Recently, I have heard more about schizophreniform disorder, and some people question whether it is truly a mental illness. Many people have never heard of it because this diagnosis is not discussed very often. The answer is yes: schizophreniform disorder is a mental illness. So, what is schizophreniform disorder? This is where it can become confusing; symptoms may develop quickly and last for a limited period, usually about one month. However, there may not be enough ongoing signs or distress to diagnose the individual with schizophrenia clearly.

According to the Theravive website, “Schizophreniform disorder is part of the schizophrenia spectrum in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is a psychotic condition with symptoms like schizophrenia, but it develops quickly and lasts for a shorter period.” This condition can be difficult for medical professionals to diagnose accurately. It is a psychotic mental illness with symptoms much like schizophrenia, but the symptoms occur over a shorter period, usually less than six months. Often, individuals are misdiagnosed several times.

During the psychotic period, individuals with schizophreniform disorder may struggle to distinguish reality from fiction. Unfortunately, what they see and hear feels real to them. Signs of schizophrenia may take months to develop and usually last longer than 6 months. However, one must be clear when deciding what the correct diagnosis will be when monitoring an individual. So here is where schizophreniform comes into play. Both mental illnesses display problems with delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, behavioral changes, and social issues.

However, individuals with schizophrenia have a limited level of functioning, whereas an individual diagnosed with schizophreniform may not display a problem with their level of functioning within a home environment or in society. Unfortunately, it is possible that an individual diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder could also develop a problem with their level of functioning as well. Doctors will inform an individual or their family that if the “psychotic” stage lasts longer than 6 months, the proper diagnosis would be schizophrenia, not schizophreniform.

“What are the symptoms?” They include the following that were stated in paragraph three above and more, including:hallucinations, disorganized speech, delusions, lack of proper hygiene habits, very little energy, withdrawn from family & friends and social events, not having the ability to stay focused on anything, pacing the floor or walking continuously, and being unable to sit for any amount of time in one place. “What is the main cause of any mental illness?” It could be several things that can eventually cause any individual to suffer from a mental illness.

Listed below are several factors to take into consideration when treating an individual suspected of having mental health issues.

Hereditary factors- “Those genes”- Most individuals are aware that heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes can be hereditary. Many other diseases are hereditary and can be passed down through generations. Such as diverse types of mental illness, like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar I& II, depression, anxiety, or panic attacks, and the list can go on. Few individuals are aware that Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease can be hereditary.They can also alter the chemical balance in the brain.

Trauma– There are individuals who have suffered from a traumatic body injury or due to any traumatic event that can develop a form of mental illness. Researchers long ago thought that the only reason for mental illness was due entirely to a chemical imbalance related only to the “neurotransmitters” within the human brain. But this is not solely responsible for an individual developing a mental illness. I believe brain trauma and chemical imbalance go hand -in -hand together, and can lead in some cases, to forms of mental illness.

An 18-year-old young man I knew a while back was in a horrible wreck. He had severe, primary traumatic injuries, mostly to his head. I spoke to his parents two years after his release from the hospital. So, one would have to ask, “Did the mental illness that Rusty was diagnosed later on come solely from a traumatic injury to his brain, or from a chemical imbalance in his brain already present?”  According to the ScienceDirect website, “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers a chain reaction of intricate metabolic abnormalities, sometimes leading to ongoing cognitive deficits.”

Rusty’s parents were upset because his behavior was different. Doctors informed his parents he would never be the same due to the seriousness of his brain injuries. Rusty’s brain injuries had altered his entire personality. Rusty had bouts of severe depression, delusions, and hallucinations. He had horrible mood swings, believed people were out to get him, and his behavior was odd at other times. Rusty’s parents were informed this was brought on due to an unfortunate brain injury that caused a chemical imbalance in his brain as well.

Illegal Street Drugs-Individuals who use illegal street drugs often do not understand the consequences associated with their unhealthy drug habits. An individual’s long-term damage to their whole body can change the outcome of how their brain responds to many different circumstances involving their life and can be dangerous. This can seriously impact an individual’s cognitive functions. Street drugs create abnormal functions within the individual’s brain. It affects an individual’s attention span and memory and can change their whole personality.

It can also cause long-term mental health issues. It is a known fact that many individuals who are serious addicts frequently suffer from severe depression, and at one point this can raise the danger of suicide. Eric, a 20-year-old, attended a party and received a mixed drink. That drink was laced with an illegal street drug. Eric’s body could not manage it. He was in a coma for 3 months. Eric is now in a group home with trained individuals monitoring him. He had horrible mood swings, violent behavior, periods of severe depression, delusions, and hallucinations.

Due to Eric’s behavior, he was now considered to have a mental illness brought on by that traumatic experience with illegal drugs. Both young men suffered severe brain injuries. They went from being emotionally stable individuals to becoming unstable due to different traumatic events occurring in their lives. There are times in which damage to an individual’s brain can alter their entire personality and outlook on life. It only shows that regardless of the type of trauma that occurs to an individual, some individuals can recover fully, while others do not.

Environments – Regardless of how young or old one may be an environment can have an enormous impact on an individual’s behavior. Whether it is a bad childhood environment or if it occurs after they become an adult. Stressful events, domestic violence, unhealthy relationships, childhood abuse, rape, witnessing a murder. I am a firm believer in the phrase, “Sometimes an individual is a product of the environment in which they were raised!” Regardless of the environment, if they can receive the right kind of help in life, it can turn their life around.

However, I look at the events surrounding the environment and how it occurred and affected that individual. I often find myself asking, “What kind of impact did it have on that individual’s state of mind?” Working within the medical field, I have found that a minority of doctors will request blood tests or other tests such as MRI’S or CT scans to rule out any types of non-psychiatric medical problems before they start to look at the possibility that an individual may have some form of mental illness. Again, it is extremely critical to get the right diagnosis.

NOTE: If you, a loved one, a friend, or someone you know is having problems…. “The most important thing to remember is to take the first step and seek professional help as soon as possible. Learning to pay attention to warning signs and learning what might trigger symptoms is a part of helping to improve your life and theirs.”

Try reading the following books. “When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction” by author Caroline Beidler.

“A Brief Introduction to Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: The Disorganized Mind “ by author M. Pilar.G.Molina.

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References

1. https://psychiatrymagazine.com/schizophreniform-disorder/

2.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/schizophreniform-disorder

3.https://www.theravive.com/therapedia/schizophreniform-disorder-dsm–5-295.40-(f20.81)

4.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432825002840

5.https://www.verywellmind.com/the-chemistry-of-depression-1065137

6.https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/drug-induced-psychosis

7.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events