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Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Related Disorders
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
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What Is Acute Schizophrenia?
Acute schizophrenia is considered an activephase of schizophrenia—a mental health disorder that can affect an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
“The media tends to play up the diagnosis as [individuals] who only hear voices and are talking to themselves,” saysAbigale Johnson, LCSW. “This can be an aspect of schizophrenia, but not everyone presents the same way.”
Stephen Geisler, M.D., staff psychiatrist atBrooklyn Minds, adds that people might experience hallucinations or delusions, but their thoughts can be completely logical and coherent. Because of this, schizophrenia can be sometimes be misdiagnosed and mistaken for another mental health disorder.
Learn about the symptoms, similar diagnoses, and treatment options for acute schizophrenia.
An Overview of Schizophrenia
Acute Schizophrenia Symptoms
According to Lawrence Greenberg MD, Chief Medical Officer atMindPath Care Centers, the main symptoms of acute schizophrenia, also recognized as active psychosis, include:
“It is not uncommon to see symptoms suggestive of depression or strange behavior such as laughing in the absence of an appropriate stimuli,” says Dr. Geisler. “Patients frequently experience negative symptoms, that is diminished emotional expression and/or withdrawal from interpersonal, social, and occupational functioning,”
To make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, Dr. Geisler says, symptoms have to be present continuously for at least a six-month period.
This is why it’s important to speak with a mental health professional about your or your loved one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Other diagnoses that share similarities to schizophrenia include:
Acute Schizophrenia Diagnosis
The sudden onset of severe psychotic symptoms may be considered “acute” schizophrenia, but not always. Onset can occur at any time, though typically individuals are diagnosed between their teen years and their early thirties. It is very rare for a diagnosis to be made earlier or later in one’s life.
“As an illness that requires a time component to make the diagnosis, it can take several months to reach a conclusive diagnosis from the time a family first begins to notice changes in behavior or cognition,” says Dr. Greenberg. “It is important, however, to make the diagnosis as soon as possible as there is evidence that earlier interventions can improve the longitudinal course of the illness.”
Acute Schizophrenia Treatment
Schizophrenia is considered an incurable chronic illness. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, there are treatment options for minimizing and managing symptoms.
Medication
“Medication is the first line of treatment that I’ve seen really work for patients,” says Dr. Johnson. “Medications typically target the symptoms of schizophrenia… [but] medications do not ‘cure’ schizophrenia.”
Medication options range from antipsychotic medications and adjunctive medications to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and somatic medications. Most commonly, individuals with active schizophrenia are given antipsychotic medications. Typically, medical professionals will work with the individual to determine the most effective medication at the lowest possible dose.
Antipsychotic medications affect receptors in the brain that help manage the signs and symptoms present in active psychosis. There are two types of antipsychotic medications:
No matter the type of medication or the side effects, studies show that antipsychotic medications can help manage symptoms, prevent relapse, and ultimately improve an individual’s quality of life.
Individual and Group Psychotherapy
Though medication can benefit individuals with acute schizophrenia, psychotherapy can also help an individual process the diagnosis, manage medications, monitor changes in behavior and mood, and action.
Other treatment options include psychosocial therapy, social skills training (SST), cognitive behavior treatment (CBT), mentalization-based treatment (MBT), and support groups which often complement medication or therapy.
TakeawaySchizophrenia treatment is often very costly, but since it’s one of the most debilitating mental illnesses, it’s important to work with a professional to establish the most effective, long-term treatment plan possible.
Takeaway
Schizophrenia treatment is often very costly, but since it’s one of the most debilitating mental illnesses, it’s important to work with a professional to establish the most effective, long-term treatment plan possible.
How Schizophrenia is Treated
Coping With Acute Schizophrenia
Because the symptoms of acute schizophrenia are often sudden and severe, it is important to speak with a mental health professional as soon as possible.
One of the best ways to cope with an acute schizophrenia diagnosis is to understand as much as possible through psychoeducation, explains Dr. Geisler.
A Word from Verywell
Symptoms of acute schizophrenia can be difficult and scary for both individuals and loved ones, especially when they present themselves suddenly. The best thing you can do is be patient, track your symptoms, and work with a reliable mental health professional to determine the best next steps.
2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cai L, Huang J. Schizophrenia and risk of dementia: a meta-analysis study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2047-2055.Haddad PM, Correll CU.The acute efficacy of antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a review of recent meta-analyses.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(11):303-318. doi:10.1177/2045125318781475
2 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cai L, Huang J. Schizophrenia and risk of dementia: a meta-analysis study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2047-2055.Haddad PM, Correll CU.The acute efficacy of antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a review of recent meta-analyses.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(11):303-318. doi:10.1177/2045125318781475
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cai L, Huang J. Schizophrenia and risk of dementia: a meta-analysis study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2047-2055.Haddad PM, Correll CU.The acute efficacy of antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a review of recent meta-analyses.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(11):303-318. doi:10.1177/2045125318781475
Cai L, Huang J. Schizophrenia and risk of dementia: a meta-analysis study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2047-2055.
Haddad PM, Correll CU.The acute efficacy of antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a review of recent meta-analyses.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2018;8(11):303-318. doi:10.1177/2045125318781475
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