For example – “eye foxtrot Ferrari bear hug Trinidad and Tobago.” That might be considered one reasonable sentence in the mind of someone with Schizophrenia, while most anyone else would clearly recognize that those words together do not make any kind of sense, or have any kind of continuity.
Yet another symptom of Schizophrenia could be social withdrawal. People suffering from this particular symptom or condition may not want to take part in everyday activities, like work, school, or social events. Individuals who used to be the life of the party may be reduced to loners or hermits who avoid social interactions at all costs. At the very least, they can become much less outgoing and much less likely to seek out social interaction.
What Causes Schizophrenia?
As I noted before, Schizophrenia is a blanket term used for several seemingly related conditions. It stands to reason then that we also have to consider there are likely multiple causes for these conditions. Exact causes for Schizophrenia are generally considered “unknown,” but often, we can point to a combination of family history (that is genetics), environmental factors (what we refer to as epigenetics), and chemical imbalances in the brain that tend to be risk factors for the development of Schizophrenia.
As noted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) traditional medicine often points to imbalances in specific neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate as likely causes for the onset of Schizophrenic symptoms. In orthomolecular medicine, we look at underlying causes or key contributors at a molecular level. One such underlying cause can be something we have discussed frequently in this blog space and with our patients and followers, methylation status. Both under-methylation and over-methylation may predispose individuals to symptoms that lead to this diagnosis. Yet another potential biochemical contributor that we frequently discuss here is Pyrrole Disorder. Remember that this is a disorder of stress intolerance. Hormonal issues like thyroid disorders may also contribute to the diagnosis of Schizophrenia.
It is absolutely critical when we talk about potential causes for Schizophrenia that we discuss drug use. We absolutely must be concerned about the use of illicit drugs – psychedelics like LSD, PCP, and heroin, as well as methamphetamines and cocaine. Any of these substances can cause dysregulation in the brain, which can then lead to a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Several studies tell us that this is also the case with marijuana. Let’s be very clear about this one – even though marijuana has been legalized in many places and is widely considered to be a benign drug, more and more experts are pointing out potentially severe impacts on the brain. This can happen not only in regular users but even in those who use the drug just once. We have, unfortunately, seen far too many cases of marijuana-induced Schizophrenia in our practice, especially in young males.
Yet another condition that can be foundational for the development of Schizophrenia, and one that is rarely discussed, is Inflammatory or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The cause lies not just in the inflammation, but rather in the long-term consequences of that inflammation. Leaky gut issues stemming from IBS make it hard for sufferers to absorb nutrients that are critical to the development and production of neurotransmitters that help brain cells function normally. We actually also see this condition develop in patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass, similar to inflammatory bowel disorders, over time can lead to malabsorption of nutrients. No nutrients – no cognitive neurotransmitter production.
One final probable contributor to the development of schizophrenic symptoms that I want to discuss here is extreme stress. That stress can be emotional or can be an actual physical trauma (oftentimes, the two go hand-in-hand). Many victims of assault have later been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. We also see this happen in academic settings, especially with graduate students, or professionals working in high-stress occupations. They face constant pressure, lack of consistent sleep, and often very poor diets. Eventually, they may start to hear voices or express other symptoms related to Schizophrenia.
How Do We Treat Schizophrenia?
Let’s talk about treatment for a moment. We have discussed several conditions that fall under the umbrella diagnosis of Schizophrenia, and we have discussed several possible causes for that diagnosis. Clearly, we also need to discuss different treatment options. Treatment is contingent upon the symptoms a patient suffers or the likely causes in that patient’s life. Of course, in the orthomolecular world, we want to look at biochemical correction. We want to identify the biochemical imbalances and come up with a program of nutrient supplementation to correct those imbalances. This is a key component in the treatment paradigm for Schizophrenia in general.
Some other components of treatment are very simple. Get enough sleep. Improve your diet (while also considering your methylation status). Manage your stress. All of these are extremely important. Often times medication may be needed for the short or intermediate term to help stabilize the patient. But all of the other corrections should also be undertaken to assure effective treatment. Also, avoid alcohol, avoid illegal drugs, avoid tobacco, and avoid marijuana. I know that many of these substances are taken to help people settle down – to manage their stress. We need to find other ways to facilitate that stress management. The harm and dysregulation that these substances are causing over the long term outweigh the immediate benefits they provide.
How Do We Help Loved Ones With Schizophrenia?
Before wrapping this up, I want to talk about the family members of individuals who are struggling with Schizophrenia. We need to remember that these individuals are not the people we once knew. They are different. They are dysregulated. Try not to personalize their reactions, their responses, or their objections. I understand this is easier said than done, because the person in front of you looks like that person you once knew and sounds like that person, but none of it is making any sense. Also, understand that your loved one is probably just as frustrated as you are. Just as their cognitive processing seems flawed to you, that same cognitive processing means you are likely coming across to them in a way that they don’t truly understand.
Try to be patient, and remember that there is hope for your loved one. Nutrient therapy, short-term use of pharmaceutical medications, and several other approaches may be very helpful. Many of you are likely already helping your loved ones by encouraging them to exercise, making sure their diets are appropriate, and helping them treat both physiological and biochemical challenges. These are all great steps toward helping your loved one recover. And one final, very important note – don’t forget to also take care of yourself.
