Schizophrenia: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as psychotic illness.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Schizophrenia is a serious but treatable brain disorder in which a person may hear voices, hold fixed false beliefs, or have disorganised thoughts and withdraw from others. It is a medical condition — not a spiritual attack or moral failure — and early, consistent treatment offers the best chance of a stable, productive life.
Symptoms
Hearing voices others cannot hear
Fixed false beliefs, such as being persecuted
Disorganised or hard-to-follow speech
Withdrawal from family and friends
Neglect of personal hygiene
Loss of motivation and flattened emotions
Suspiciousness of food, family or neighbours
Causes & risk factors
Genetic vulnerability and brain-chemistry changes
Typically emerges in late teens to early thirties
Heavy cannabis use raising risk in vulnerable people
Stress and substance use triggering relapse
Treatment & self-care
Antipsychotic medication prescribed by a psychiatrist is the foundation of treatment, with long-acting injections available for those who struggle with daily tablets; psychological and family support reduce relapse. Delays spent seeking only non-medical help allow the illness to entrench — medical care can run alongside a family's faith. With sustained treatment many people work, study and raise families.
See a doctor urgently if
First episode of hearing voices or fixed unusual beliefs
Increasing withdrawal and self-neglect in a young person
Risk of harm to self or others — emergency
Relapse after stopping medication
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Schizophrenia?
Early signs often include hearing voices others cannot hear, fixed false beliefs, such as being persecuted, disorganised or hard-to-follow speech. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Schizophrenia be treated?
Antipsychotic medication prescribed by a psychiatrist is the foundation of treatment, with long-acting injections available for those who struggle with daily tablets; psychological and family support reduce relapse. Delays spent seeking only non-medical help allow the illness to entrench — medical care can run alongside a family's faith. With sustained treatment many people work, study and raise families.
When should I see a doctor about Schizophrenia?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: first episode of hearing voices or fixed unusual beliefs; increasing withdrawal and self-neglect in a young person; risk of harm to self or others — emergency; relapse after stopping medication.