Schizophrenia is considered one of the most debilitating forms of mental illness, as it not only isolates the individual but can influence everyone around them as well. There is no “one size fits all” way of diagnosing a schizophrenic individual, as an entire spectrum of psychotic disorders must be considered and ruled out when doing so. If you feel someone you care about may be experiencing such an illness, our Boca treatment center offers effective programs and compassionate care designed to improve their life for the better.
Spectrum of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is an extremely complicated disorder that affects the individual's ability to distinguish reality from their own hallucinations. This often results in difficulty complying with or responding to treatment.
Many of these individuals exhibit disorganized behavior, including bizarre clothing, makeup, and speech patterns that do not make sense. How each patient exhibits these behaviors will help to determine exactly which condition they may be suffering from.
There are 5 subtypes of schizophrenic behavior:
- Catatonic: Classified by rigid movements and unresponsiveness.
- Hebephrenic: Notably disorganized thinking, behavior, and speech patterns.
- Paranoid: Exhibits delusions of persecution.
- Residual: A phase where symptoms of a former schizophrenia diagnosis can linger.
- Undifferentiated: A category for people that do not identify with any of the previous.
A client can shift between subtypes throughout the course of their disorder. This is why medical professionals will utilize three comprehensive spectrum disorders to classify patients.
There are a total of 3 schizophrenia spectrum disorders:
- Schizophreniform Disorder: Indistinguishable from schizophrenia, except for a shorter duration of time (typically longer than one month but under six.)
- Schizoaffective Disorder: Includes other varieties of major mood disorders, like bipolar disorder.
- Schizotypal personality Disorder: A less intense variation, with shorter, less frequent episodes. These patients are more likely to be able to distinguish between reality and their own distorted experiences.
Aside from those listed above, there are 5 other psychotic disorders worth keeping in mind:
- Shared Psychotic Disorder
- Delusional Disorder
- Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Paraphrenia
Any of these disorders can feel incredibly isolating, and the longer proper care is procrastinated, the harder it may be to get grounded and respond to treatment.
Treatment Options at Banyan Boca Behavioral Health Center
At Banyan Boca, a team of compassionate professionals is waiting to provide the best schizophrenic disorder treatment that South Florida has to offer. Our facility is equipped with a variety of effective therapy options designed to enrich patients throughout the treatment process. An effective treatment we offer is equine therapy, which can engage patients in the caregiving of horses to provide a change of pace to the regular treatment options.
If you or a loved one is in need of care, contact Banyan Boca to learn more about our residential treatment programs.
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